tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51383649921609059612024-03-08T01:29:35.518-08:00Artman TVColin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-22687694908366096972016-12-05T04:03:00.002-08:002016-12-05T04:03:24.902-08:00The Missing
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">In
October I reported that I considered the second TV series <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Missing </b>important because it tackled the problem of child abduction
for sexual purposes in a serious manner although it was dramatic fiction
designed to entertain a wide evening audience at 9pm. The series has now ended
and confirmed my expectation that it would one of several significant
programmes during 2016. At the end of October I had written – “I remember well
the first series of the British American <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Missing</b>
with James Nesbitt seeking to recover an abducted boy so I decided to watch the
second series which commenced on October 12 with the 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> episode on
October 26th. I am covering some of the work of James Nesbitt when writing
about the latest series of Cold Feet after an absence of over a decade.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">As
with Ivy in Thirteen, a daughter Alice, aged 11 years who disappeared while her
father, an army officer was stationed in Germany in 2002, dramatically
reappears when she walks out of a forest 12 years later and where it emerges
she has held with another girl Sophie Giraux, a crime investigated by a French
Police detective Julien Baptiste. He had promised to do everything to find the
child but without success, he had failed to prevent Mrs Giraux committing
suicide from a building in the presence of her husband who understandably has
never forgiven Baptise for his failure, something which Bapriste has also
failed to do.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Alice
is disorientated and in bare feet when she is discovered and from the outset
there are questions about her and her story. The father is played by the
established actor David Morrissey who has had a long and outstanding stage, TV
and film career and plays an officer no longer on active duty because of incident
which has left him disfigured from burns. While he is immediately convinced the
girl is Alice, his partner is not convinced.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>As with Ivy the father and the victim want to return to their home but
her behaviour is intended to alert us that something is not right. She
persuades her brother to lock her in the garden shed at night she cannot cope
with the normality of heated room, soft bed and family sleeping times. I
briefly had a similar experience after months of hard bed in a cell with a
light always on so a check could have been at intervals throughout the night.
It also brings back the hours I spent as child kept in room and told to be
silent while visitors from the homeland of my birth and care mothers were in
their home and were not to know of existence.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">With
help in which the Amy can join forces with the German police the place in which
for a time the two girls are believed to have been held together in a WWII
bunker. There is a private meeting at one point between Alice and the
commanding senior officer and from their conversation it is possible to say
that he was somehow involved with the disappearance. A receipt discovered at
the bunker leads them to a local butcher whose wife had served in the army with
history yet to be revealed but where the commanding officer appears to have
some hold over her. Alice identifies the butcher from a series of photos. The
man is arrested and subsequently convicted and imprisoned.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
French Detective retired and suffering from terminal cancer abandons his wife
determined to fulfil his promise to Mrs Giroux and her husband and persuades
the parents to allow him to talk to Alice and given the similarity between the
two girls when they were abducted he begins to question which girl has
reappeared, doubts which the mother has already tried to voice. He speaks to
the girl in French but she appears not to understand. He suggests to the mother
a DNA test which Alice overhears. Baptiste contacts Mr Giroux to persuade him
to go with him to Germany. Understandably he refuses.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Alice kills herself by setting fire to the
garden shed with herself inside. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
series switches between 2002, 2014 and the present when the son appears to have
become embittered and right wing carries out a request from Alice to visit the
man she accused in prison and say sorry on her behalf. Baptiste is in Iraq in
search of an army officer who he had met at the time of the original
disappearance and who has joined one of the warring groups.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He persuades a journalist with connections to
take up into an area of conflict and on their way from a deserted<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>village where there was evidence the army
officer had been present they are taken by the Peshmerga soldiers and brought
to their frontline where they meet up with the army officer who although
appears to know something refuses to help. Back in Germany the mother comes
across a video which appears to show her daughter, alive “</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Rather
than continue to describe what happens as the story unfolded episode by episode
I am going to explain what became a difficult story to understand because of
the device of constantly switching between different time periods. The
following is a test of how much of the series and plot I understood, remember
and cared about</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Whereas
in the first series everything was focussed around the role of David Nesbitt,
the role of Captain Sam Webster, played by David Morrissey, it is the Detective.
Julien Baptise, played by Tcheky Karyo who is the hero of story alongside
Keeley Hawes as Mrs Gemma Webster who must cope with a guilt-ridden son and cheating
and fire disfigured husband.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I
believe the way to explain and unravel the story and its wider significance is
to begin with the villain, a paedophile, that is someone unable to have a
relationship with an adult woman and the only way to satisfy his need for sex
and for a family is to obtain, abduct and rape female children.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We do not learn the full extent of past
actions of Major Adam Ettrick. Press Officer based with British army stationed
in Germany, but as Julien suspects he has raped and abducted girls throughout
his life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Julian’s investigations take
him to post invasion Iraq as the British army is about to leave and he uncovers
that Gettrick was a young officer who appears to have gone A.W.L and two other
officers, the subsequent Garrison head in Germany, Brigadier Adrian Stone and
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Reed, find out where he had headed and go to bring
back.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They find him imprisoned in a
local compound because he has raped a child who has escaped.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In freeing their colleague, they kill his
captor and believing no one else is in the compound set it on fire killing a
younger sister asleep upstairs<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>despite
being warned of her presence by her brother.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Not only do all three cover up the event<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>but so does their commanding officer at the time and this is where the
story is unbelievable<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>who happens to have become the wife of the
local butcher in the town close to where the garrison is based when the
daughter Alice<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>appears<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>to re-emerge despite this knowledge and her continuing
connections she stands<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>by<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>when her husband is framed, prosecuted and
imprisoned for the abduction of Alice when first a receipt is found in the
former Wold War II bunker in the<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>nearby
forest and then Alice identifies him as her captor before her own assumed suicide.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
reality is that Gettrick has separately abducted three children, Alice, an earlier
girl Sophie Giroux and one other whose back story is not disclosed. Baptise
investigated the disappearance of Sophie and his failure to find out what
happened to her leads to her mother committing suicide when Baptiste fails to
persuade her not to jump of the roof and she dies before her husband who
understandably blames Baptiste and then rejects the request to travel with him
to Germany when Baptiste believes that in fact Alice is Sophie. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He right because now a woman with a daughter
in effect acting as the wife of Ettrick at his homes in Germany and isolated in
hillside forest in Switzerland, she developed appendicitis and needs medical
care.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
idea is that she should get help as Alice and then disappear but the plan is
thwarted when first her mother and then Baptiste challenges. The Webster’s have
a shed in their garden and before the operation Sophie pretends she cannot cope
with sleeping in a bed because of being imprisoned sleeps first on the floor
and then in the garden shed persuading her brother to lock her in. After the
successful operation for the appendix she returns to the Household but again
persuades her brother to lock her in shed where it appears she sets on fire and
kills herself unable to face the reality of being home and being doubted. The
family are distraught, the son blames himself and is disowned by his father.
His father blames his wife and commences an affair with the daughter of the Brigadier
Stone (he has retired, developed severe contemporary memory loss with psychosis
and is placed in a home when his daughter who works for the army alongside Ettrick
cannot cope anymore. She has also become pregnant by Sam Webster and leaving his
wife and commencing new family is very much on the cards when Baptise reappears
believing his has the basis for uncovering the truth of what happened and at
that point convinced it is Sophie who has died and Alice is alive somewhere.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">He
discovers that the wife of the man convicted for the abduction of Alice served
in Iraq commanding Stone and Reed and eventually persuades her to tell him her
part of the story. This leads to Baptiste discovering that Reed had paid
regular sums to someone in Iraq and this is found to be the brother of the
sister who perished in the fire. Reed is found to have committed suicide but
contact with a prostitute friend of Reed leads to establishing the man had been
murdered and we learn that the murder was committed by Ettrick and that Stone
had knowledge in helping the clear up. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">While
the army and German police prevent the involvement of Baptiste placing
obstacles, he gains the assistance of a young police officer who acting on
initiative without Baptise visits Ettrick and comes across the man’s daughter with
Sophie. Because it is evident that the officer has grasped aspects of the
situation Ettrick murders the officer and hides the body and goes on the run to
his secret home in Switzerland where we have come to know Sophie is now based
and he leaves the shuttered German home with their daughter and we only later
learn with Alice hidden in the boot. Wait a minute if Alice and Sophie are
alive who was the murdered remains in garden shed? This a third girl brought
dead to shed and exchanged for Sophie (as Alice) and with Stone having a hand
in switching DNA samples to that of Alice from this third girl.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">When
Sophie as Alice in the home she discloses that she and this third girl had a
moment of freedom on an adventure park day out. I cannot remember how a
photograph of this event comes into the possession of Mrs Webster but there is
also a video and she goes to the park to see if anyone recognises the girls and
they also work out there is a third girl in the outing. As the net close Baptiste
and the Webster’s break into to the home of Ettrick and discover his dungeon
there and can trace him to a town in Switzerland when after a fruitless day of
searching they are at a restaurant bar where the waiter recognises Sophie when
she visited and he remembers her leaving across a bridge which leads to a
pathway through wood to the hillside home, where Ettrick, Sophie and their
daughter live openly but with Alice kept locked and a prisoner. They go in
search and although calling for backup they continue without waiting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ettrick spots their arrival and shoots and
badly wounds Sam Webster, but who lives long enough to see the rescue of his
daughter.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Sophie
Giroux’s also finds that his daughter is alive but she after nearly committing
suicide like her mother is persuaded by Baptiste not do so. She is in custody
and no doubt facing some prison because of her complicity but is unable to face
her father but he is introduced to his granddaughter who responds.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
brother of Alice guilty ridden, rejected by his father who in turn he rejects because
of knowing about the affairs with Stones daughter has become a right-wing skin
head. He visits the man convicted of the abduction in prison because Sophie had
asked him and say sorry. He also beats up Stone at the residential home on over
hearing about his complicity and about which Baptise is arrested and then
released. He now founds that he killed no one and that his sister is alive and
unbelievably resilient to her years of ordeal. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">It
is not clear<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>how much Stone is faking it
or<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>has become insane through illness but
his daughter who I found another of the unpleasant and stupid characters in the
story, wilfully obstructive in protective prepared to have an affair with Sam
knowing the distress of his wife finally faces the truth, confronts her father
and realises it is too late for him to face<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>justice for his crimes, as guilty of the<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>murder as a soldier and of rape and<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>abduction and sent an innocent man to jail. Quite righty this man ignores
his traitorous and cowardly wife on release from prison to find her waiting for
him at the roadside wife, another who deserves to burn in earthly mental hell for
an appropriate length of time.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Mrs
Webster has her daughter back and her son although it looks as if she is going
to befriend her husband’s mistress. I cannot remember if she is having or
terminating Sam child’s which if she does he or she must adjust to the crimes
of his grandfather and mother’s stupidity so I cannot see friendship with Mrs
Webster lasting, despite losing and then getting her husband back, so to speak,
before his death.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">And
what of my hero, a man in desperate need of an operation for a brain tumour
which is his only hope of survival but where survival is questionable. He is
driven to solve the mystery before accepting his fate at the hands of the
medical profession and the risk of secondary infection. He has risked his marriage
as well as his continuing survival in the search for truth. The series ends
without us knowing.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">In
real life, there is need to give those who wilfully cover up or stand by a fair
hearing before passing judgement and if guilty deciding on an appropriate
punishment. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Accepting acting under
orders, families under threat or blackmailed are aspects needing to taken into
account when deciding on punishment.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
importance of this fiction is the focus that while allowance must be given to
those who give their lives, risk life changing physical and mental health on the
line on our collective behalf deserve special consideration there can be no
blank cheque or get out of jail card was the Blair administration arranged in
relation to bringing peace to mainland UK on the situation in Ireland. It was
good to see the new Prime Minister appear to resist the pressure from with the services,
members her own party and from some on Opposition benches to insists that the
truth must be explored as in fairness has she and the new Home Secretary insisted
should remain the situation in relation to one aspect of historical abuse.
However how far she will be able to resist pressures having caved in on
austerity and the pressure from the global capitalists will become apparent
over the coming weeks and months. The issue is tied in with a volatile political
situation with a swing to right which the far right is exploiting and he issue
of the future of European Economic Community and our relationship with the rest
of Europe.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-53513590656155613982016-11-01T17:40:00.002-07:002016-11-01T17:40:09.567-07:00Cold Feet resurrected
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I
have not written before about the resurrection of Cold Feet which returned with
the same level of wit and asides on the realities of life, the interactions
between couples, and their children and each other who remain good friends and
supportive over decades and where from time to time reality has its destructive
cutting edge and no more so than in relation to the member of the group who has
grown into a much-loved actor and personality James Nesbitt.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He wanted to leave after the fourth and five
series which ran from 1998 to 2003 and persuaded to stay on for the fifth
season only on the basis that he was killed off at its end. In fact, the
company decided on a different course and it was his series wife played by
Helena Baxendale who dies.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Helena had
remained a TV actress since playing roles in some series such as an unsuitable
Job for a woman (4), Friends (14) Adrian Mole (6) Kidnap and Ransome (6) and
Cuckoo (13) but I believe it is for those 32 with James that both will be
remembered. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">It
was therefore brave for James and the other two couples to return reprise their
roles 13 years later in a possibly one off eight-episode series, given the
nature of the ending. James is a widower a son and where the fictitious story
pregnancy was made real by the second pregnancy of Helena Baxendale. The now
adolescent boy is at a public school which he dislikes because being of a
different social stratum he does not fit in. The series begins with Adam
(played by Nesbitt) returning from Singapore with his young fiancé who has a wealthy
international business man as her father (played by Art Malik) who at one level
she sees as Adam as her weapon against her controlling and dominating
parents.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The relationship does not last
as the bride fist accepts an important job opportunity and the plan of the
couple to fortnight commute for weekend with each other once a month in in
Singapore and once a month in England breaks down. The reason Adams dies not
return with her is that his needs a different school environment and to have a
base with his father. The boy is uncertain about his sexuality but a
relationship with the daughter of one of the other couples appears to settle
that and his father appreciate that the boy has found his feet and no longer
required his full attention.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Adam
takes a short rent lease in a small apartment bock where his land lady lives
across the hallway and I think she is also a widow, both finding it difficult
not to look for someone identical to their lost loves. The woman Tina is in
fact having an affair with a married man whose suspicious wife comes looking
and although Tina was aware of the marriage, contact with the wife breaks the
spell although the duplicitous husband says he has left his wife for her at one
point and moves in. James, in part spurred on by his friends, begins to
question whether his friendship with Tina is more profound. At the end of the
series there is prospect of their relationship developing, one day at a time,
compare to the whirlwind affairs which commenced the series.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">There
is what had become the nationally known comic sketch involving Ronnie Corbett.
Ronnie Barker and John Cleese about the three levels of social class, working,
middle and upper and the three couples which form Cold Feet representing the
middle class with Adam and Rachel (Helena Baxendale), the working class by Pete
(John Thomson) and his wife Jenny (Fay Ripley). Their relationship is Rocky and
Jenny begins to turn to an admirer as Pete loses sexual interest<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>and it
is only when he is clinically diagnosed with depression that she and his friend
begin rally and attempt to find ways to build up his self-esteem. This is
brought about when his son forms a band which plays at a gig to great success and
Adam persuades Pete to play the drums which he did when James and he had their
own band as young men and Pete shows he still has talent which results in his
children thinking of him as cool. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just
when things are looking up the biological father of their daughter who does not
know and insists on re-entering their lives to apologise for past behaviour and
then works out their daughter must be his. The girl finds out in the worst of
possible ways and rejects her care father however he becomes a hero again when he
becomes a local hero as a video shows his actions in persuading an armed robber
at the round the clock local store where he has gone for extra booze for the 49<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
birthday party of Adam is put on TV. The depression is gone and family relations
restored Pete and Jen also find their marital relationship also goes back to normal.
Fay Ripley is also known for being Mrs Reggie Perrin and more recently for
Suspects. She has published three cookbooks. John Thomson began his career as a
stand-up comic and made his name in the TV show The Fast Show before Cold Feet
and until the past two years his appearances have been limited including
Celebrity Master Chef in 2013.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
Public school upper class is represented by David (Robert Bathurst) who has
remarried (into money) and where early on his recognises there is no love between
himself and his wife when she refuses to take the speeding points to prevent
loss of his licence. She sets out to destroy him forcing him out of the house
and to seeking refuge with his original series wife and their children Karen
who has kept her married name. She becomes the interest of the international
business man Eddie Zober (Art Malik) and they have a sexually satisfying
affair. Karen (Hermione Noris has made her name and financial security in
publishing and walks out when the first is taken over and the new people want
to dumb down. She sets up her own company despite offers of a new life as the
wife of Eddie and then joins forces with the young owner of company involved
with digital marketing and their synergy leads to a new passion in her life. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>David who is given temporary accommodation
with his former wife also begins to appreciate her value more than ever and she
also begins to see him as maturing. (Art Malik admits that instant fame went to
his head after his role in Jewel in the Crown and he nearly became bankrupt with
his marriage breaking up. He has since settled and gets good work although I suspect
not as much as his talent should justify).</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Hermione
Norris also performed in two TV series where I watched every Episode Wire in
the Blood and four series of Spooks and she continues to appears in TV productions
and had a stage run in Blithe Spirit 2010-2011. Robert Bathurst was also in
Blythe Spirit but like Hermione his stage roles have been limited over recent years
and be has eight films to his credit in addition to ongoing TV roles.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the 2016 series of Cold Feet his world
comes crashing down at every level when an investment he and his firm promoted is
proved to be a fraud and looking for scapegoat David is suspended and the focus
of a police fraud investigation. Because of a mix up over the whereabouts of
his passport which he is required to produce when seeking bail, he spends time
on remand and this experience has a very positive effect. Karen is responsible
for persuading him to take a firm stand with his second wife and with his employers
and both situations work with all the charges against him being dropped and his
wife becoming more amenable to a fair settlement. The number of positives at
the conclusion </span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">made me question whether another series was
being planned even though it attracted over 8 million viewers. I have since seen
a report suggesting there will be. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Last word is with James Nesbitt
whose work I will always watch when given the opportunity. He established himself
as a serious actor in the film Bloody Sunday and since played a part in
charitable and community becoming Chancellor of the University of Ulster for which
has been awarded the O.B.E.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While he was
the undoubted star of all the stars in Cold Feet I he is also known for his role
in Murphy’s Law and as Bo fur in the Hobbit which meant two years in Australia
which impacted on his marriage He has had a role as a UNICEF ambassador</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-79968797499356908202016-11-01T11:49:00.004-07:002016-11-01T16:50:56.148-07:00The Fall-the impact of sexual abuse in a children's home and Damned - the present day Children's Department<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Although
the three series T<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">he Fall </b>is about
the capture of a brutal serial killer of young women in Northern Ireland as the
series reached its conclusion it emerges that the killer had been placed in
children’s home where he had been selected to be sexually abuse every day for
year until another victim was selected and in a situation where the boys had to
strip at assembly masturbate themselves and the staff. I became interested in
the series only recently when I recognised that the lead female role was being
played by Gillian Anderson who made her name in the over 200-episode TV series
the X Files along with David Duchoveny and which led to one off cinema films
and a short season (11) resurrection 14 years later of six episodes earlier
this year.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Gillian
plays an investigative senior police office heading a special task force on the
track of <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul Spector played by Jamie
Dorman and from the episodes viewed there is an emotional and psychological
intensity which is powerful and extraordinary in the<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>two lead performances and also the head of
special psychiatric unit in which the killer is placed in very secure condition
in order to establish if he is faking<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>short term amnesia allegedly caused by being shot when in police Northern
Ireland custody and being transferred. The series is very disturbing and not
for those likely to be triggered by scenes of great physical violence. Jamie
Dorman is brilliant at communicate a man who is adored by his daughter supported
by his wife, able to attract the obsessional devotion of a teenage girl who
assaults a young woman claiming to be in a relationship with Spector, who is
also able to gain sympathetic attentions from medical and nursing staff who
save his life hospital, and sympathetic attention for a female lawyer assisting
someone who revels in the opportunity to represent the killer and beat the
state. For her persistence in proving he is faking his memory loss he made to inflict
physical pain and damage on the senior police woman, kills someone at the
secure unit who he manipulates to cause a riot so he can almost kill the
psychiatrist in charge who has also penetrated his psychological defences.
Spector can cheat years of imprisonment, psychological probing and having to
face the reality of himself by committing suicide.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">There
is no single response in terms of later behaviour by those who have been sexual
and physical abuse in childhood with Spector at one end of the spectrum. To be
able to get around the alleged memory loss, the team are provided with
information about a crime he has committee several years previously and for which
someone has confessed and imprisoned. The explanation for this extraordinary behaviour
is that the individual in question had been with Spector in the home and when
Spector was asked to select the next victim to replace himself he had walked passed
and selected another, although the boy new he was the likely target. He owed
Spector in a way only victims who have been in similar situations can
understand and akin to those in the Nazi concentration camps who could survive
by assisting in some off the chores involved in the camp which included harvesting
hair, gold teeth, spectacles. and anything of value from the prisoners before
their extermination.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">In
complete contrast, I consider very funny in a healthy kind of way, the Comedy Series
Damned set in the Children’s Services Department of the fictional Elm Health
Council with Jo Brand and Alan Davies among others coping with the realities of
their own lives. Jo’s mother has psychotic severe recent memory loss, there is
a receptionist straight out of the Vicar of Dibley, a questionable acting
senior and a team head under constant pressure from them above.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Damned</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> is shown well after the watershed at
10pm which is welcomed and deliberate because of the understanding Jo has about
triggering. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jo Brand is the daughter of
a social worker and she studied for a combined social science degree with
mental health nursing and practiced for ten years before becoming a stand-up
comedienne, writer and starring in TV shows, a personality and a minor national
institution for her acerbic put downs of those who take themselves too seriously
in terms of attempting to project an only one sided presentation of themselves.
Her republican views and open support for the Labour Party means she is
unlikely to graduate into a major institutional figure. She visited South
Shields before David Miliband decided to leave Parliament and the UK to give
his annual” lecture” to Party members. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">She
is perfectly partnered in the series which ends this evening (November1st) by
her co-writer Mokwena Banks and Alan Davies, another with stand-up comedy
experience, best known for his role as Jonathan Creek and a permanent member of
the QI team.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I was reminded that their
strength is acting as mirrors to funny side of human frailty while watching a
splendid TV biography of the Mr Stand-up himself the unique and brilliant Peter
Kay, another who writes, plays and directs his work and continues to live in
the lace(Bolton) where he was born with his family. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">However,
the short series of damned is unlikely to change the need for a radical think
again about how we provide child protection on behalf of the state but is does
gently draw attention to the dangers of overreaction and the limitation of the
case conference with its inherent problem of bring together people with a range
of abilities, understanding and training and whose everyday focus is very
different and at times incompatible.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In
one episode, a teenage girl admits to having made up accusations against a
teacher for media cash while the police want to engage the anti-terrorist squad
when girls disappeared and it is the Vicar of Dibley innocent who works out the
that the text of a note found t at the home of one of the girls is that of a
current song of band and where the girls are identified from CCTV waiting to
get into a concert after Alan Davies uses the Internet. T<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">here
is a splendid last series episode with a wonderful outburst at the impact of a
hundred George Osbornes on the ability of the department to cope with all the demands
being made. The boss scares a teacher at the son’s school who texts him
inappropriately and the mother forgets where she puts down her child in the
supermarket from tiredness is given a warning (being middle class).</span><br />
</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-52336684548360666232016-11-01T09:10:00.006-07:002016-11-01T09:10:54.973-07:00Code, series two and a dark net paedophile auction for the abduction and sexual use of children
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The Code</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"> is an Australian drama series taking
over the Saturday evening BBC Four slot usually reserved for a drama in another
language than English. We are now midway through the second series of six
programmes which features a computer technocrat genius on the autism spectrum,
Jesse and his journalist brother Ned. Both series cover the same basic issues
of government complicity and duplicity, turning the blind eye and cover up, as
officials engage in crossing the line activities to protect the interests of
International corporations who are not opposed to using, often at arm’s length,
killing, violence, intimidation, blackmail, corruption and cover up to protect
and further their commercial interests.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I
am including the Code at this point because the first three episodes of the
four shown to-date of the second series involves a dark net service in which
children are kidnapped and trafficked for sex. The computer code break skills
of Jesse is demanded by the Australian government when two of three male Australian
citizens are murdered in West Papua, New Guinea, controlled it is alleged by
the Indonesian Government through the tactics of a police state, opposing
demands by the indigenous people for independence and freedom from exploitation
by an international mining consortium with Australian, British and USA
financial interests and where the ability of outsiders, particularly
journalists to visit is strictly controlled.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">This
aspect of the fictional drama series is accurate as in the early 1960’s the
Netherlands gave up its control of New Guinea with West Papua absorbed by the
Indonesian Government during a period when Indonesia conflicted with its enforced
involvement in the proposed new Malaysia. The conflict resulted in the defeat
of the left of centre political movement and decades of right wing military dictatorship
during which time the population has more than doubled to over 200 million with
nearly 60% on the largest of its 13000 islands, Java, and to becoming one of
the more prosperous world economies (16<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>). There is no political
freedom of expression allowed in West Papua with anyone opposing exterminated and
the rest of the world tolerating because of its capitalist interests, including
arms sales.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
Australian government coerces the involvement of brothers with the threat of
agreeing to extradition to the United States because of<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>the hacking involved<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>in the first series but then gain the willing
participation of Jesse when he learns that the survivor of the three men
attacked by the militia is the fugitive founder (Roth) of a dark net site part
of which includes the children kidnapped on demand and trafficked for sexual purposes
and that a male adolescent has been kidnapped and was available for the right
price. Jesse contacts the service with help of the government cybercrime chief
and team and offers to provide Roth with the encryption key to the Government’s
internal network which enable Roth to find out the names of the undercover
intelligence people after him. There is agreement to meet in the far north of
Queensland <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>and Jesse is accompanied by his
girlfriend Hani Parende, a student computer expert who in the first series is
blackmailed by the national cyber unit to befriending Jesse to protect her father
(whose visa is under threat and where a return to his homeland would mean torture
and death) and where he was and remains opposed to her friendship with Jesse
and a proposed marriage.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
couple are taken by Roth in his boat to his base hideout in the jungle of West Papua
where they meet up with Roth’s indigenous wife and daughter and whose brother
in law is an activist in the freedom movement. The purpose of Jesse’s visit is
to plant a programme which opens the back door which all computers have and
which enables direct control of content with permission, which I had once
agreed and witnessed, and which can also enable authorised government
operatives to use, even when devices are turned off, to turn on and monitor
content.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
two brothers, the elder Ned, are first contacted at the funeral of their mother
and where the funeral also brings contact with their estranged father who previously
had abandoned his wife and children. A feature of contemporary TV and film series
is the dysfunctional family as the norm of family life, and which together with
the increasing worldwide mobility, as much for work as leisure, means that the several
generation of care and support family networks used to provide have broken or are
breaking down further at the very time public service provision is being shrunk
and the availability of other forms of community support is very much a lottery
of geography and who you know.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Ned
whose required support role for Jesse throughout the first series has been
replaced by Hani, is nevertheless concerned about the disappearance of his
brother who fails to return from the North Queensland meeting and starts his
own investigation with the help of an estranged former girlfriend who works within
the government structure. Obtaining the names of the two murdered men he notes
the connection with a photographer and activist who is in fact working undercover
to expose the role of external governments, the Indonesian government and the
Mining Company. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She lets Ned know that
Jesse is on the island and safe. Although this may have been true at the time,
Roth, the undercover journalist, Jesse and Hani go into town to view the body
in the morgue of a colleague who has been killed and framed for the murder of
the two Australian citizens thus officially closing that aspect of the case. As
they leave they are attacked by gunmen on a motor cycle but escape unharmed.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">However,
Jesse is psychologically affected and it is Roth who gets him back to his
encampment safely. Therefore, Jesse discloses the purpose of his mission and
Roth appears to be horrified that his services are being used for the paedophile
network and offers to help by returning to Queensland where an associate looks
after a mirror/branch server on Roth’s family farm. As they are about to arrive
the boat is intercepted by the Australian border patrol and they jump overboard
to go in search of the missing kid. The second episode ends.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
third episode begins as the two survive the swim ashore, recover and make their
way to meet up with Roth’s associate who has effectively kidnapped the boy through
grooming using a non-existent female friendship and has taken him to a property
where the buyer is arriving to rape and murder and which appears to have been
the fate of other children in the past. When Roth meets up with his partner he
rages about his server being used for paedophilia, demands to know the location
of the boy and then brutally murders the man in front of Jesse who runs off in
horror and panic but can return to Canberra, the seat of government and assist
in locating the premises and rescuing the boy who is reunited with his parents,
and the buyer having been identified is arrested on arrival at the airport.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At this point, everyone should be congratulating
themselves over a job well done. Certainly, the Foreign Minister is reassured
that a politically difficult situation has been sorted.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Then
three actions by the government change everything. The visa of Hani’s father is
revoked and he is taken into custody. Jesse and Ned are told that the
extradition to the USA is back on the agenda. The leader of the West Papua freedom
movement and his family are arrested and deported from the island and the only chink
in what appears to be a cover up process by the government is that Ned with
visual information provided by the undercover friend on the island (Meg Flynn)
is able with the help of his former girlfriend to gate crash a meeting and make
direct contact with the female Foreign Minister.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ned Jesse and Meg
flee Australia and go to West Papua by plane where they head for the Roth
compound. Forces who do not want the Foreign Minister making further inquiries
arrange for her daughter to be given a university scholarship when all the
Minister has done was to plead with the university to be flexible when the girl
misses the registration date. At a subsequent meeting between the Minister and the
cyber unit head, knowledge of the scholarship is mentioned and we interpret this
as one other measure to stop investigation to what is going on.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Back at the compound Roth is surprised by
their arrival but accepts the reasons and after getting Jesse stoned gets Jesse
to break the Code for a USA security programme which enables them to affect the
digital system including cameras operating in the prison where his brother in
law is being held. Roth heads off to town to rescue the brother in law whose
wife is already there with Ned and his daughter protesting at the imprisonment.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A motor cyclist then arrives shooting indiscriminately
at protestors and Ned witnesses the shooting of Roth’s daughter as the episode
ends. I will complete the review after the conclusion and say more about the
first series and more about politics and big business in land of Rupert Murdoch</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-6662870023653894972016-10-31T17:11:00.004-07:002016-10-31T17:11:27.447-07:00Missing series 2 an abducted girl reappears after 12 years
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I
remember well the first series of the British American <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Missing</b> with James Nesbitt seeking to recover an abducted boy so I
decided to watch the second series which commenced on October 12 with the 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>
episode on October 26th. I am covering some of the work of James Nesbitt when writing
about the latest series of Cold Feet after an absence of over a decade.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">As
with Ivy in Thirteen, a daughter Alice, aged 11 years who disappeared while her
father, an army officer was stationed in Germany in 2002, dramatically
reappears when she walks out of a forest 12 years later and where it emerges
she has held with another girl Sophie Giraux, a crime investigated by a French Police
detective Julien Baptiste. He had promised to do everything to find the child
but without success, he had failed to prevent Mrs Giraux committing suicide
from a building in the presence of her husband who understandably has never
forgiven Baptise for his failure, something which Bapriste has also failed to do.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Alice
is disorientated and in bare feet when she is discovered and from the outset
there are questions about her and her story. The father is played by the
established actor David Morrissey who has had a long and outstanding stage, TV
and film career and plays an officer no longer on active duty because of incident
which has left him disfigured from burns. While he is immediately convinced the
girl is Alice, his partner is not convinced.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>As with Ivy the father and the victim want to return to their home but her
behaviour is intended to alert us that something is not right. She persuades her
brother to lock her in the garden shed at night she cannot cope with the
normality of heated room, soft bed and family sleeping times. I briefly had a
similar experience after months of hard bed in a cell with a light always on so
a check could have been at intervals throughout the night. It also brings back
the hours I spent as child kept in room and told to be silent while visitors
from the homeland of my birth and care mothers were in their home and were not
to know of existence.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">With
help in which the Amy can join forces with the German police the place in which
for a time the two girls are believed to have been held together in a WWII
bunker. There is a private meeting at one point between Alice and the commanding
senior officer and from their conversation it is possible to say that he was
somehow involved with the disappearance. A receipt discovered at the bunker
leads them to a local butcher whose wife had served in the army with history yet
to be revealed but where the commanding officer appears to have some hold over
her. Alice identifies the butcher from a series of photos. The man is arrested
and subsequently convicted and imprisoned.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
French Detective retired and suffering from terminal cancer abandons his wife
determined to fulfil his promise to Mrs Giroux and her husband and persuades
the parents to allow him to talk to Alice and given the similarity between the
two girls when they were abducted he begins to question which girl has
reappeared, doubts which the mother has already tried to voice. He speaks to the
girl in French but she appears not to understand. He suggests to the mother a
DNA test which Alice overhears. Baptiste contacts Mr Giroux to persuade him to
go with him to Germany. Understandably he refuses. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Alive kills herself by setting fire to the
garden shed with herself inside. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
series switches between 2002, 2014 and the present when the son appears to have
become embittered and right wing carries out a request from Alice to visit the
man she accused in prison and say sorry on her behalf. Baptiste is in Iraq in
search of an army officer who he had met at the time of the original disappearance
and who has joined one of the warring groups.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He persuades a journalist with connections to take up into an area of conflict
and on their way from a deserted<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>village where there was evidence the army officer had been present they
are taken by the Peshmerga soldiers and brought to their frontline where they
meet up with the army officer who although appears to know something refuses to
help. Back in Germany the mother comes across a video which appears to show her
daughter, alive. The first series had eight episodes.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-87876246614873264892016-10-31T15:44:00.001-07:002016-10-31T15:44:51.693-07:00Thirteen the abduction and imprisonment of a girl for the purpose of sex<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Thirteen. </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">I missed the original BBC showing of the
five-episode showing of Thirteen, the fictional account of a young women who at
the age of 26 escapes after 13 years of captivity for sex. The episodes are
available on the BBC I Player. She is found<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>by the police and DNA confirms<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>she is the missing daughter of a couple<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>who have separated, the husband living with his personal assistant at
work and a young daughter who<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>is about
to marry and lives with her fiancé at the family home, Despite warnings that
adjustment<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>back will be difficult
daughter and her mother and mother insist on an immediate return<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>home and mother also insists on the husband
moving back into the household in order to re-establish a normality as things were
13 years before. Ivy, the victim, appears as determined as her mother to recreate
the situation before the adduction.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
police have questions, not the least to identify and apprehend the perpetrator
and are concerned what appears to them to be a reluctance rather than an inability
help find the location. When they do they find evidence of inconsistency in the
story presented that Ivy was never allowed out of the basement where she was
held and which has been cleared along with the rest of house to provide no evidence
or clues of what has happened and where the captor could now be. Then the
discovery of female clothing in any upstairs bedroom suggests that she was
allowed out of the basement and then the discovery of torn passport size photo indicates
she was out of the house. Ivy claims that although this happened there was
never an opportunity to get help or escape.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>CCTV footage from a shopping mall demonstrates this also was not true. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
next development is the identification and location of the captor’s mother to a
residential home where it established she died sometime previously but had
another son. The finding that there was a younger half-brother adds to concern about
the story Ivy has given. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The female
police detective has been the most sceptical about the story presented and
works out there is more space in the cellar area that what appears and discover
a false wall behind which is the skeleton of the half-brother. The evidence of
his age confirms that he was present in the property during the time Ivy was captive
and it is her DNA on the covering of the remains. She admits she was present
when the captor killed his half-brother and is charged with attempting to
pervert the course of justice.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Through
social media Ivy had contacted a boy with whom she had been close when she disappeared.
It is evident she had hoped he had remained faithful in his commitment at the
time to her. He hides the fact that he has married and is guilty about
establishing a life for himself and where he fails to share his developing
contact with his wife and which causes Ivy and his wife to distrust him when the
truth emerges. Ivy was on her way to meet up with two school’s friends on the morning
she disappeared and one of the friends returns, guilty at the decision not to
attend the meeting and at first is forgiven by Ivy because of all the other if
only events had not happened that day. What is not forgiven is failing to
disclose she had stayed with the former boyfriend and his wife on returning and
knew he was married.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">It
has emerged that the captor had worked at the school but does this fact alone
account for the panic by the Headmaster at the news that Ivy has returned and over
the series we discover that the cause of his guilt is that on the morning on
her disappearance he was having a secret assignation with the girl’s mother.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The younger sister at first convinced the
returning young woman was not her sister changes and the two become conspiratorial
and this undermines the relationship with the fiancé. The programme highlights
the anger victims feel with their families over having found ways to move on.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Concern
by police mounts when another young girl is kidnapped and by the same captor
and because of having killed his half-brother the welfare of the kidnapped girl
becomes urgent and paramount. The captor contacts the police asking for a
meeting with Ivy. Everyone is reassured that Ivy will be protected at the
meeting in a shopping centre with 50 plain clothes officer monitoring. Despite
this the captor has contact undetected and makes his escape with Ivy on the
basis the new kidnapped girl is released which she is unharmed and reunited
with her <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="mso-comment-date: 20161031T2210; mso-comment-reference: CS_1;">parents</a></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="file:///F:/2016/culture/October%20reviews%202016.docx" id="_anchor_1" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_1" style="margin: 0px;">[CS1]</a><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Worse
is to follow because the captor can escape further to an unknown destination by
causing the chasing vehicle with the two detectives to crash, seriously
injuring one. We switch to house where Ivy is being half again and we learn
that she had been pregnant at one point and the man appears determined to reinstate
their previous relationship. She manages to escape from the house which
explodes in a burst of flames in a planned suicide attempt by the captor as the
police who with the help of the recovered girl have located the property. What
is also clear is that the substance of Ivy’s story is proven. The outline of
the story fails to convey the insight into the complex impact of being taken,
raped and held for years has had on Ivy and need to block out and go back to
the girl and situation as before. While there are some credibility issues in
the storyline there are several excellent other performances. I am still left
with the question Entertainment no so what has been the point?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: comment-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div style="mso-element: comment;">
<div id="_com_1" language="JavaScript" style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_msocom_1"></a></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> <a href="file:///F:/2016/culture/October%20reviews%202016.docx" style="margin: 0px;">[CS1]</a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-15257167920199965382016-10-23T03:44:00.002-07:002016-10-23T03:44:27.318-07:00Department Q
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">On returning to my room and a
change of clothing and time to view the last part of Strictly Come Dancing with
some very good performances with one meriting 39 from 40 points, and the first
hour of the X Factor before one off Danish Film <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Department Q. The Keeper of Lost Causes</b> based on a book and which
been followed by two other films although these are not to be shown. Watching
the Saturday evening series in a language other than English has become an<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>important regular event in my life with
Inspector Montalbano my favourite because of the intertwining of the love of Mediterranean
food with his detective skill and the Young Montalbano series has also<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>been exceptional, similarly to the recreation
of Moorse following the death of leading and irreplaceable action John Thaw,
followed by the series from the books of Henning Mankell, the Detective Wallander,
where Kenneth Branagh has also made brilliant English versions of the Detective
and the Danish political series Borgen on Coalition government which ranks
alongside the West Wing for the White House reality and the Yes Minister and
Yes Prime Minister series here in the UK. Romanzo Criminale and Corleone
focussed on the Mafia and separate Roman criminal gangsterism with the Tunnel
also being notable and meriting some writing to remind me of their experience</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">On Saturday evening 15<sup>th</sup>
October 2016 hoping to be engaged and taking away the disappointment of not
being able to go and see a play at the National Theatre where I had bought an
expensive ticket and the theatre was unable to give me a credit towards a
future production. I watched Department Q in anticipation but conclude that
there was something nasty about this work, perhaps because it came too close to
the reality of the terror of what being imprisoned is like. Over the past year
there has been a series of films about the taking of young women and keeping
them for the sexual pleasure of one man with currently on BBC TV Missing and
13.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The one off of three films
begins with interest when one of a team of three detectives is murdered, a
second finds himself paralysed, the third who was also shot but survives to
physically recover is relegated to permanently close the accumulation of cold cases
and is appointed an enthusiastically Muslim with a taste for loud contemporary
music. The sense of guilt and failure of the one who survives and the despair and
frustration of second is immediately real, with the urge to get back to work
understandable and the anger and frustration at being given a desk job and
having to work with someone new and cannot possibly understand how one is
feeling</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The assistant selects the first
batch of cases with a parade of photographs and which includes one, Carl, the reluctant
boss knows something about the case of a young woman politician who is believed
to have committed suicide disappearing from a ferry leaving her brother with what
first appears to be severe learning difficulties from head injuries in a car
accident which killed their parents.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The unravelling of what
actually happened is thorough and clever and early on we learn that the young
woman was in fact kidnapped and is being kept in a decompression chamber which
limits the confined area and also enables the perpetrator to changing levels of
physical unpleasantness. There is a credible method for of food and water
dealing with sanitation and the provision of food and water but it stretches credulity
that the woman is able to survive this limited environment for year upon year.
The juxtaposition of being a witness to the horror and the brutality the young
women experience and the difficulties the detectives face adds to the tension
which the film creates and where it is clear that the motive for the
imprisonment is not sexual but with the perpetrator insisting on having
voyeuristic pleasures in her increasing discomfort making it plain he is seeking
a prolonged painful death as the outcome but not why.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We learn that the perpetrator as
boy was in a car travelling in the same direction as his prisoner who exchange looks
as one of the cars overtakes the other, and he girl for some reason places her
hand of the face of the person in front thus it is suggested causing the accident
which kills parents, his sister and leads to physical and emotional condition of
the girl’s brother who she now cares for. The boy is placed in a children’s
home and portrayed as disruptive and violent, befriending another, who as an
adult appears to have been a conference with the girl who has become a
politician attends. At least this is the impression first gained as the
detectives identify the friend as the likely suspect as he is identified as
being on the ferry from which the woman disappeared, believed committed to
suicide.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">That the detectives commenced
to find out what happened by going out of the basement into the field was never
intended and opposed, particularly by the detective originally in charge of the
investigation into the death. When it is established that the perpetrator has
committed suicide over the side of a small boat, a fishing enthusiast, on a
lake, the two are ordered to close the case and return to the others which the
disobey and are suspended. Fortunately, they quickly discover that the dead man
is not the perpetrator. Because they learn that the brother is more traumatised
than physically damaged, the assistant who is a practicing Muslim, to provide
the obligatory representative diversity now required has the temperament to sit
with the young man until he is able to obtain responses to a collection of
photographs taken at the political event and which include photos of the perpetrator.
The breakthrough occurs when a witness does not identify the perpetrator as the
man at the conference which the brother has identified from the photographs
taken at the political event. It is at this point we understand that the
perpetrator has killed his friend in order to switch identities to get to the
conference after seeing a TV report of the girl as a budding politician.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It is at this point we are
asked to accept another coincidence which challenges rationality, although nothing
like the challenges posed by the film <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Inferno</b>
which I was to see the Sunday lunchtime. The perpetrator now lives in an
isolated ramshackle farm assortment of buildings with his disabled mother who survived
the crash but was unable to care for him as a child and where his father had
work involving diving and a decompression chamber within the home. The
detectives arrive do not accept the story that he is away from the mother and
leave when Carl realises that the pile of petrol cans means that there is a
generator which has been petrol power in order that the increase in energy use
cannot be recorded but why would the authorities take an interest anyway for
which there could be a number of legitimate reasons.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">They return meet up with the
perpetrator who at first denies and then puts up a desperate fight to complete
the murder of his victim, wounding the assistant with a gunshot and almost
killing Carl with a ligature. It is the assistant using extreme violence who
stops and kills the assailant. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The woman
survives maintained in a pressure container in an attempt to undo the
adjustments to her body caused by the years of captivity in which despite the
limitations of her confinement she has concentrated on remaining physically fit
and sane. The two detectives are rewarded with medals and Carl told he can re-join
his former team. He declines wanting to continue Department Q with the assistant
and an assistant to administrative and secretarial help and no doubt to provide
the female interest. For whatever unknown reason this did not become the
ongoing TV series similar to Cold Case here in the UK, but there have been two
other ones off films in successive years.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I can only assume this is because of the gratuitous violence used and the
protracted voyeuristic scene making it more a film for the cinema than the TV.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-52538730406643357442016-10-14T12:16:00.001-07:002016-10-14T12:17:35.931-07:00Perspectives on Queen Victoria<br />
<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">A number of significant
Television series programmes have or are coming to an end over the first part
of October 2016 and it is difficult to decide on an order of importance so I
will begin with Victoria, an ITV production of eight episodes aimed at the
Downton Abbey Sunday night audience over the past eight weeks and where a
second series and a Christmas special have been commissioned. The aim of the
production was to compete with the BBC’s success of Poldark and its central
male character, selecting Jenna Coleman who made her name in over150 episodes
of the soap Emmerdale and since 2012 was the companion of Dr Who Matt Smith,
with whom she worked previously and where it is said she can talk faster than
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The series was therefore set up as
mass entertainment and not a documentary on our knowledge of the Empress of
India, head of the Empire, long reigning, great grandmother with many children,
refusing to recognise her public role following the death of her husband and
overseeing as head of state the most dramatic and significant period in the
economic and social history of Britain.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Because of this I commenced to
study social and economic as well as political history during the first year at
Ruskin College 19611962 having previously obtained my only Advanced Level
General certificate of education in the British Constitution and one of the
ordinary level certificates in History and although I changed to public and
social administration and child social work I have maintained an interest in
the period over subsequent decades building up a mini library of non fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">The overview of the period
centering on the role of Government are Edward Woodward’s Age of Reform 1815 to
1870 and The Ensor England 1870-1914 in the Oxford History<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>series, together with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Court’s Economic History, Arthur Bryant’s
English Saga, and with a focus on Queen Victoria, Kings and Queens England
edited by Antonia Fraser together with her editing of the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dorothy Marshalls Victoria which includes
contemporary visual records and the authoritative biography by Elizabeth
Longford who was gained access to the Royal records and a wide range of other
documentation including the diaries. The relationship between Queen Victoria
and Lord Melbourne, a period in which she was referred to as Mrs Melbourne
because of the amount of time spent with him, is covered in David Cecil’s biography
called Melbourne. G.M Young’s Portrait of an Age together with the Victoria Age
1815-1914 by R J Evans provides also broad sweeps of the period. Cole and
Postgate’s, The Common People and Cole’s History of the British working class
movement cover the traumatic transition from an agricultural to industrial
economy. Social concerns are covered in the biography of Shaftesbury by
Georgina Battiscombe with the underclass covered in Peter Quennell’s London
Underworld and Kellow Chesney’s The Victorian Underworld, together with Dickens
of London by Wolf Mankowitz and contrasting with Young’s Victorian Essays and
Lytton Strachey’s Eminent Victorians. The last word on the era of the British
Empire is covered by Colin Cross in The Fall of the British Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">With this knowledge immediate available
together with </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">films and TV series about the era going back over
several decades I commenced to view the new television series with some
apprehension asking the question how will it measure up as dramatic and
information entertainment as well as historical accuracy? The most recent films
have been Emily Blunt’s Young Victoria and Judy Dench as the widow Queen,
provocatively titled, Mrs Brown but I can go back to the Anna Neagle films made
in 1937 and 1938 Victoria the Great and Sixty Glorious Years, the BBC TV series
Happy and Glorious 1952, the 1964 Granada TV series Victoria Regina and their
I997 series Victoria and Albert. Give my recent writing on the Kinks they
created a song in 1969 called Victoria.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">The mistake I believe ITV has
made is to attempt a ratings and attention competition with the BBC over
Poldark and the need to attract the Down Abbey and Upstairs and Downstairs
audience and the younger generation to stay watching after the X Factor by some
spicing up and creating events about without there is no historical basis or
twisting past events to meet fashionable contemporary attitudes. The audience
has fallen from eight and a half to just under seven and a half million before
the last series one episode this past Sunday 9<sup>th</sup> October 2016. The
choice of the former Dr Who assistant as the Queen and the approach of the
production led to a massive outburst of spleen in the Spectator by James
Delingpole who called the work silly, facile and irresponsible and went on as a
sub head to say “I blame the feminisation of culture.” His outburst provoked a
massive response of outrage. The Guardian was more appreciative but also opened
by suggesting that ITV “didn’t need to embellish” the life of the Queen,
claiming it was wild enough already. Matthew Dennison went onto suggest that
its silliness was due to exaggeration that grossly distorting of facts arguing
that a good fist was made of the relationship between the young Queen and Lord
Melbourne. She did loathe her mother’s “adviser” and thought her mother weak
and over protective. She resisted the attempts at forced marriage and came to
adore him. There was open hostility to Albert because he was German and
resistance to his being given a formal role and by Victoria to his
participation in helping out in her official role. She was the subject of what
appeared at the time to be an assassination attempt but the idea that Albert
took an immediate interest in the plight of the working classes or the Queen
expressed views in support of the Chartist movement appear to have no
foundation. It would be surprising if any young mother did not have great fears
about her first child birth and the loss of some children was commonplace as
well as breeding many children in part to compensate for their loss, but mainly
because begetting children was regarded as a male right and confirmation of his
masculinity and respective roles of men and women in their place. In this respect
the notion of any woman, including a reigning head of state having opinions or
taking decisions unguided by men was unthinkable. I also suspect that there is
no evidence for the stories concerning the Royal Household.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My response after watching the first episode live has
been to record and watch when I can later sometimes fast forwarding sequences
lacking any interest. I have never watched Poldark. I looked forward to
watching Downton Abbey which had characters of substance which I was able to
believe in and where a commitment to portraying the period was</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">scrupulously
researched and implemented throughout. I came to care about most of the
characters but this was lacking throughout the first series of Victoria. It
will be interesting to see the width of the time period and the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>international and nation event upon which the
second series is to be based.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-66576324505517957292013-12-19T08:32:00.000-08:002013-12-19T08:32:18.952-08:00Sam Baily v Susan Boyle<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the evening I did watch part of the results show for Strictly and then skipped through most of the second X factor final show except for the two performances of Sam and the other contestant where the gulf between them widened especially with the respective renditions of the chosen first single released and home for Christmas number one. The performance of the other contestant was passable while that of Sam was extraordinary with a depth of emotion and vocal of outstanding world wide ability. I am surprised that she gained more than a million votes of support and had the two female panel members in tears with Sharon Osborn speechless with emotion and Gary and Louis in awe and unqualified admiration., Later she had been the audience choice in eight of the ten weeks of live performances and with Luke, who only came third topping twice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past couple of weeks I have seen two documentaries about the Britain<span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">s got Talent older success story Susan Boyle with the second programme on ITV the more interesting. Over a year ago he decided she as ready to go on tour although her manager remainder apprehensive given her high anxiety level. The big change occurred because she had received a psychological and psychiatric(?) assessment which discovered that she had nor been brain damaged at birth as she had been led to believe but had an autistic range and this had led to a reappraisal of performance preparation, relaxation and other actions to combat panic attacks and excessive nervousness and fear of failure as well as disappointing those who had come to see her. In this she was aided by the artistic/performance coach supporter director for want of a better description, a comparatively young man who appeared to fully understand Susan.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She commenced with a performance run through before a small invited audience, before undertaken several shows in Scotland where the home audience was expected to give her unconditional support should problems arise. In the event the mini tour was a great success in two ways. She sang the score and more of numbers in 90 to 100 mins show with interval but she anyway had the audience sympathetic empathetic and willing her to succeed. There was then a big leap to test her ability to performance to an even larger audience flying to the USA and Texas in a 17000 plus sweater stadium. She had arrived and a comprehensive UK tour was then planned followed by an International one. It is one of the amazing entertainment stories of my time.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-79669603484472840552013-12-15T10:14:00.003-08:002013-12-15T10:14:56.816-08:00Borgen series three episodes 7 to 10,<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is Saturday 14<sup>th</sup> December 2013 and the last day of the series Borgen, I am going at lunch time to Newcastle to purchase winkles for tea and then Newcastle play Southampton from the expensive vantage point of a Platinum Club, returning for Strictly Come Dancing semi final and the X Factor final weekend, Now England are struggling to survive changed conditions in Australia who managed 380 odd runs first innings and England in reply 118 for 2 after Carberry played on and Root<span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">s dismissal was confirmed by the third umpire where clearly the electronic evidence would not have given him out although the decision had to stand as the on field umpire had given the player out after an after thought reaction</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I missed the last episode of Borgen because I had not noticed that the recording had failed and left it too late to rerecord. I was able to establish that the former Prime Minister Birgitte Nyborg had been diagnosed with pre cancerous condition and required radio therapy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The 7<sup>th</sup> episode of the third series starts with the consultant pressing Birgitte to tell her family what is happening, but she insists that she must continue alone and goes from the hospital direct home where her son has delayed going school because of a cycle puncture and her daughter has a late start on Mondays. Birgitte then goes to the office where staff are concerned at the way she appears to be neglecting her duties during the crucial stage when the new party is attempting to establish itself as a political force and in the public mind at a time of crisis because of the International economic crisis,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The governing party is attempting to establish in effect a government of national unity but on their terms and when Birgitte responds to an invitation to meet she is told terms which include abandoning all environmental measures for three quarters of the next decade. She leaves immediately and is seen approaching the notorious leader of the Freedom Party who dismisses her approach reminding that while she had only three seats he now has 45. Birgitte still hiding her condition from her family and political colleagues making excuses and the consultant continues to press her to involve others as she admits she is not sleeping much at night perhaps four or five hours and then feeling tired during the day. She says she needs medication to keep her going for 15 to 16 hours a day after she is caught asleep by her daughter on the very day that the government announces he has called a general election, something which the politicians and TV 1 news station realise he has been planning for months. Birgitte has slept through almost a day of messaging after saying she would be late in because of a dental appointment,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The public broadcasting station TV 1 is also caught out by the General Election announcement where the situation between News head Torben and news editor Pia is tense as she seeks clarification of the nature of their relationship. She has been in love with him for sometime and he responded sexually without thinking of the implications in terms of either her or his wife and family. He has demonstrated a cautious sitting on the fence streak, some would say a cowardly one, in the past, or the Quaker approach of wear thou sword until thou cans’t.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Torben’s immediate boss wants them to win the election in terms of the competition from TV2 but they get off to a bad start as the governing party had immediately arranged for a head to head with the main opposition party the Labour Party trying to turn the General Election into a presidential one sidelining the other parties although Kruse and the New Democrats have done a pre election deal with the governing party which Bent argues will harm them in election. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The consequence is instead of having their previously all party leader debate on the first evening they have to settle for one with the deputies and the main leaders debate the following evening. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We learn that relations between Birgitte’s press director Katrine and Kasper have improved with sharing their child’s care and Katrine almost insists that he has the care for the fist 24 hours after the election announcement and on the evening show it looks as if Torben has a new partner than Kasper. His hair is growing back from the time where he had to shave his head after their son had taken scissors to it when he felt asleep when playing with him. The TV1 team has the brain wave of using GPS to follow what the party leaders are doing 24 hours a day and contact Katrine before dawn to seek her cooperation which will obviously have implications for Birgitte.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The election will be about the economy and the best way to respond to the crisis so Birgitte suggests they turn for help to man they had to abandon because of his previous community party background and Russian links. He has a research programme under way but offers a couple of hours before the evening’s debate. Birgitte recognises they are under funded with less than 1 million Kr in the kitty and will need at least another million which is still insignificant given that the government part is said to have around 45 million and has already booked space in the main news papers. They only have 15 new candidates approved and need at least fifteen to twenty more in order to become a political force and hopefully become part of a governing coalition again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Because she is tired Birgitte does not prepare as well as she should for the TV debate and this shows in performance when the opposition parties agree she should take the lead on economic questions and emphasise the need to keep the environmental “green” approach. Katrine is fed up because of the refusal to participate on the in the 24 hour coverage with a journalist always on hand 9 in order to protect her position, but after the TV debate fiasco Birgitte realises she has to change her approach, especially after her daughter complains that she had become distant again. The following morning Birgitte makes breakfast and sits the two down and explains she has not been going to gym but for radiation therapy emphasising that the position is pre cancerous but they are on top of the situation but she is feeling very tired. The episode ends as she takes the children with her for the next hospital session.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The eighth episode could have been the last given the momentous events that take place in the course of the hour, or at least the last episode of a season. Birgitte decides that in addition to telling her children she must also advise the party leadership and Katrine arranged for a lead reporter from TV 2 network to interview Birgitte in the office, explain what has happened but that she does no wish to make her illness the issue. There is a great response with lots of flowers at her home including from her ex husband but she says she wants to keep Jeremy at a distance not being able to cope with what is likely to be his reactions. However she finds him at her home one evening saying he is in love with her and has arranged to be there during the days ahead to help.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Despite knowing the predicament she has been in The Moderate party, her old party led by Kruse has been doing a deal with the Labour Party and the Greens, of a new Opposition Manifesto Our Demark which does not mention them because they have not signed up and which does not include issue with which the New Democrats have a different viewpoint with the Moderates. However Birgitte decides that they have to go along with the situation or face becoming spent force before the election takes place and thy concentrate on defining policies which separate them. However during a debate between Birgitte and Kruse about the differences between the two parties Kruse appears to have prior knowledge of the decision to promote wind farms something he has always voted against but now says his party supports their expansion. This indicates that one of three people, ruling out Katrine and Bent have done a deal with Kruse in return for providing information on all their meetings, their tactics and policy programme developments. The approach is to provide of three possible traitors with a false addition and the policy selected by Kruse will reveal the traitor and to everyone’s surprise and disappointment in turns out to be Nete who had regard Birgitte as her heroine and hd been shock by the failure in the fist leaders debate when Birgitte gets the figures hopeless wrong unsure if the police figures are in millions or billions. She has returned to the Moderates from which she originally defected. With Birgitte positive abut her physical health, with the public aware as well as her family and party about why she had been underperforming the position was a positive one.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The last two programmes last night living up to my anticipation and contained some good twists.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">At a personal level Torben‘s wife, works out he has been involved with more than a one night stand which he tries to pretend happened when he arrives home in the very early hours and she reveals that when he had been away on a training/conference she had tries o contact him and the office knew nothing of such an event. He is forced to admit that he has had an affairs and that it was with Pia his news editor. That it is with someone with someone with he is working all and every day makes the situation even more unbearable and she insists he must sack the woman or not return home.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He tells Pia he is moving her to documentaries because they are in need of someone with her experience. However with the team horrified this is happening just before the election he realises this is unfair and changes his mind. When his wife finds out she insists he hands over the keys and sleeps at the office. There is a sense later when his wife bring the bys who are missing him of a couple of hours and they go for a walk along the river bank for a meal the boys want a meal comment about the river bus on which has never been and which runs past his office. Hanne comforts Pia about the relationship when she confesses the extent of her affection.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">However Torben has what in some respects is a greater challenge to deal with as the creative management boss has decided that they must compete with TV2 in turning the election coverage into a game show dividing the parties into blue and red,, left and right changing the way the debates are presented and planning an outrageous series of changes for the General Election day results programme. Torben rebels before the final debate and is summarily dismissed and leaves the building, goes n the ferry and then arranges to meet his wife for a meal and begs he to take him back and for to return home with her. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the meantime Pia and his number to have rebelled that the non journalist boss is going to have a hand in the election night coverage and is calling the shots about the way the programme is going to be conducted. Torben is reinstated at leads for Election night and although he insists on going home with his wife she agrees that he should do the programme first. She is their to greet him with the programme ends and Pia is seen being led away by Hanne one of casualties of the series with Torben admitting he had been wrong to respond. The boss tell Torben it was great fun as he departs the building and Torben’s riposte is to suggest that the time he wants fun he should go the to the funfare.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The economist former candidate who is brought back to assist Birgitte by Latrine commences an affair which they both enjoy as Kasper continues to play his part in caring from their son and Katrine also attempts to come to terms with the fact that her new lover is not only twenty years her senior but a late teens son and daughter. They appear cool about their father’s relationship although curious. Katrine finds this situation uncomfortable and at one point make her escape which the father is cooking her breakfast prior to meeting with the rest of the family. At the end of the programme Katrine changes her mind and calls at the man’s home and later is seen enjoying breakfast with the family.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte’s occasional lover Jeremy also learns of her illness via the media lath given that does not speak Danish is interesting. I also earn that he was never a CEO but an International architect who designed the building in Asia where the international company where she was a board member had built. which their relationship feel even more contrived and designed to bring in even more English speak audience. Her has very little to do in the third season but appear normal, grown up and coping with her mother’s lifestyle remarkably well. Son Magnus get a better part as he becomes anxious about the health of his mother fearing the worst even though she assures she had been given all clear and will go back to see the doc in nine months time. Then when she feels a new lump understandable panic especially as there is delay before she can see the consultant who explains it not more the acculturation of fluid relate to her treatment an which he releases with a syringe and whalah everything is hunky dory again. And hat of the future of her Jeremy who declares his love and has rearranged his globe trotting schedule to be with her. He remains unconvincing throughout.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The main political issue in the ninth episode of the town is how to differentiate themselves from the Moderate party especially after the damage cause by the Nete betrayal which enabled Kruse to switch policies to attack his political craft always just ahead to take their wind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte decided to adopt a high risk strategy according to Bent and some of her closest colleagues when choosing to break from the centre left coalition against the ruling party and to attack Kruse know his ability to lose his tamper which he holds together in their first confrontation as she tears up the manifesto.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Being Kruse he launches an aggressive smear campaign using every previous allegation against her. It is Kasper, where I am not clear how is now earning a living missing that 6<sup>th</sup> episode, who offers to provide he ammunition discovering that he has covered up a drink driving incident in which he lied ( sounds familiar!) but Birgitte refuses to sink to his level and wants to concentrate on policy differences. However she changes her mind after a journalist door stops her daughter who is understandably upset and she gives the green light Katrine. However at the last moment Katrine also has an attack of conscience after Bent and also the Economics Guru raise their eyebrows. Birgitte is grateful for the second thoughts.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Meanwhile the guru has been using his best students to go through economic programme of tax cuts and expenditure propose by the Moderates under Kruse to find the evidence and does so in time for the last leaders debate and where to avoid what happens before he takes Birgitte through the figures.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The outcome is that the party gains 13 seats in the middle to become key player in the attempts to gain the kind of stable coalition required to see the country through the economic crisis. This is crammed into the first 24 hours although is usually the case negotiates can sometimes continue for weeks until the a last agreement can be established, In this instance the variation are difficult to follow with at one point the left prepared to do a deal with the extreme right The freedom party where the deputy, the woman who seduced number two to Torben to so he will nit be hard on her when they interview has toppled their leader who was against participation in government. He wanted heir party to give expression to view of the common man, the educated, those alienated by the multilateral changes to Danish Society brought about by the widened EEC. An outrageous character their remained something likeable about him despite his outrageous explosions of views and he is seen leaving the parliament building toppled. The deal offered to Birgitte for the leader of the Moderates who is also under fire from his number two and the news later to the right is that Birgitte should become the prime Minister again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It is something she seriously considers but the final twist she offers the premiership to the existing man on condition he agrees to various concession and her taking the post of Foreign Secretary thus avoiding the inevitable conflict domestic policy. Whether this is a positive or negative development in relation to her lover travelling lover must remain speculation as wall as the impact on children.</span></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-10580475407654715602013-12-13T01:25:00.003-08:002013-12-13T01:25:58.692-08:00Borgen season three episodes 3-6<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I am going to try and be ruthless with myself and have drawn up a plan for my time between now and end of the first week in January given that I shall be away for twelve days over Christmas and New Year in two trips one involving the car and the other the train. In addition I have also two outings to football, one possibly two to the cinema could be three if I also go to see Falstaff from the Met and one day in search of a suit although I might wait until the sales.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will finish writing about Borgen and Montalbano in depth and make a brief lists of those matters I would have written about and may still do later if I am not required to become in matters from by former life. Of the remaining days before Christmas there are Christmas cards and letters and preparations for travel. Not time to consult the Don<span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">t panic manual again, but today I have not played a computer game. I went off and had a very good exercise session for 45 mins achieving higher ratings as a professional tennis player beating a team rated higher, improving the bowling and golf and wining by 12.6 in two rounds of baseball before the mercy rule was applied and then having an excellent power bowling session scoring 512 and gaining a silver medal. However I got my age sports age only down to 36.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Programmes which I appreciated recently include one on Doris Lessing and adult content of music tapes, two programmes on the life and work of Susan Boyle. The series the Tunnel which comes an end next week, the latest episodes of Boardwalk Empire and Master of Sex, also Blue Bloods with the Blacklist concluded for its first season. I watched part of the Royal command performance skipping some acts. These to be added to the relays and other films outstanding, some from a year ago and as are some TV series.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">First four more episodes of Borgen in which I understand are its final season and which lived up to my expectation as the new political Party in Denmark experiences all the problems of an instant mass movement created from all those who feel outside the existing political party framework wanting to join in. The guardian TV critic regards it as a flaw that former Prime Minister Bergitte Nyborg embarks on the enterprise in such an amateurish way forgetting that although Party leaders she was comparatively inexperienced to take on the role in the first instance and was unable to keep her marriage going and to avoid major problems with her children, especially the daughter. In part as with marriage and parenting there is no tried and tested formula about creating a new political party. I do however agree that given the importance of the bacon and pork industry to Demark it was surprising that the former Prime Minister had to educated about the reality of what went on. The third series has in fact become a vehicle to discuss topics of controversy and importance to Danish society and here in the UK we need to view the programme from the Danish perspective although the inclusion of an English speaking, Scottish lover could be viewed as attempting to respond to the great reception the programme has received in the UK and other English speaking countries. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the third episode of the new season 13000 people have rushed to support the new party and dozens crowd into the office wanting to make a contribution and this is regarded great to its leader, the former prime Minister Birgitte Nyborg her media adviser, the former public broadcasting TV 1 station news front woman and journalist Katrine and her three Members in Parliament two from her former party The Moderates Jon and Nete together with one from the New Right whose name I have not remembered.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The situation reminded of the first Committee 100 meeting I attended with Michael Randle previously of the Direct Action Committee in the chair, Ralph Scheonman who was Bertrand Russell’s. Commissar and a mixture of anarchists, communists, labourites and liberals, traditional pacifists, new age practitioners of Satyagrapha(non violent resistance) and where I was one, libertarians and collectivists with the attraction of commune just coming back in fashion, Catholics and Anglo Catholics, Jews and the C of E, Non conformists and atheists,, heterosexuals, lesbians, homosexuals and bisexuals, as well as I assumed those reporting to the security services if not members of the security forces, in London the USA and Moscow. The idea that we would reach agreement on anything was ludicrous but that we eventually did in terms of the form of demonstration was remarkable, although even we slimmed down the planning group to around 30 we were bitterly divided between those who wanted revolution or saw the activities of committee as potentially leading to revolution</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">(I must get Wikipedia to include my name and adjust their article on the Committee 100 which has several inaccuracies as well as write up more about the reality of my experience of the Direct Action Committee.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the instance of Borgen there is a Christian who wants the new Party to support limitations on abolition with Birgitte having to say that her party would never adopt a position where a woman did not have control of her body in this respect and where another new activist wanted her to read a 450 page theoretical economic work which when she got down to it had state control nationalization of almost everything as its conclusion.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Jon a sitting member in the parliament was concerned about the lack of finances and arranged for her meet a Banker who wanted to give one million Krone and after an alcoholic lunch where he has chosen the menu he increases the donation to 1.5 million claiming that he is supporting and does not want anything. Birgitte accepts starts to spend on their HQ and offers free coffee to the activists. Jon then arrange for her to meet some with agricultural interests but at this point she realises there is no such thing as a free lunch after finding that the view of the banker are being incorporated into aspects of the draft financial policy statement.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte blows the whistle on her self and after getting a 100000 Kr loan from her husband and using her own resources she pays back the quarter of million already spent and concentrates on setting membership rate of 300 Kr some say too much others too little so she settled as this sounds the best compromises and then invites everyone to leave except the founder members declaring that one they have agreed their platform on the various issues then it is for the supporters to decide if it is a party for them to join or not. The issue of what they stand for and political expediency to get stabilised and recognised is the subject of the next two programmes and I going to jump form the fourth to fifth programme for this purposes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The leader of one of the opposition parties approaches her to support a proposed new piece of legislation which will make all forms of prostitution illegal in Denmark after the plight of slave trafficked women comes to national media attention. If she agrees the combined vote with force the Act on the Government who are opposed to blanket change in a situation where it is not a crime to sell sex and those in brothels who pay taxes are in a grey area with their receptionists and accountants can be liable to prosecution unless they can show an income separate from the sex trade</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">At first Birgitte is enthusiastic in signing as way of gaining public and political acceptance but the new right former member wants her to be cautious and establish the facts, and then Katrine who is favour of the order gradually come round after meeting a sex worker union leader representing a couple of thousand out of the thousands estimated to be involved in the sex trade. Birgitte refusal to sign the draft legislation is criticised by the other Parties involved and her nemesis’s the former Labour Party leader through his newspaper and other media interests and they begin to lose members. The Sex Worker leader agrees to attend a public hearing where is the lone voice explaining that there are those who enjoy the work, are not forced into it through poverty, partner pressure etc and feels humiliated and raped by the viscous and cruel assertions made against her and use of false statistical information.