George Gently and Ricky Deeming - a Stunning Social Synthesis

Set in the 60's, the plot of the pilot episode for BBC's George Gently series involves the charismatic and rebellious leader of a motorcycle gang, Ricky Deeming (Richard Armitage) and a shoe-licking, conformist young cop eager to climb the career ladder. At least that is how he appears in the beginning. Later, the cop realises he was after the wrong person and eventually saves Deeming's life.

I did not expect much from this episode, but it had a great effect on me eventually. Armitage was an excellent choice for the role, as he suceeded in bringing some very human traits to his character. If you are looking for the biker stereotype, you will not find it here. This gang leader is a dreamer, an idealist, even a poet. When faced by the police, he describes motorcycling like a spiritual matter. And he is right. All his actions are righteous. His voice is calm, he is eloquent and honest and, overall, an elegant presence. Yet, he is accused of being a criminal, an ordinary one, hunted down and discredited, mocked, because two members of his group died mysteriously and evidence seems to point at him.

The interesting part is the clash of the two at the interrogatory. The dialogue and the character portrayal reveal two iconic types which we can find at any time, in any given place in our society. The young cop has a condescending attitude and, after he has conformed to every rule, ignored society's real problems and climbed high enough to claim some power of his own, he feels free to have a vulgar display of power. He is now cheeky, ambitious as ever, ignorant and is treating Deeming with an irony that was uncalled for (and totally undeserved).

Ricky Deeming, on the other side, is the rebel with a cause. A real and good cause. In a deeply human tone and with great composure, he exposes the ills of the society and of the system. He condemns those who crucify human liberties and true values in the name of false goals, mental comfort or riches. Moreover (and unlike the cop), he never says or does anything rude. Instead of sarcasm, he prefers to express things just as they are. In response, the others are only mocking him and considering him to be "living on another planet".

The truths exposed by Deeming offend the cop, who is set to hunt him down and prove his guilt. They laugh at his metaphors. They laugh at his righteous rebellion. They laugh at him for being different... when they are all the same. "If you don't live by our rules, you are pathetic!" - that would be their truth, so widely spread everywhere these days.

Here is a fragment of the dialogue:
"The Durham Defenders... What's being defended?"
"...We are, I suppose."
"From what?"
"From the bull****! Dead end jobs, hand-me-down values, second-hand opinions, mortgages. No offence, but it's the sort of life that Johnny here leads".

His observations are in tune with the despising and very truthful phrase he threw to the cop earlier on when this one was trying to play the smart guy with him: "Was anyone ever more pathetically grateful to get the Prefect badge?"

He expresses (with more suffering and less arrogance) his disapproval of the mediocrity and the banal lives the rest prefer to live. In the end, he spills all his discontent and asks:

"What did your world offer?"

The ambitious arrogant cop can't stand it anymore and quickly changes the subject, trying to attack Deeming by using his metaphors, but in a totally wrong way. His intellectual impotence reminds me of Anderson in BBC's Sherlock. Incapable arrogant individuals who happen to have a nice warm seat in some institution, usually because they kissed the right bottom and made sufficient compromises, attacking anyone who refuses their world order and mediocrity and who dares to criticise them.

The real murderer comes face to face with inspector George Gently and insists that his son was killed "by the depravity of one man"(Ricky Deeming). The murdered son, a boy in the gang, held Deeming on a pedestal, he looked up to him. He drew him as Christ on the cross. He was his idol and saviour. And then we get to see that he's being chased by both the police and the real murdered himself.

Watch the whole episode below:

The whole interrogation room scene line from Ricky Deeming (0:30:00):

Dead end jobs. Hand-me-down values. Second hand opinions. Mortgages.
No offense but it's the sort of life that Johnny here leads.
Forty years of chasing guys like us up and down the streets so the world will be a safer place for other mediocre people to live their banal lives in.
You. And your little woman on the front of Whitley Bay and the whole world rolling on forever and the whole structure never skipping a beat. And nothing ever changing... Except the weather....
What did your world ever offer a little kid like Laurie Elton? Real dad dead before he were born, mother abandoned him? Your straight world pushes him and pushes him into ever tighter corners. Failed at your schools, couldn't hold down your bullshit jobs, life of crime beckoning, predictable. Well maybe not, just maybe not....
He got himself a bike.
A family.
A set of shared values.
And you know what, George?
He took a look at your world and he wasn't interested in it. And neither am I.
Your world's coming to an end, George... it's inevitable...
You won't know England in 20 years.

Being One of the Marriage-Minded People - Relationship Trouble? Oh Yes

When you really know you're in for the serious thing, all other sorts of relationships just won't work. I've learned that the hard way - how else? The good news is that it's a lot better that those petty relationships don't work. I, for one, am sick of dead ends.

So how do you figure out you are marriage-minded? I consider the biggest clue to be the fact that you just don't feel motivated anymore to be in the "let's see where it gets us"-type of relationship. You just can't stand the unknown like you did before, you don't want to play games, in fact you may even detest them. You simply want the real thing: Forever. A wedding, a commitment, a husband/wife and not a boyfriend or girlfriend. The biggest mistake for you would be to get into a relationship in which the two of you don't look in the same direction, because you already know that a convergence of goals is an absolute must. You're barely in, but a part of your soul already wants out.

