The Shadow Line

The Shadow Line Synopsis

Chiwetel Ejiofor , Christopher Eccleston, Sir Antony Sher and Stephen Rea star in The Shadow Line, BBC Two’s landmark ‘noir thriller’ series written, produced and directed by Hugo Blick.

The Shadow Line is centred around Detective Inspector Jonah Gabriel, whose return to the Serious Crime Division after he was shot on an undercover job and hospitalised for 3 months is fraught with problems. Not only did his partner, Delaney, not survive the shooting, but the bullet that killed Delaney is also lodged in Gabriel’s brain and could kill him at any time. Furthermore, he is suffering from amnesia and remembers nothing of the case or the incident. Despite this, Gabriel is determined to uncover the truth and avenge the murder of his partner. Easier said than done when there’s £250,000 worth of marked money stashed in his wardrobe and of which he has no recollection. Does it point to corruption on his part or is there a bigger conspiracy afoot?

As Gabriel investigates his first new case – the murder of recently released drug baron Harvey Wratten, he becomes convinced that, despite it looking like a typical gangland killing, it is intrinsically linked to his shooting. Gabriel enlists the help of SOCA officer, Beatty, who is determined to take down Wratten’s empire, but as he gets closer to the truth he finds himself being stonewalled by his superiors, his family is threatened and ultimately, tragedy strikes. It only serves to steel his resolve and Gabriel finally exposes corruption at the heart of the establishment that affects everything around him. But can he stop it before it’s too late?

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