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte with Katrine help is able to provide that one of the charity help agencies has grossly exaggerated figures in order to gain a 40% increase in government financial aid and slowly the position changes and the Government agrees to introduced legislation which will improve the present situation without introducing a blanket ban. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There is a meeting between the new line up of parties where the ruling party is represented by the Minister of Justice, Birgitte makes attempts to negotiate conditions for supporting the government approach which includes a special anti trafficking task force to deal with the issue which has attracted media attention and public support, but after presenting an excellent case for legalising brothels of brothels with sex worker represented listened to towards the end of meeting the meeting the government decides that the change would be politically acceptable but some progress had been made</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the fourth episode Jeremy, the English speaking CEO at the International company where Birgitte was on the Board. is poisoned when eating pork at a fashionable restaurant with him throwing up over Birgitte going viral on You Tube and leading to yet another vitriolic attack from the former Labour leader. He is in fact allergic to the antibiotics given to the pig which has clearly been slaughtered and used without sufficient time for the medication to have cleared the system. With the help of the brother of Katrine who pig farms Birgitte learns the nature of the industry in Demark when the quantity of Danish bacon produced has become more important than quality with the commercial animals factory farmed and hundreds of thousands of piglets slaughtered because they do not measure up to commercial requirements. (I have eaten suckling pig twice during a visit to the capital of Majorca.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The brother does not eat this produce himself because of concerns and instead uses animals which he rears in the open at the back. Katrine promises not to reveal the source of the info being used but he becomes understandable and angry when Birgitte mentions his involvement in a TV interview albeit in way which does not directly identify except to his neighbouring pig farmers and where he says he does not want to speak to his sister again. Because the leader of the extreme party, the Freedom party also pig farms and is incensed by the sentimentality that he shows how they clip the tail of the little piglets soon after birth which causes uproar and eventually they are able to use his emotional intervention when they learn that he has been warned about his methods. The intervention in this issues gets them recognised as a new party,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I failed to record the sixth programme which centres on a new recruit as prospective member who a communist and had visits to the Russian embassy where 80% used to be KGB. The other part of the story concerns the visit Birgitte makes to the hospital are having problems one hand and Jeremy noticing that she has not been eating and as been losing weight. In the previous episode he finally gets to meet her children in the process of making them a bread and butter pudding B BTOH TAKE TO HIM ALTHOUGH SON Magnus had previously expressed anxiety given his close relationship with his father, Philip former husband has help out by taking the children when he arrives for a short stay between visits on his continuous world wide taking position. Interesting when asked he admits to paying for sex on a couple of occasions on his travels which shocks Birgitte when first revealed. However she reveals to Katrine that one female European Minister confided she rented young men on her travels as she had no time for an ongoing relationship. Philip on the other hand says he has never done. This seems to influence Birgitte towards him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Although Katrine no longer works for the TV station the father of her child, Kasper does although his role at the station is lifted the ongoing issue is the role of the news station head Torben who has to contend with a new boss representing the interest of the Board, a young man with contemporary about management and creativity. He uses a room with odd shaped chairs and chalk boards and encourages Torben to think outside the box. He makes demands and threatens and at first Torben gives in. He fires an economist because her realistic message does not fit in the positive message which the managers wants to carte. He describes the woman as a Pakistani prophet of doom. He is told he must present the sacking to the team has his idea and he repeats the description to the horror of the team. He then has to face a complaint from staff about his language which only add to the criticism of his boss.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Later he stands his ground in front of his colleagues earning their respect but getting in effect a final warning and later still the manager appears to climb down over a belief that the midday news should be cut. He had already agreed that the evening news should have content aims just at women and the later news at men. There had been indications that the news Editor Pia was attracted to him and his stand had changed attraction into reveal her interest which at fist he considers and then holds back, married with family. Later he responds and haring a noise they assume it was a cleaner but his manager reveals that he has been a witnessed and begins to use to this get his way. Torben‘s wife has visited the station to express concern that he has been spending so much time at the station he has been missing out the attending the school activities of his children</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The main emotional story of these episodes concerns Katrine who finds her feelings for Kasper have grown stronger when she sees him asleep with their child, However when visiting his flat to bring medication she had previously forgotten she finds a bra by the bed and realising that Kasper has a girl friend although later he admits he has been seeing a number of women. She reacts by reducing the agreed contact he has with his son. He threatens to go back to court.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine presses for an explanation about why walked out on their living together and he explains that he could not cope wither her role as a mother and as wife. He adds however that their son is the most important thing in his life and he could not think of anyone else he would have wanted to be the boy’s mother which makes her feel good about herself once again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The episode on prostitution and the talk with sex worker leader has helped her to work through her own feeling about love and sex and she invites in from the station Torben’s boss who had refused on their date. He has called round with the lame excuse of being in the area. The scene closes when it is evident they are gang to have sex. The new balance in her life leads to reconciliation with her mother who reveals to eh daughter something she has never talk anyone before, that when her first born son with under a year of age she had an affair with a neighbour, something she had not told her husband and reveals this because she understands some of the issues which mothers can experience when they begin to cope with the realities the different roles they are expected to maintain.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There is one area where I did find myself sharing some of the criticism the Guardian TV journalist and this is the relationship with Jeremy although in instance it was the fact that Birgitte had accept the roles on major companies. I would have expected her to have been offered and taken a different kind of role, especially after her success as the negotiator of peace between the two sides in the African state. A role within Europe , or the United Nations, some aid organisation would have also seemed more likely for the character that had developed, or the extent to which she appeared to have walked away from political matters and her previous own political/ having said this one feature of smaller parties is the tendency for them to split as one personality with their visions finds difficult to be subordinate with another of a different vision although the public the difference may not appear significant. Such difference exist within parties where factions an division can be just as strong but can usually be contained, although doing so in the contemporary world of 24 hours TV is even more difficult than previously.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I have been able find out that the main story of the episode which did not record and I failed to realise this when I could have recorded again. It is evident that Birgitte did visit her CP and this led to hospital and the diagnosis. She has not disclosed to her ex husband or children and was viewed isolated and alone in hospital learning to face the news.</span></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-59055603718265256632013-12-11T09:11:00.003-08:002013-12-11T09:11:41.191-08:00Hebburn the sit com and All Aboard East Coast Trains<span lang="EN-GB"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">On Metro stations and platforms <b>Hebburn</b> is described a as place on earth and not to do with heaven I have very mixed feelings about this series now its second season and featuring the community in South Tyneside closest to Gateshead. The main industries of shipbuilding and Switch get manufacturer Reyrolle have gone with the largely Irish and Catholic origin a strong and dominating one with the equally strongly Labour party dominating with its posh club compared to the seedy Unionist club long the main room. The town largely made up of uniform council housing with gardens replacing the former terrace back to back streets, While the town had a modern civic centre which includes a modern swimming pool with facilities for all the family there was a lack of shopping facilities with families wanting to make major purchases of furniture, clothing and other goods having to go to Newcastle or South Shields within the centre of neighbouring Jarrow there was significant better. It only over the past two decades that there has been the growth of Supermarkets with three major and several smaller units in South Shields, one major an substantial in Jarrow, a huge superstore in Bolden but none until last few years in Hebburn where life revolved the working man’s club and entertainment pub.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Despite the involvement of the local established and highly regarded actress Gina Mckee I did not know what to make of he series or how townsfolk would react to the portrayal of its people especially its lasses as moron and sex crazed where social activities comprised shopping when the cash was available for cloths and make up and hairdressing into Newcastle for a club and otherwise the local social club pub. Having exploited the East End of London, Liverpool, Yorkshire and more recently Glasgow for situational comedies about the working, or non working underclass, it was probably to bring out all the clichés and stereotypes about somewhere in the North East It would be OK if it as funny especially as there was no audience with many scenes shot to show the ton as it is. It was amusing because of my knowledge often area and essential viewing because of this but in terms previous series in the same vein I was disappointed, disappointed that is until the second series which became funnier in kind way and culminating in a moving an authentic episode this week which I believe has talent the series onto a different level.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Gina Mckee plays the proud mum who wont let anyone use her best room unless the occasion demands who this season has tried her hand at selling housing although the establishment colleagues ensure that had was allocated only the worst properties to get rid off,, and where she has now branched out in making cup cakes He typical North husband with an enthusiasms for football, beer , fish and chips and pies has had a stroke and is in rebellion at the added control with his wife and mother now have over him. There at home daughter tried hard to ape Geordie Shore and the Essex girls with her friend who is significantly more of a slapper and her club singer whose school son by a previous relationship has become a skilled thief. The mother in law has organised her fellow residents of a home for the elderly but has returned home complete with stair lift after being left a house which she sold for coppers to the son and daughter in law to ensure she continues to get her full wacky of the social, especially as the main bread winner is now on the permanent disabled sick.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The series has revolved around the arrival back home of h on ho unknown to his family has married a girl from lower middle class home in a drunken moment in Las Vegas. who mother has pretensions and a retiring hen pecked husband. The young man has been working as a journalist, giving up his job to become a writer only for this to fall through. His wife had been a bright student and finds her temporary stay become permanent as her husband takes a low paid post as editor of the local free newspaper. Their predicament in a wafer thin wall bedroom, when his wife is the butt for his sister and her best mate who the son once dated becomes even greater when she becomes pregnant as does the girl friend of the club singer, but her relationship becomes challenged with the arrival of a former male friend while the sister takes a course at the former Hebburn Tec.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The day to day week by week storylines came to a head last night when the daughter in law gives birth several weeks prematurely coinciding with the publication in the magazine of a national newspaper of the diary her husband has kept and which the paper has edited out all the complimentary leading the picture a high emotional and unliveable wife in pregnancy. There are two episodes to go as the residents of six flats at renovated Westmorland Court were evacuated following a fire at one, the second incident at the Court within three months according to the local authority area Newspaper the Shields Gazette.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As I passed Newcastle Station yesterday on my way home I wondered on the progressed made to the outside and what I assume is to be the new ticket office and customer service centre, something was not mentioned to date in the excellent Sky Channel One series All Aboard East Coast Train and which later in the day featured Derby Day between Newcastle and visitors Sunderland and where the home side lost 3.0 always an event likely to cause trouble. Had the side lost then supporters would have been inclined to leave early and get away as quickly as possible while the Newcastle crowd remained in the ground celebrating to into town to do likewise. However with a lost there was an element, some of who would not have been in ground but in surrounding pubs and bars showing the game or would have waited for the news just to take the opportunity to have a punch up with the visiting supporters. Several staff cars were badly damaged as the scum attempted to get to the visiting supports by using the cars to get onto a roof giving access to thee station. The visiting fans were penned in a narrow yard ending the arrival of three special trains travelling from Sunderland to the station. Others would have come on the Metro route travelling incognito among the home supporters, by bus and by car.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The edition feature the female station manager and the organisation of the departure of several thousands students from Durham University as they made their way home with trains at half hourly intervals. Extra staff were n hand to put luggage at speed in the special luggage van so as to avoid the train being leaving the station in over the 90 second turn around time, after which the East Coast Train paid a penalty to rail track.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Previous editions have featured the team in the restaurant car travelling early and providing breakfasts especially to he first class passengers who now have a meal at their table provided as part of their ticket. Another episode feature the work of Trolley ladies and counter which has a target of making a certain amount each journey to balance the books. Newcastle has been a regular featured station which included those who see the trains depart and the weekend stag and her do’s both arriving in Newcastle or visiting the cities. Football was also the subject of trains arriving and departing from Kings Cross one Saturday and the insistence of no alcohol trains which result in any alcohol being confiscated and those who attempt to smuggle and drink when onboard at risk of prosecution. This applies to anyone travelling although alcohol packed away in luggage is not checked.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The training is centred at York where the HQ for the line with its 19 stations and 155 trains a day is located and a driver and the supervision as well as the retirement of someone leaving after a lifetime of service at York. The series mirrors a similar one covering the West Coast line from Euston to Liverpool and Glasgow on a different channel.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span>#</span> </span> </span><br />
<br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-69210731771206699262013-12-09T15:11:00.005-08:002013-12-09T15:11:46.472-08:00Borgen season 2 ending season 3 begins<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">For the greater part of Sunday 9<sup>th</sup> December I reflected and then made notes on my experience of child care and protection during the years 1962 to 1971 some for publication and others over which I am still debating the merit of circulated in private or to become part of the 101 project and sealed for 100 years or more. With going to see an Imax film at the Metro centre tomorrow as well as investigating the purchase of a new suit I have decided to leave decisions until later in the week and concentrating on bringing up to date my writing and viewing experience of Borgen, the brilliant Danish series on coalition government and politics together with the impact of the political public life on relationships with partners and children.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Because of the unintended break between writing about the first and seconds seasons up to episode 18 of 20, it is appropriate to recap on the main characters and storyline.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Denmark has its first woman prime Minister leading a significantly minority party but which had gained seats dramatically at the General Election and forged a coalition with the Labour Party and progressive parties on the left, and which led to the replacement of the Labour Leader who concentrate on his media involvements using his tabloid newspaper in a crusade against the Prime Minister, Birgitte Nyborg who he sees as destroying his political career, although in fact it was of his own making after being fed damaging personal information by the media director of the Prime Minister, which he had discovered when rescuing a former partner, a Public Service Broadcasting TV station news front women from a situation where she woken to find her lover, a married man with children and also gofer for the former Prime Minister dead from a heart condition. Birgitte had refused to use the discovered information found when Kasper had stayed in the flat after Katrine had left to removed all traces of her presence before alerting the authorities.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The series is as much about the roles and relationships of the media Director, Kasper, and TV journalist and front woman. Katrine. She appears to come from a comfortable middle class home with good relationships with her family. Her previous relationship with Kasper broke up because there was a significant part of his inner self he was unable and to some extent unwilling to share.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The death of her lover who had announced his intention to divorce his wife and live with her was very difficult to bear but eventually as the series progressed she commenced a physical relationship with a fitness coach. Kasper is jealous but also recognises there is a gulf in intellectual and political and social interest between the two which he draws attention and ultimately leads to man involve walking out of the relationship appreciating that apart from the sexual attraction there as nothing binding the two together.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Kasper in the other had is haunted by what happened to him as a twelve year boy and pretends to his current girl friend as he has to Katrine that his mother died when he was a boy and father lives in the South of France too busy and with a very different life for them to get together. It is only midway during the second season that we learn the facts which are hinted at then slowly unravelled, that his father and three drinking and card playing male friends had sexually abused the boy until he had taken a hunting knife and severely wounded the father, but who had survived and with the friends had been convicted and imprisoned. Kasper refused further contact and with his mother who had conveniently been away when the criminal assaults took place and who provided a home for her husband on his release from prison</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The past comes crashing back when his mother calls to announce the death of her husband and he cannot cope with the burial on her own. He takes over provides the minimum and attends the cremation on his own but joined by Katrine who he eventually tells what happened, after his mother is admitted into care with dementia and on selling up the family home, the agent gives Kasper a box with a scrap book and video tapes of the trial and publicity. They are both on their own but commence to live together after he gives the box to Katrine and understands.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The professional lives of the two also as its ups and downs. Birgitte sacks Kasper for taking the discovered information to another political leader, but re-engages when his replacement, an academic, starts to put his own spin on issues. Kasper also has a time when he believes she will sack him after he becomes aggressively angry with a right wing leader over his attempted to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 14, an issue, the raising of the age with which I with others was involved and believed we had succeeded when the Children’s and young persons Act was passed in 1969, only for this section not to be implemented by the Conservative government of 1970.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine also storms out of her TV station job takes a job with her predecessor working for the newspaper run by the former Labour Leader. When they discover a plot to oust the successor party leader, they again revel and her former boss finds herself unemployable, having a drinking problem as well as her ethical standards while Katrine takes work where she can in hosting a daytime TV show. Eventually she is taken back in a temporary basis while her replacement is on pregnancy leave and she insists on her former boss also returning as a part time assistant. By the end of the second season they have achieved such good work that they are offered permanent positions although the head of the news division makes the point that she should put having children on hold given the problems the station has recently encountered. This she says is unlikely, after during the two remaining episodes of the series when they are embarking on taking n expensive new apartment Kasper makes it plain without discussion that they are not having children and they are at the point of breaking up again. He goes to see his mother and changes from the years of resentment and smouldering anger to empathy and forgiveness on seeing the state in which she is now in. At the point her boss is offering the appointment on conditions, Kasper is changing his mind, brings flowers to the officer and tells her she need not take the contraception pill. This is point when both could be said to have reach the best of times in their relationship and working experience.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">During the first season we have witnessed the growth if Birgitte in to someone amazed at finding herself the Prime Minister, struggling to cope with challenges of lading a coalition and most of all with the impact on her husband and two children. It not just that she is required to be on duty 24/7 but her position impacts on the ambitions and interests of her husband who begins the series as a university lecturer. First he is required to sell off shares in a firm specialising in wind turbines and then to resign soon after accepting the appointment of a CEO with an International firm because in the first the government is about to conclude a contract worth millions supplying Turbines to another government, but who starts to try and get out the deal when Birgitte refuses to hand over a dissident. Then it is discovered the firm is involved in a small part of a big contract involving new fighter planes where the Minister and Military are found to have accepted very expensive hospitality and in one instance a very expensive gift.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">However his main difficulty is accepting her more confident and assertive role as her confidence and assertiveness develops in her political role and which is show by her power dressing and manner and this demonstrated by her decision to suggest she will make herself available for se twice a week, something where events sometimes intrude and where she offers for him to have discreet sexual relationships if that is the way for them to remain husband and wife something she wants. They separate and eventually divorces something she resists although for the sake if her two children she accepts his new partner a paediatrician his two children immediately take to, especially the youngest boy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What both parents fail to appreciate is the impact of the divorce and the absences of Birgitte is having on the daughter as she moves into adolescence. The girl starts to have severe anxiety attacks, withdrawal and depression which comes to a head when after commencing treatment with medication she starts stops take taking the anti depressants, the happy pills. The second and more serious breakdown occurs just as the Prime Minister is gaining her greatest political and media success brokering a peace between warring sides in an African state where the Christian side is supported by the USA and the Muslim by China and where the revenue from oil is a major factor with a leading Danish industrialist having significant interests.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The daughter is rushed to hospital where the consultant explains that she has become very ill, although girls not taking the medication is common as a way of demonstrating that they still have some control over themselves. He recommends a significant change the parents care of their daughter and her placement in a special private unit because of the 50 week waiting list for national health service psychiatric treatment. This poses a major problem for the Prime Minister as her health reforms involve scaling back on the tax subsidy to private health care. The cost of eh treatment without health insurance is a major issue and the decision is taken not to use her former husband’s health insurance because of the political fall out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte asks Kasper to help with limiting media interest but the story quickly breaks as the son tells friends at school, one of who parents sells the story to the paper of the former Labour Leader. Worse is to follow when a photographer enters the grounds and takes pictures just when the girl begins to settle and participate in the treatment regime,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">At first the daughter panics at the idea of going to establishment and then is very cautious until the unit head convinces that she understands how the girl feels based on the experiences of the others who have abd are being treated. Th daughter then resists going to group therapy but she also begins to attend and to participate In addition to basic structure and approach makes friends with another girl suggesting a very close relationship as the season ends,. She is also able to communicate with Kasper who went through a similar experience as a child, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The presence of media quickly disrupts the treatment programme for everyone and faced with having to remove their daughter Birgitte takes the unprecedented action of taking leave and asking the leader of the Labour Party to take over in her absence. The daughter make great progresses over a period of weeks to an extent that she is ready to begin the process of returning home, first by only attending during the day time. Such is her progress that at one point she gives thanks to Kasper for his understanding with a peck on the cheek as she goes off with her best friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte who has never been happy with the behaviour of her husband accuses him of abandoning her too quickly and not making the effort to stay. He ends the relationship with his new partner but this does not lead to the two getting together but enables him to devote the time required to sharing the care of the their children. Birgitte has had a one night stand with a chauffer who is replaced. She is full of guilt about what has happened to her daughter, especially when the girl reveals she had talked about her feelings of letting her mother down. The unit reminds that the roles of mother and work place greater demands and the reality as workaholics is that sometimes he work just does not take precedence but it is a necessary escape from the demands and realities of parenthood. She claims that Birgitte is not responsible for what has happened to the girl, about the only point in the entire series with which I have conflict. It true that much of the behaviour and physical life of children is the product of their physical and mental structure but this is inherited from parents an while direct carers, teachers and other will have their impact it is the parental relationships, or substitute parental relationships or the lack of them that has a major bearing on how the child develops and over their subsequent lives.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As the daughter heals she needs the attention of her mother less and this is the opportunity for Birgitte to return to political life as speculation about the future amounts and the opposition begin to steal the political initiative. From the outset Birgitte has relied on an older political friend from within her Party who becomes her Minister of Finance, but she is forced to stand him down under pressure from Coalition members as they demand concession for keeping the coalition going. He also reacts when she attempts to make him a commissioner in the EEC an when he agrees he immediate has another attack on his health something which he had kept previously secret from her and his colleagues.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As the second season ends they are back as friends and party political colleagues and he is impressed when she seizes the initiative after her major reform bill is passed by a narrow majority 82 to 80. She goes to see the queen and now she is calling a general election, not to decide if a woman should be Prime Minister but if the policies of her party and coalition have majority support. During the leave period the opposition and others had made much of difficulties of being a politician, wife and parent. The seasons therefore ends optimistically and we the viewers make the assumption that he will be returned and indeed I had assumed that the series had end at this point until learning of a third series.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The first two episodes of the third and final season of the Danish political Drama Borgen commenced on BBC Channel Four Saturday evening 13<sup>th</sup> November 2013</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Prime Minister’s daughter and son appeared much and son appear that much older suggesting there was a gap in production between seasons two and three and this is confirmed with a gap of two years since the General Election. The next revelation is that not only did the coalition lose the election but her own party was smashed to below the number of seat from the election before their rise to power and office. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The head of her Party. the Moderates is Kruse th man she insisted become the European Commissioner after his double dealing nearly finished of her close friend Bent he had disappeared from the series in episode 4 of the second season.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">When the season opens she has become a Board member if not the chairman of an International company and is visiting developments in Asia. She is also in a relationship at a distance with the company CEO. She and the children are renting a very expensive upmarket apartment and the husband comments that his son bedroom has th space of the previous kitchen and living area.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Returning th Denmark she see Kruse announce on Katrine’s TV news show that he is prepared to talk to the Government about Draconian immigration and repatriation laws and this she makes up her mind to return to politics and Ministerial level if possible, although she appreciate that many will oppose especially Kruse and his supporters.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine has become a single parent mother although its father Kasper is playing a major in the boys upbringing and care As they are both working hard the boy is in the care of her mother who appears to have become a permanent fixture although she has her husband and home. Kasper has moved back into the media and co hosts th news programme with her boss,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte arranged to meet Kruse hoping he will provide a safe seat and a return to ministerial duties albeit in the Shadow cabinet. It is pay back time and he rejects her offer and after talking things over with Bent she decide to contest the leadership of the party as any member to do.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She approaches Katrine to be her media director who is finding working full time and being a mum challenging, using her mother as and when necessary as well as Kasper playing an important role so the child’s first words are grandma and daddy but not mummy. Her predecessor, Hanne who also works again at the TV station presses Katrine to spend time with the child given her experience where she lost contact with her daughter because of being a foreign correspondence as a young mother . </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">When Katrine meets with Birgitte and Bent to discuss the campaign we learn that the Party now has only ten thousand members in 92 organised districts each with a local leader who has the vote in the leadership campaign together with the Members of Parliament where there are now only 18, When Birgitte goes to meet one f the leading members Jon, with views close to her own and also an opponent of Kruse she finds first she cannot enter the Parliament Building, despite having been the Prime Minister, without possession of the appropriate pass is let in as guest when another member, a female Member recognises her, and Jon who just gets the message is thrilled about her return but says he cannot openly support because of the power Kruse now yields threatening and intimidating people, especially many district leaders into in critical support..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">They decide to go on the offensive and she participate in a TV interview which has the desire effect of immediately brings some influential party member to her side. However Kruse does not give up his position without a vigorous contest and she fails to get the 56 seats required to win the leadership by five.. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> n the final scene we see her inspecting a dilapidated building which she takes on lease and when asked what she wants is for she says a new political Party. In the second episode she approaches Katrine to become the Communications Director and they approach a female member of the Moderate party who as a Member of Parliament enthusiastically support Birgitte and now finds herself cut off. She also approaches Jon although his support for her leadership was cautioned by Bent because he thought the man was after the Party Leadership and was using Birgitte for this purpose.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">On a visit to the Parliament building Katrina meet Bent and assume he knows about the latest development but although Birgitte knows that he will come round in the end having been a member and supporter for 40 years she knows that his first reaction would be hostile and had hoped to advise him what she was doing once they had progressed and were in a position to go public.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A meeting takes place between Birgitte, Bent and Kruse in which the leader offers her a seat in Parliament and deputy leader of the party but she refuses because he is unwilling to make any concession on the issue of the new repatriation legislation. He warms that she is now an opponent and he will fight her all the way. She says he will have her resignation within an hour and Bent comments that she is no longer his friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A very different response eventually come from a senior member of the New Right party who has married a black refugee to the country and where later he makes the point that the very legislation he helped to pass means that their son cannot wear a hooded top because of the risk of being picked for a misdemeanour and then being open to repatriation. It is a very big step for him to make, and even after he arrives at the first policy making and launch meeting of those involved he hesitates and momentarily withdraws unable to because he cannot send the letter resigning from his party and become and an Independent.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine has explained the development to her mother who remains hostile because of the insecurity financially and the impact on her role as a single parent. Although sworn to tell no one she tells Kasper and he pretends that it will be on the news that evening. He is joking and in fact on the Kasper Torben show he says he believes that Birgitte has quit politics after the failure of her attempt to become leader of the Moderates.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Through a misunderstanding, I think Katrine believes Kasper is staying for a meal first before taking their child to his home although it is not clear if he living on his own or with someone after the couple split up yet again. He only stays for part of a glass of wine. However Katrine does have a one night fling with the new Director of News Division having previously approached about returning to the TV station after failure of Birgitte to gain the leadership of the Moderates.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The News Director has a held meeting with Torben raising with him the unit cost of his division which is increasing as production cost rise but viewership falls. He had made it plain that without improvement Torben’s job is on the line. When Katrine fails to rejoin the station and then arranges for a rival TV station to have the first interview with Birgitte after the new Party announcement is made then his future becomes the issue and he expresses his anger to Katrine at what he regards as a betrayal.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine also expresses anger towards her mother who is constantly commenting on the lack of time her daughter is devoting to her son, her financial insecurity and the state in which she keeps her apartment. When mother accuses her daughter of still being a child inside, Katrine flips and sends her mother packing saying she will manage her son on her own but then is forced to take the child to press conference launch of the new Party at the Parliament Building.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In order to finance the new party Birgitte considers giving up their leased apartment and moving to something smaller and less expensive which the daughter takes in her stride but which anger her son who says he does not want to move. While the relationship status of her ex husband is not clear relations between the two appear comfortable and relaxed and her helps out Birgitte with some surplus furniture from his business enterprise involvement.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The lover from Hong arrives on his way from a meeting in Germany to Norway which confused about his role and that of Birgitte in Hong Kong but this was settled in the introduction given to her for the TV appearance when it was stated that since her defeat as Prime Minister, and where I presume she was one of the party members losing her seat she had worked as a lecturers and on the board of a number of companies</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">With the failure of the approach from the leader of her now previous party she had no alternative but to go public and the press conference is arrange in which she makes a passionate and well argued case why the party is needed as the Moderates have effectively moved into an alliance with the governing coalition over the immigration and deportation issue. The show stopper is the appearance of the former member of New Right party with his young wife to explain why he has joined. However the magic moment is the appearance of Bent who also arrives and asks if he can join, shortly after she learns that already there have been 10000 likes on a social net work site.</span></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-73697063193870130332013-12-08T07:38:00.002-08:002013-12-08T07:38:19.058-08:00Masterman and Johnson after Kinsey<span lang="EN-GB"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Most people of my generation have heard of the Kinsey reports on the sexual behaviour of men 1948 and Women in 1953 and the renewed attention to his life and work fifty years later with a generation of film goers who may have taken interest aroused by the film Kinsey in 2004 read about his work and even the report, or the latest studies from the institute he founded</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The focus of publicity overs the years relation to these studies has been the numbers of partners before and after marriage. Studies since had looked at the impact of the contraception pill and the impact of HIV and Aids, the growth in sexually transmitted diseases among young people. There have been other reports on the same subject since and these include one recent covered in BBC radio news but which I did not make a note at the time, and if my memory is good also involved a description of recent studiedly behaviour and noting changes from previous studies especially among females.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The original Kinsey findings, especially the research on female behaviour were hotly debated from various viewpoints. At that time and still but to significant less extent to day the official media and political approach was to condone sex before marriage by young males, but not by females and similarly there was greater tolerance of t men and significant less of women who had sexual relationships after marriage, especially in the North Atlantic white “western” style economies.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The work of anthropologist Margaret Mead revealed the realities among societies leading “primitive” lives, including the existence of behaviour regarded then and still as illegal, and the work of historians, especially in relation to the behaviour of rulers and war makers although more impressionistic than evidential also demonstrates considerable variation from what was expected to be the norm in pre and immediate post Second world war “Christian” based countries. In this respect it also fair comment to state that in some Muslim based countries show tolerance towards the behaviour of men allowing multiple wife partners and harems but are exceptionally severe against the adult married female, with stoning to death for adultery.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">If on the other hand I said Masters and Johnson to most people before the recent commencement of the America television drama <b>Masters of Sex </b>I would have been met with ignorance. It was around the time the 1963/1964 class of child, family care and hospital based social worker in the first generic style professional training and qualification course at Birmingham University that we taken to a Family Planning clinic for a talk and demonstration that I acquired my copy of the Kenneth’ Walker’s Physiology of Sex first published in 1940 before Kinsey although subsequent editions made reference but understandable not to the studies of Masters and his research assistant which revolutionised official understanding about the nature of the sexual response with its liberating findings, particularly for women.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As is my want interest in the TV series being shown on Channel Four has been with the closeness or otherwise of the facts of the drama to quickly available knowledge of the work and lives of the researches concerned. I say quickly available as there is a biography of the two who divorced their partners, married and then divorced each other some twenty years later for reasons I would be interested to learn ( Thomas Maier's biography <i>Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love</i>.),</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As the series was being shown on Channel Four my expectation was of a serious presentation of their work and relationships especially as the cast contained some recognisable actors with outstanding work, notably Michael Sheen as William H Masters, Beau Bridges as the Hospital Provost and Alison Janney (West Wing White House media director) as his wife, and to date I have not been disappointed having viewed the first nine programmes in three sessions.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">For those who seek voyeuristic sexual arousal and excitement or remain convinced that that sex and romantic love is indivisible this is not a series for them and at one level it reminded of that visit to the Family Planning Clinic, or later interviewing those running sexually transmitted disease clinics when part of the Home Office Advisory Committee on Drug misuse sub committee examining the implications of HIV and Aids in relation to substance misuse and also first hand experience of what a woman can go through in giving birth it is enough to put one off sex altogether. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Being involved in the birth can help men to understand thee lifelong bond which most mothers have with their offspring and which also led to my understanding the recent televised judgment on the woman who was persuaded by an older man who dominated her life to participate in what was to have been fire and rescue of her children and which ended in their deaths. Having sat on an inquiry into the death of one child by fire, seen photographs and examined the crime scene as well having studied and worked in the field of normal and deviant human behaviour it seemed to me the original female judge, and the Lord Chief Justice who presided at the appeal hearing got the sentence right although the extent to which it would deter other mothers likely to become involved in such a dangerous action or provide the time and framework to “cure” and rehabilitate is open to question.