Ever since I realised I am no longer willing to play uncertain games, I simply cannot start any other relationship unless I somehow become certain that he is the one. And that has not happened yet. It is all clear to me why it is this way: see the reasons above. Also, I've come to a full acceptance of gender roles. I concluded that my own imbalance (taking on a masculine air and too many masculine tasks while dismissing my femininity) was attracting the wrong people. One, day I just had enough of all that, enough to take an honest look at the problem and see what is there to change in order to make myself happy. Here is a very important turning point: accept yourself as a single person and understand that it is better to be alone for God knows how long than to be with the wrong partner. Trust me, it is a billion times better.

Then, slowly, you will work on yourself, improve and not only feel inside that you are ready for marriage, but also let the others see it. The bad ones will run away. When you want a lifetime commitment, you won't be happy with someone who's in for the thrill of the game and who might be waiting for someone better to come along. You won't go for a pretty face only. You won't set yourself up for deceit. You will enjoy a longer, more mature courting phase instead of jumping at first-date kisses or sex. If you don't trust me - and why should you? - take a look at what reputable relationship coaches have to say.

Another good aspect: if you are marriage-minded, you are more likely to attract similar people. A sense of honour, commitment, future plans, integrity and honesty exist in much higher doses in those who want more than just a relationship. They will like what they perceive and they will be drawn to you.

The way you dress and many other choices (like how you prefer to entertain yourself or behave in a group) tells a lot about you. People who are mature enough may not be interested in one who is dressed like a fun-loving teen or a club vamp. Sure, you may get their attention, excite them and even keep them close them for a while, but you will not inspire in them those feelings. Also, do not fall into the other extreme: you don't have to be boring or plain. Keep your heart young.

Repel the not-so-serious ones and let yourself reflect less drama, real composure, become fond of cultural activities, get smart clothing, have more concern for your existing family or relatives, a career or life goal, big dreams, clear targets, and accept only those who are the same. If they don't like who you are know and wish you to return to your 'teenage' self, be wise and step away.

From the Fandom - The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Trailer 2 Review

Sure I knew they would chisel it to the point of perfection (hello, we've been waiting it until 1 October!), but I did not expect a trailer which would have a *GASP* moment at every 2 seconds! I couldn't process the whole amount of information from the start - this trailer is an overdose!

Disturbingly cold day in my side of Europe. It gets nicer though, it brings about a scent of Christmas,. and Christmas is the time for these lovely films, isn't it? It's the first day of October though. Midday, forgetting about work tasks and pouring a cup of strong beverage. Waiting. 04:00 p.m. precisely - here comes the trailer!! Fandom, your time has come, once again!

It starts with a fake-sounding Bilbo voice trying to deal with the dragon. I can already hear all the excitement coming from the Sherlock fandom, as we are clearly about to witness some fine John/Bilbo and Sherlock/Smaug moments. Are we going to hear the voice, anyway? The big 'spoiler'? Smaug's voice? (= Benedict Cumberbatch)

Next: Thorin's known line about reclaiming his homeland, followed by Thranduil's shocking declaration: "I offer you my help". Wait, that can't be, no. This must be out of context. They're playing with us. Thranduil would never say that in reply to that! No no no... Coming quick (and another gasp) - Thorin in armour! Spoiiileerrrrr! Did we really see that, did we...?

Bard: "There is no king under the mountain, nor will there ever be." Another line to star a flame! Seriously, Bard? what sort of trolling is this? Have you skipped the Middle-Earth history classes in school or what? There were plenty of kings under the mountain, and everyone knows that. Are you Middle-Earth's chief ignorant or what? You surely beat even Thranduil himself with that. The fact that the place is vacant now doesn't mean that it's always been Dwarf-less.

Thranduil to Tauriel: "Legolas has grown very fond of you..." *gasp* Ooooh, now that's a spoiler! I can't believe they actually revealed it in the trailer! There have been so many speculations about the Kili/Tauriel and Thranduil/Tauriel pairings, all in vain! Look where the romance is in fact! Uh-oh... I just cannot believe the spoilers this trailer is delivering... (and only 50 seconds covered so far)

Bard:"You have no right to enter that mountain", says troll Bard again. To Thorin. He had some sort of bad childhood I believe. Or maybe he just really doesn't have a clue about Dwarves and he's never seen one, or ever known how one of them looks. Behold his new terrible line... to which Thorin replies, righteously: "I have the only right." Gotta love his composure when saying that, his condescended look and sarcastically 'almost whispered' voice. Nice! Please, Thorin, shove the truth in that ignorant's face.

*gasp* Army of orcs marching towards the battle field... bone chilling moment. Isn't it a bit early for that?

Sauron's eye for 1 second on the screen. It has got everything, really!

Sneaky Bilbo... "I found something in the goblin tunnel", he tells Gandalf, thinking about the ring. Suddenly he changes his mind and continues with "My courage..." Oh you little treacherous one!! It's humorous to see the next line Gandalf delivers, though.

Bard again (!), spilling his rage and hate towards Thorin, yelling from the bottom of his lungs about how "he cannot see beyond his own desire!" ...and no, things don't stop here. We are served with a beautifully acted and directed scene of how Thorin has a "respect my authority!!" moment, in which he clearly shows Bilbo, using the sword, that he cannot go into the treasure room. His treasure room. Gasping at Thorin's drastic, unexpected move. Ok, now you go and see the rest. It's crazy. We are living times of legend, like we knew we did 10 years ago. In fact, that time we couldn't really see the greatness of these films, I think...

Oh, did I mention Smaug's voice in the end, a total premiere?...


Watch The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug trailer 2 below: