Search - The Thin Blue Line: The Complete Line-Up on DVD

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 7/1/2018...

What we have here is quintessential British humor. Some ridiculous plots. The humor does bring to mind Black Adder, if you've seen that. And the humor is derived from the interactive dialogue, so you have to pay close attention. Quite a bit of the humor is probably considered rather mature, as well.

Amazon says I purchased my copy back in 2004. It's been firmly glued to the keeper shelf since then. I've shown this to many friends over the years, and sometimes I'll pull it off the shelf and play a few episodes when I need some cheering up. It's therapeutic.

Amanda R. (gracelessamanda) from OZARK, AR
Reviewed on 12/6/2007...

I found it to be funny. I love Rowan Atkinson. It is all the stupid kind of funny. Still good though.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

"And perhaps a small selection of cupcakes?"

B-MAN | Earth, occasionally. Until I get bored. | 09/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Contained herein is the complete "line-up", the full series of Ben Elton's The Thin Blue Line in another essential DVD set from BBC video! The first 2 discs include the 14 episodes that make up series 1 & 2 (Nov 1995-Dec 1996) and the 3rd disc includes over an hour of documentary and interview footage of creator/writer Ben Elton. Elton is best known for his work on Black Adder and the Young Ones. Both of these are essential DVD sets in your Britcom library and TBL is another must own.



The brilliant Rowan Atkinson heads the cast as the "excessively" riggid and by the book (which includes his personal life!), Inspector Fowler, who prefers his constables are as he is "Keen of eye, swift of thought, and regular of bowel". Rowan's performance here is most similar to his character in the Black Adder as far as dialogue goes so if you like that series you'll more than likely love this. The Thin Blue Line, like Black Adder, is a dialogue driven show and Ben Elton uses every chance he can to let the characters (especially Fowler and Det. Inspetor Grim) go off into hilariously wordy tangents. The show is filled with unique characters, each funny in their own right: Sgt. Patricia Dawkins (Fowler's girlfriend of 10 years!), Constables: Habib, Gladstone, and Goody, Det. Constable Kray (Series 1), Det. Constable Boyle (Series 2), and of course the endlessly bafoonish Det. Inspector Derek Grim of CID. The show is mostly based in the police station and occasionally in the field or at Fowler & Dawkins' flat. I fell in love with the show from renting the one lone VHS tape a local video store carried which only contained two episodes. Those episodes were well played believe me, so seeing this released was quite exciting. It also completed my Rowan Atkinson DVD trilogy (Black Adder, Mr. Bean, & TBL)! Here's the contents:



Disc One: Series 1

01. Rag Week

02. The Queen's Birthday Present

03. Night Shift

04. Honey Trap

05. Fire & Terror

06. Kids Today

07. Yuletide Spirit



Disc Two: Series 2

08. Court in the act

09. Ism Ism Ism

10. Fly on the wall

11. Alternative Culture

12. Come on you blues

13. Road Rage

14. The Green Eyed Monster



Disc Three: Extras - "Best of British: Ben Elton" (45 minute documentary), "Smillie's People: Ben Elton"(15 minute interview), TBL Cast Bios, & trailers



Trivia:



*In the first series, Grim's right hand man Kray is played by Kevin Allen. In series 2 the character is replaced by Boyle (Mark Addy). You may recognize Addy from "The Full Monty" or from the U.S. sitcom "Still Standing" where he's married to Jamie Gertz and has a son and daughter. Addy uses an american accent on the show, but once in a while you can hear his british one come through.



*Police Constable Gladstone is played with perfection by Rudolph Walker. Mr. Bean fans may remember Walker from his small role in the first episode where he is the exam giver.



*David Haig (Det. Inspector Grim) also worked with Rowan in the popular British film "Four Weddings in a Funeral" where Rowan plays the nervous and fumbling Father Gerald who presides over his wedding. Haig plays "Bernard St. John Delaney". Priceless scene.



I can't complete this review without a few quotes. Here are three favorites from the man, Inspector Grim:



"Goody-goody, lotti-dotti, namby-hoity, wishy-pamby, toity-washy, dotti-lotti, know it all, public school, stiff upper lip, stiff upper house master, prim & proper, rule brittania...uhh!"



"When you run us up the flag pole, you'll find you're saluting a very different kettle of fish."



"It's my arse on the line and I'm right up to my neck in it."







"

It should be called the Incomplete Line-Up!

B. Neff | Portland, OR | 12/18/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The reason I give this three stars is not due to the quality of the show. That's easily five stars. To learn more about the show, please read some of the other reviews. My review (and my only complaint with this dvd set) is based on the startling omissions present on the dvd set!



My wife and I purchased season 1 and 2 on VHS about 4 years ago and we've nearly watched those tapes to the breaking point. When we saw that the dvd set was coming out, it went to the top of our Christmas list. Well, we couldn't wait until Christmas to watch it and after a few episodes, we began to feel very disappointed and more than just a bit cheated! In two episodes (that we've noticed so far) there are scenes missing on the dvd!



In Alternative Culture, Sgt. Dawkins asks Raymond to pick her up from her 're-birthing' class later that evening. Well, the dvd is missing the scene where she has her re-birth and Raymond is waiting for her with a bottle!



In The Green-Eyed Monster there is a scene outside the club where Boyle and Goody use their badges to gain entrance to the club and Raymond, rather than go against his ethics, says behind to wait in line. Yet again, this did not appear on the dvd.



Based on the fact that we watched two episodes and BOTH were missing scenes one can only imagine that there will be others.

If you've never seen The Thin Blue Line, you won't miss them. If, on the otherhand, you're a longtime fan, this is just frustrating (sort of like buying the Complete Mr. Bean dvd set only to find out there are scenes missing!).

So be forewarned! The Thin Blue Line 'The Complete Line-Up', as we shall see, is like a half-sucked sweet; Not what it used to be!"

Of all the hoity toity, artsy fartsy, UK comedies out there

Doctor Trance | MA, United States | 03/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...this is certainly one of the best of the last decade! Inspector Grim is hilarious with his run-on sentences and overenthusiasm for cases which usually don't end up going his way (like in the Xmas episode when he bags the wrong group of Christmas carolers).



Grim's right hand man in the 1st season (the dark haired guy with the unibrow) is much funnier than season two's guy (even though that heavy set guy ended up starring in a US sitcom). He just didn't get the lines and gags that the 1st season gave our unibrow actor.



Every character in this show is strongly written and played to a tee. Goodie is also hilarious.



Rowan Atkinson makes the show, of course, with his deadpan, afraid of sex and commitment, Chief Inspector role.



My only knock is how come it only lasted 2 seasons??? It's better than 90% of British comedy that's been out over the years, and it only got a handful of episodes made? I heard a rumour of a season 3 coming out but not sure if it will ever materialize. Since it's been over 7 years since Season 2, it may be hard to get back into the flow of things. But I would certainly welcome it!!! Just get the original cast back!"