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">According to the information immediately available it is not clear if Virginia E Johnston worked as his hospital secretary before becoming his research assistant in his initial research project as portrayed in the film. We do learn that she had been married twice and was separated from the father of her two children, a musician, (previously marrying a local politician when she was 20 which lasted only two days( I do not know why) and then a much older man, an attorney, who she divorced). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She divorced her third marriage in 1956 after six years making three associations commenced and ended within 15 years. She had two children by her third marriage having previous dropped out of her local college at 16 and then after Attending a University music course she became a country music singer, then a business writer for the St Louis Daily Record and then going back to university for a degree in sociology which she never completed. In the series she enrols on a course in anatomy, gaining 99% marks in the first examination and has ambitions to become a medical doctor so her wok could be accepted as an equal research partner with Masters instead of being viewed by him initially as a secretary gofer as did her former colleagues and others as portrayed in he drama. I do not know if this aspect is accurate</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Masters ten years her senior was married and at the time kept secret from his wife his impotency so that she took the blame. In one review the comment is made that his relationship with his mother reminded of the between Tony Soprano and his mum although this is far from the comparison I would make i rather with Kasper’s relationship with his mother in Borgen because she appears to have turned a blind eye and in fact helped facilitate her husband’s sex crimes against her son along with card playing and drinking male friends. Whether the truth in this respect is be revealed for happened with Kasper as the second season progressed and a s second we shall see as a second season of 12 episodes of Masters of Sex has been commissioned. Masters is portrayed as comfortable without children while his wife recognised that their marriage was at grave risk as she became isolated and lonely living with a man unable to show the kind of romantic passion and attention she craved. The importance of both the Masters and Borgen programme is that men can have the same lifelong damage as women if criminally sexually assaulted in childhood and significant greater than if the event occurs in adulthood.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b><i></i></b><i></i></span></span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>In the first episode Wikipedia summary </b></i></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/William_H._Masters"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Dr. William Masters</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Michael_Sheen"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Michael Sheen</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">) proposes a controversial study of human sexuality but is rejected by his university. Undaunted, he begins the study anyway and hires </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Virginia_E._Johnson"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Virginia Johnson</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lizzy_Caplan"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Lizzy Caplan</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">), a nightclub singer-turned-secretary, as his assistant. Upon learning that their sole subject, prostitute Betty DiMello (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Annaleigh_Ashford"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Annaleigh Ashford</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">), is a lesbian, Johnson sets about recruiting additional female and male subjects, including Masters' colleague Dr. Austin Langham (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Teddy_Sears"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Teddy Sears</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">). She enters into a sexual relationship with Dr. Ethan Haas (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Nicholas_D%27Agosto"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Nicholas D'Agosto</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">) but he becomes overly attached and eventually physically abusive. Masters induces his wife Libby (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Caitlin_Fitzgerald"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Caitlin Fitzgerald</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">) to undergo painful and invasive infertility treatments, despite, according to Haas, Masters being the infertile one. Masters suggests that he and Johnson defuse possible "sexual transference" by having sex with each other as part of the study. In subsequent episodes</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><span lang="EN-GB"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Virginia has trouble telling Masters that she cannot accept his proposal, but Masters informs her that Provost Scully has cancelled the study because he found out they were monitoring couples having sex. Masters believes it was Ethan who told Scully and fires Virginia on the spot for sleeping with him. Masters moves the study to a brothel with the help of Betty, but he and the participating prostitutes are arrested shortly after. Meanwhile, after being rejected by Virginia, Ethan tries to replicate their sexual liaison with other girls, but to no avail. Virginia coaxes some reluctant prostitutes to rejoin the study, and Masters temporarily takes her back to work with him, but refuses to commit beyond the day-to-day. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Masters and Johnson continue working at the brothel but Masters grows increasingly frustrated with the conditions. Betty recruits some men for the study but Masters is nonplussed to learn they are homosexual prostitutes. Betty blackmails Masters into reversing her tubal ligation but the procedure fails, leading Betty to commit to deceiving her fiancé. Haas takes the case of a woman carrying quadruplets but Scully reassigns it to Masters. Masters drops the homosexual men from his study on the grounds that they aren't "deviant" but "deviate", uses information gleaned from one of them, Dale, to blackmail Scully into allowing the study back into the hospital. Libby learns she is pregnant. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Libby has a medical emergency at the Scullys' 30th wedding anniversary party. Her fetus dies; Bill induces labour and delivers a stillborn girl. The loss leads Barton to begin reconciling his relationship with Bill. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><span lang="EN-GB"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Bill and Libby vacation in Miami while at home Virginia investigates whether there is really a difference between a clitoral and a vaginal orgasm. Bill returns to the study, leaving Libby in Miami, where she is tempted by an older gentleman. Virginia decides it is time she and Bill participated in the study, initiating a sexual relationship between them. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><span lang="EN-GB"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Austin and Margaret continue their affair. Virginia tries to find a new secretary for Bill. Bill tries to balance the study and his affair with his home life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This description of the action fails in various ways. It provide no context and back story and its clinical detachment about story line fails to communicate the clinical detachment in which sexual acts are portrayed on the screen. The ability of women to experience sexual climax separate from vaginal penetration is not restricted just to the clitoral, and Virginia initiates a sexual relationship with William which it is evidently more than clinical on her part by demonstrating she is able to achieve a climax via her breasts alone and that others are also stimulated by other areas of the their body.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">They have established a way of observing action using masturbatory devices which extend to using a camera device to be able to project what happens to professional colleagues.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The old debate that homosexuality was a deviation from the norm ,accurate in its technical use sense was rejected as early as the 1940’s in the Kenneth Walker book mentioned earlier despite the law remaining unchanged for several decades. These is now a body fo research examining why some take one sexual pathway while others do not. As later at the early sixties a Freudian view was being propounded on the course Attended including homosexuality as a deviation from he norm which required analytical treatment and in this series after the truth of the homosexuality of the Provost is revealed to his wife he raises the issue of treatment as a means of saving his marriage., Masters tells about aversion therapy being used elsewhere but later after their research is completed and the four stages of sexual response has been finished the research team moves into the treatment of deviation..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In Love and Marriage" Michael Apted <i>Story by:</i> Tyler Bensinger<br />
<i>Teleplay by:</i> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Michael_Cunningham"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Michael Cunningham</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> first shown November 17, 2013. Confrontations between th provost and his wife with Barton over his lack of sexual interest in her leads her to ask for a divorce. Barton purloins drugs from the hospital and asks Dale to help him with </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Aversion_therapy"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">aversion therapy</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> to change his sexuality but Dale refuses. Ethan and Vivian become engaged. Libby faints during a dance lesson and learns she has become pregnant again. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Jane agrees to further aid the study by being filmed while masturbating, but upon viewing the footage begs Virginia to destroy it. Virginia cajoles Bill to complete her employee evaluation but he reveals more of his feelings for her than he had intended. With Jane gone, Virginia agrees to allow herself to be filmed instead. Ethan tells Vivian of his Jewish heritage and initially agrees to convert to Catholicism, but instead ends their engagement. Libby tells Bill she is pregnant again. Bill, in response to his growing feelings for Virginia, attempts to distance himself by paying her for having sex for the study. Virginia decides she needs to emotionally detach herself as well. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The extent to which there is any basis of the relationship between the provost and his wife, and between other characters and the sexual issue is based in fact must be questioned. More likely they are devises to make general viewers engaged in the drama. This reminds of recent discussions on Film review BBC1 and Mayo and Kermode BBC Five Live about one of the latest Daniel Radcliffe films which deals with the Beat Generation poets and writers when they are young and raised the issue of how to make interesting the process of sitting at a desk with a typewriter or word processor and writing for hours and days on end.</span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN"><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
</span><br /></span><br /></span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-50448804544029910712013-12-06T13:09:00.003-08:002013-12-06T13:09:36.772-08:00The Tunnel eight episodes of ten and Blue Bloods season 4<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Now to some TV belatedly. The new Season of <b>Blue Bloods </b>has impressed with Commissioner of police Frank concerned with the latest internal opinion polls suggesting th men in the force felt that he was out of touch. After talking things over with his father ,a previous Commissioner, he goes on unannounced walk about and discovered that the commander of a local station is not on duty when he should. He is absence is covered up be staff but Frank persists and discovers that he mans wife is on last days with cancer. Frank ( Tom Sellick) also covers up and the episodes with him going for a drink a local bar used by the station to buy th desk sergeant a drink and to offer one on the house for everyone on his tab. The main story concerns a well known TV and film star shadowing the eldest surviving son Danny ( Donny Walberg) decides it will not work after the man gets involved in an arrest where the subject pulls a gun and a sniffer dog susses the man is carrying pot, albeit subscribed via medical prescription. He gives his card and promised to arrange for the actor to talk some experience retired officers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Later he gets a phone call from the actor who has been stabbed, pretends he was mugged but admits he was going to a gay rendezvous via a internet site phone. Later there is a death through stabbing clearly the same perpetrator and Danny persuades the actor to cooperate on the basis everything is done to keep the info out of the media because of the impact on his career. The villain is caught and the actor is grateful with Danny keeping his secret from the women of all ages in the family continue to adore the star.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The first episode was of a very different order when the sister assistant DS is able to hold a murder suspect because the only witness had been steered by her brother and will not hold up in caught. The police operate Blue flue failing to show up to give evidence in cases she is prosecuting. Her position is not understood by the rest of family especially her grandfather. She finds a way of working with his brother to effectively trick the man into confessing and then walking away from a deal offered thus enabling the confession to be used as stand alone and without a sentencing deal. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Tunnel </b>is a British French collaboration which has worked as an extended thriller with several twists over the with the following Wikipedia episode notes </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">“ French politician Marie Villeneuve is found dead in the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Channel_Tunnel"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Channel Tunnel</span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> on the border between </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/France"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">France</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_Kingdom"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">UK</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. The body has been cut in half, with the lower half belonging to another victim, Welsh prostitute Gemma Kirwan, who was missing for several months. Karl Roebuck (Dillane) and Elise Wassermann (Poésy), the respective British and French detectives, work together to find the killer. In France, Charlotte Jubert (Balibar) is a suspect, having made threats against Villeneuve. Charlotte insists that she only did so to stop her from badgering her husband Alain (Carriere), a wealthy banker who is in hiding fearing for his life. The maintenance driver who found the body is later found dead. In the UK, Stephen Beaumont (Mawle) runs a hostel for failed </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Refugee"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">asylum seekers</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and takes in Colombian-born Veronica (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Catalina_Denis"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Catalina Denis</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">). Meanwhile, Karl and Elise find a suspect in </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tabloid_journalism"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">tabloid journalist</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> Danny Hillier (Bateman), whose car was seen when Gemma was last seen alive (however it turns out that Hillier was in Prague at the time). Hillier enters his car to find it rigged with explosives. When the timer reaches zero however, it is revealed that there was no bomb. Instead, the killer leaves behind a message”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The British Detective is with his second young family and teenage son with whom he is in constant battle while the French detective is a loner who detaches love from sexual encounters which tend to be casual and where the rest of her life is work abd more work..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Episode Twp “The killer releases a </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Viral_video"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">viral video</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> stating that the killings was the first of five "truths", "inequality before the law". Alain gets run over by a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/High-speed_rail"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">high-speed train</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> getting away from people who are following him. In Folkestone, Karl further investigates Gemma's disappearance. Stephen moves Veronica and her son to an abandoned cottage to protect her from Anthony (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Ed_Skrein"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Ed Skrein</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">), the pimp who ran Gemma. In Calais, Elise has </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Casual_sex"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">casual sex</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> with a barman, as well as examining threats made against Villeneuve, leading her to an </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anti-Zionism"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">anti-Zionist</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> farmer, based on the coroner's observation that the victims were cut with a saw used in slaughterhouses. At the farm, Elise finds the lower half of Villeneuve, but she realises the killer misled her; she releases the farmer because he cannot speak English. Later, the killer releases a second video in which he intends to target the elderly, who he deems as unproductive to society, for the second "truth", and later attacks a Folkestone </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Retirement_home"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">retirement home</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> by poisoning the residents' medication, resulting in several fatalities. Care worker Suze Beaumont (Hawes), Stephen's sister and Anthony's lover, who steals some of the drugs for </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Substance_intoxication"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">intoxication</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, also falls victim. “</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Episode 3 “recovering in hospital, the killer, nicknamed the "Truth Terrorist" (TT) by Hillier, calls Hillier to inform him he will continue the second truth in France, and later kidnaps </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/World_War_2"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">World War 2</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> veteran Jean-Claude Delplanque (Pascal Laurent); his imprisonment is live streamed. Elise comes to understand that the Truth Terrorist is a mastermind, having covering his tracks thoroughly. What he does not account for is that a runaway teen couple accidentally find Jean-Claude, and are captured by the Truth Terrorist. Veronica calls Anthony for help, where he instructs her to run away to London. Meanwhile, troubled teenager Sophie Campbell (Mia Goth) runs away from her abusive mother and is taken in by Benji (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Paul_Ready"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Paul Ready</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">), a seemingly trustworthy person. Karl and Elise learn Jean-Claude is in cold storage, and he is slowly freezing to death. The Truth Terrorist brings Hillier an untraceable phone, and emails him the photographs of four people who he says can save Jean-Claude. “</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Episode 4 “ The four people are revealed to be wealthy businesspeople, who are demanded to make a significant donation to charity. Charlotte, who is one of them, investigates Alain's death and learns he had a second wife. Karl and Elise realise that Jean-Claude was targeted because he was suspected to have murdered his father. Three of the businesspeople opt out of paying, while Charlotte agrees to pay for all of them to wipe away all trace of Alain. Meanwhile, French police notice occasional vibrations on the live stream, which they determine (via audio analysis) are passing trains. They narrow his location to two cold stores. Karl and Elise search for what turns out to be the correct location. Armed police attempt to apprehend the Truth Terrorist, but he escapes. Jean-Claude does not survive, but the runaway couple are found alive. Elise suspects that the Truth Terrorist may know Karl after he was kicked in the groin (Karl recently had a </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Vasectomy"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">vasectomy</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">). In the UK, Sophie believes that Benji is mentally ill when she finds a cupboard full of unused prescription drugs. It is also hinted that Benji intends to go on a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Samurai"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">samurai</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">-style suicide mission, and later wields a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Katana"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">katana</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. “</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Episode 5 “The third "truth" highlights the mentally ill; Benji beheads a psychiatrist and several pedestrians, and then kills himself with </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cyanide"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">cyanide</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> following his arrest. Karl sees Charlotte regarding encrypted files on her husband's computer, and Charlotte uses the opportunity to seduce him. Karl later returns home to find that his wife Laura (Coulby) is pregnant. Karl and Elise have to find Sophie before the Truth Terrorist does, who is posing as her father online. Karl and Elise find Sophie in an </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Internet_caf%C3%A9"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">internet café</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, where Elise decides to lure the Truth Terrorist in a trap by using Sophie as bait at the Folkestone docks. Instead, the Truth Terrorist attempts to kill Sophie with a sniper rifle, but Elise saves her. Meanwhile, Karl's colleague Chuks Akinade (Bakare) finds a picture of Gemma on Stephen's computer. Stephen, now a suspect, murders Anthony. The Truth Terrorist arrives in France to kidnap police officer Laurent Delgado (Dimitri Rataud), who is accused of murdering a teenager named Mehdi Cherfi. “</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Episode 6” Stephen boards a ferry to Calais, only to be caught by Karl and Elise. He admits to killing Anthony for destroying his work to help people, Gemma being one of them, before killing himself with a knife. The Truth Terrorist demonstrates the fourth truth, "the youth of today", by burning alive four </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Youth"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">youths</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> who were convicted for their parts in the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/2011_England_riots"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">2011 England riots</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> using </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/White_phosphorus"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">white phosphorus</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, which ignites by exposure to air. Hillier decides to ignore the Truth Terrorist's suggestion of a front page title, and as a consequence, the woman he had a one night stand with dies in the same fashion. Laura learns of Karl's affair, while Karl learns that his son Adam (Lowden) spent the night with Elise. Calais police learn that the French youths in the fourth truth were killed during a riot; one of them was Mehdi. Yacine, Mehdi's brother, is lured to an abandoned shop to find a restrained Laurent. Using a planted </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Petrol"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">petrol</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> can, Yacine forces Laurent to confess for killing Mehdi, and then writes a confession letter at home for Laurent to sign, but is stopped by Karl and Elise before he can return. Yacine's father finds Laurent and decides to release him. However, Laurent is then shot to death by the Truth Terrorist. “</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Episode 7 “Karl and Elise believe that the Truth Terrorist is a police officer based on his knowledge of police procedures. Laurent's widow suspects it was one of his colleagues during training exercises, which was financed by a ZP Holdings. However, their office is found to be deserted. The Truth Terrorist hijacks a minibus of school children in </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Kent"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Kent</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and holds them in a farm. For the final truth, covering the exploitation of children, the Truth Terrorist urges the public to attack </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Department_store"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">department stores</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> known for using </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Child_labour"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">child labour</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in third world countries, releasing a child for each attack, before making the public decide on which of the two remaining children will die. Ultimately, he lets them both live and executes the minibus driver. The Truth Terrorist later calls Hillier and offers to give himself up after an exclusive interview with him, but instead, he kills Hillier with a bomb. Cécile Cabrillac (Sigrid Bouaziz), Elise's colleague, finds the identity of the police officer believed to be the Truth Terrorist; Fabien Vincent. “</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Episode 8 “ Karl and Elise's hunt for Fabien (</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Thierry_Fr%C3%A9mont"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Thierry Frémont</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">) is hindered by </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Direction_centrale_du_renseignement_int%C3%A9rieur"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">direction centrale du renseignement intérieur</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> (DCRI), who are using him as an asset. Fabien helped investigate ZP Holdings, who were suspected of gunwalking. Karl investigates Hillier's murder and discovers that his original name was Giles Haddock. Before the name change, Giles was drunk driving and was responsible for the deaths of the wife and child of Kieran Ashton, a police officer Karl once worked with. Kieran had since committed suicide. Meanwhile, Fabien kidnaps Elise. She realises that he is not the Truth Terrorist. Fabien reveals that he was a part of "Peloton", a joint operation of several European intelligence agencies, and killing Alain was one of their assignments. After escaping an assault by gangsters, Fabien releases Elise. Attention now falls on Ashton (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/James_Frain"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">James Frain</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">), who is revealed to have faked his death; he is posing as Laura's friend John Sumner, and Adam's online girlfriend. “</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Thee are two episodes more which I am looking forward to.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
</span><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN"><div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
</span></span></span>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-36690247677217527722013-11-25T09:26:00.003-08:002013-11-25T09:26:46.194-08:00Borgen season two eipsodes 15 to 18<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Episodes 17 and 18 of season two of the Danish political drama <b>Borgen</b> can be considered the two most important of the entire three season series which I have experienced to date, and for the second time late on the evening of November 22<sup>nd</sup>, 2013. They can be viewed on a stand alone basis and their significance can still be appreciated as a drama of a high quality in scripting and acting but they become that much more richer when one has experienced all the previous 16 episodes then ideally experienced in a concentrated viewing session as I have done over the past ten days and the viewing marathon is not yet over.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I have decided to write up these two of the last four episodes viewed last night, allowing myself a maximum of three hours to complete the task before lunch and setting off to experience my first live football match since the end of the season three years ago at St James Park as Newcastle now firmly established in the top half of the middle of table, In fact on reflection I need to go earlier to the city in order to obtain a passport size set of photographs, presumably from to city post office if I can remember where it is. I check the computer over a breakfast of two large mushrooms seasoned with white pepper and a porridge with apple and cherry, My first port of call will be boots in the Boots in Eldon square. It is going to prove and engaging weekend. Which merits an immoderate write up but I will postpone until later</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte Nyborg, the first female Prime Minister of Denmark has survived several attempts to topple her Coalition government when she is asked to hold a secret meeting with the head of the country’s biggest industrial concern with world wide interests including the development of oilfields in an African country on the verge of all out civil war. Birgitte first encountered the industrialist who plays bridge regularly with the Queen and also takes afternoon tea, when the coalition introduced legislation to insists that 45% if board members of companies were female. She had persuaded him to take the lead in implanting th initiative and won his respect for so doing. The purpose of his visit was to try and persuade the Prime Minister to attempt to bring about a peace settlement between the two men and their supporters and armies engaged in a struggle over their different views of the country. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We all know that his kind of the behind the scenes influencing clout goes on and although the visits may be recorded it would be surprising if the chat is witnessed and fully recorded. Oh for another Nixon!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The official ruler of the African state in question controlled the capital city and the rest of the north together with the oil pipeline to the coast supplying 7% of the energy required by the 1.5 Billion Chinese economy. The leaders is an Arab speaking middle East Muslim whereas the black leader in the south wanted independence for his largely Christian population and an appropriate share of the oil revenues. As the Prime Minister is subsequently advised the Northern leader speaks perfect English and was educated at Cambridge but will only speak to her in Arabic while the Christian in South is intolerant towards homosexuals boasting there are no homosexuals in my country, apparently having killed anyone known.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Both men are reported to have engaged in atrocities although the Northern Leader has been indicted for war crimes at the Hague. Despite all the concern for the plight of the ordinary citizens caught up in the power struggle the UN is powerless to intervene because the USA is not interested enough to exert pressure on the south or the Chinese on the north. Despite the brave effort of the Norwegians to broker peace between Israel and Palestine interests in the past the request of the industrial for her coalition government to intervene looks no more that a futile attempt to get her to help protect his financial interests,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Meanwhile the extreme right wing party has been playing up the issue of immigration and continuing to demand greater controls and for repatriation and fears the coalition with again open its doors to the plight of the refugees from the African country, Birgitte reminds that as the twelfth richest nation in the world they have a duty to offer assistance to the less fortunate. She begins to think that help to preventing a civil war will have political advantages at home as well as a humanitarian solution for the people of the country in question. The interesting aspect of even this character is that is oft speaks truths about the lack of representation of those who hold the views he espouses and the way the lives of many have been turned upside down and marginalized by the decisions of many world leaders to turn their countries into multi cultural and multinational communities in attempt to break down the nationalistic and tribal tendencies which have caused significant bloodshed although it can be argued that the search for more energy to fuel the industrialization of economies and for cheap labour to create the infrastructure and develop manufacturing has been a as or even a greater cause for the conflicts as race and religion now appears to be.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">To say that her Ministers, civil servants and media director Kasper are not enthusiastic about her consideration of intervening as a means of avoid the challenge of another exodus which would create genuine problems in her country as well as political ones is a great understatement. Having decide to make the effort Birgitte persuades the Industrialist to give support at once with helping to bring the parties to the point of discussing a peace process with her and to give public support through his newspaper and TV interests if the venture is not successful. Her approach impresses him even more than previously.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She brings back past foreign Minister and personal friend Bent who with aid of a stick, pills and a respirator is back to his energetic and supportive self to assist in organising and planning the peace process. She also needs an Arabic speaking Muslim and immediately thinks of the former leader of the Green Party Amir, the former environmentalist Minister in her government.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the 15<sup>th</sup> episode and first of the quartet under review his party refuse to compromise over her attempt to pass legislation committing the country to achieving a number of environmental targets including the reduction of emissions in a way which will achieve an across the board consensus so that the objectives of the legislation will be achieved whoever is in power in the future. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This involves her in meetings with all the political parties and she makes progress in relation to the Liberals and the New Right but this involves significant concessions although not with the extreme right who demand more for pensioners and less taxation but also tougher action on crime and immigration. The leader of the Green Party Amir is however adamant they will not compromise and Birgitte comments to Kasper that he is not a team player. I believe it is Kasper who alerts her to the fact that Amir is a classic car enthusiast and has imported a gas guzzling vehicle from the USA. She OK‘s Kasper releasing this to the media as pressure to bring him in line but the situation snowballs out of control when it is learned that he used the vehicle significantly more than he first admitted. His family suffer abuse and when he expresses concern about this aspect of the situation, Birgitte admits she was responsible and offers to call of the pressure if he agrees to the comprise. He does and the legislation is passed but at a high price as the Greens pull out of the coalition and the Prime Minister has to use all her skills to continue as a Minority coalition having to gain sufficient votes for each piece of new legislation at a time. She reminds the leader of the Liberal party the this is how he governed for several years. Amir resigns not only from the leadership of the party and his Ministerial position, but from parliament. The Prime Minister regrets that gaining the kind of agreement she felt was needed has result in the loss of a good man and politician for top level politics.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Now the Prime Minister’s motorcade draws up outside his modest home where he happens to be working in the garden to ask him to help the peace process. He declines but then changes his mind and joins the planning meeting being held in the office of the Prime Minister. They decide to make a three day secret visit to th African country to invite the two leaders to come of Denmark to negotiate a peace settlement. The trip is to be made in secret with Kasper remaining home and helping to field requests for direct contact with the PM or information about here activities and whereabouts. The story giving is that she is having a private meeting with her opposite number in France although Hanne Home comments to Katrine the former TV journalists now working again for the TV 1 Public broadcasting station after their stint at the Express newspaper controlled by the former leader of the Labour Party that it is odd as the French counterpart is also supposed to be out of his country on an official visit.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Hanne as predicted by the former Labour Party leader Michael Laugesen could not get a job anywhere after she and Katrine refused to ahead with a story smearing the former Minister of Justice Hoxenhaven for as she points Laugesen was on the board of the other main TV channel and drank wine with the editors of all other newspapers once a month. Katrine Fonsmark who he admits would find work because of her popularity fronting news programmes from TV 1 where she had also walked out on an issue of principle has been forced to take a job with TV 1 station hosting a show which reunites families together a kind of Surprise Surprise. However her former News department boss visits and invites her to take over her old position for six months because of maternity leave by her replacement. She accepts but on the condition that Hanne returns with her in a reversal of roles on a part time basis. He reluctantly agrees. The job involves her working as a reporter as well as News programme front woman. The two women are approached by a photographer they previously know with photos of the arrival of the Industrialist at the Prime Ministers apartment which is also in the same part of he building in which the Queen also has her official apartment. The photographer points out that there was no meeting listed and suggests this is suspicious.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I cannot remember the precise sequence of events that leads the two women to take an interest in the activities of the front man of the industrialist who has been working in the African country of concern and which directly leads to their positive involvement in the peace process but a photography of the man with one of the butchers involved in village clearance to enable oilfield expansion leads then to confront the man who offers to meet them at th studio to explain further his role but does not turn up and goes into hiding, but is brought out into the limelight with threat of a programme feature. He continues to deny involved in anything illegal and morally indefensible but admits any public allegation would seriously undermine confidence in his role which is essentially a behind the scenes one and he offers to provide them significant information if they are prepared to drop inquiries in relation to his role.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">How Katrine gets to know the Prime Minister is visiting the African country is even more of a long story. First she meets Kasper Jual, the Prime Ministers spin doctor one morning when he is with his new partner ordering a smoothie and the two women are introduced to each other, While his partner gets a table he tells his former partner Katrine that he wants to kiss her, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Later he is approached by a junior member of the press corps who works in another government media office with whom he has and a previous encounter and they have sex largely at her instigation twice over a couple of days. However she the contacts Kasper’s latest partner at home on the basis that she is now his new girl friend and this leads to the break up of the relationship with his new partner. He is alone again when he meets Katrine in her role again for the TV station and says that he loves her while she insists there is question of them getting back together while he continues to refuse to keep part of his early life secret from her. This comes out in the 15<sup>th</sup> episode when Kasper nearly looses in job after making a number of outbursts at the extreme right wing leader who wants to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12 citing the British position of 10 years. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The right wing leader Bernedikte Nedergaard of the Freedom Party begins to get the population on his side as well as members of the Labour Party in the coalition when he is attacked and his arm severely injured by a group of young people. There are those who believe he went looking for trouble but Nyborg in responding to his request for her to be interviewed at the parliament over his bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility and is emotionally outraged when she accuses him of knowing nothing about children when in fact he lost his daughter in a drowning accident when she was 12. She echoes the plea of Kasper that they should not rob children of their childhood and greater long term problems by bringing children into the criminal justice system. She manages to win th vote by the narrowest of margins. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In this episode Kasper does not reveal the reasons for his outburst to the Prime Minister but later to Katrine. He is selling up the property of his mother who has entered into a residential home and wants the task completed as quickly as possible. The agent passes on to him a box which his mother insists he should have. It will also be remembered that the two had passionate sex also over a short period when the seminar on changing social security priorities to devote more resources to education had to be postponed because of the labour party changes in leadership. Katrine had said pointedly that the experience did not change the fundamental difference between the two which i assume is that he did not want to have children, something which he says with great emotion to his most recent partner, after she said she had wanted to have children with him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Kasper now visit Katrine and gives her the box passed from his mother. This contains a book of press cutting a video of TV reports and a hunting knife one of four that had been displayed on a wall. We share the great emotion experienced by Katrine as she fully understands the secret, a secret which we had begin to be made aware of when Kasper visited his former family home after the death of his father and again on his visited to sell up the home have its contents cleared included the possessions from his childhood bedroom. Not only had his father sexually abused him as a twelve year old but his father’s card playing and drinking men friends when his other was away from the home. Kasper had wanted to play with the hunting knives but had been refused but then allowed to do so as means of getting his son to keep what was happening from his mother.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Now we know that in his distress the boy had stabbed in father and this had led to his father and the other men being charged and presumable convicted and imprisoned. Kasper had not be been charged with the attempted murder because of his age but had spent time in a reform school. Given the character make up of Katrine the disclosures leads them to become partners once more in a great moving scene in which she shows her deepest felt empathy. However this does not prevent her curiosity when Kasper confirms the story of the Prime Minister being out of the country in France and he temporarily leaves the flat with his briefcase of appears available for to look at and she learns of the secret visit being made to the African country.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Through her combination of charm and political wiles Birgitte is able to persuade both leaders to come to Denmark to negotiate a peace settlement, despite the northern leader first sending an emissary and she threatening to leave the country on a fools errand with all the consequently bad publicity for the north and hen he commences to talk in Arabic although he speaks excellent English.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Getting the two men and their political supporters and officials to come to Demark is only the first step which also involves getting the Hague to suspend its European arrest warrant, One of the side aspects of this double episode is the way the programme communicate the intensity abd breath and depth of such a Peace process and as Birgitte principals Bent and Amir deal with the major issues arise while a team of Danish arbitrators and conciliator hold the ring as number teams negotiate their way through a list of issues which are listed on a white board in the operations room at the PM’s HQ.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There are two developments which threaten to undermine and stop the peace process from achieving a settlement. The first and most significant issue is the discovery that that China has sold 40 attack helicopters to the North, a move which means the North has the power to crush the opposition. The North are revealed to have been stalling all the time not wanting to appear to have been against the Peace Process and lose International support which working on the basis that they would be able to defeat the South and regain control of he whole country. The South understandably want to return home to try and protect their people the best way they can. Everyone is pressed not to return home while the Prime Minister sees the Ambassador to China who although sympathetic to what she is trying to do, says it is too late, However at the last moment there is an announcement that China has turned back the ships, rather like Russia and the Cuban Missile crisis, an event being commented on again as the death of former President John Kennedy is being marked. The decision means the North is forced to continue with the process which takes longer than anticipated leaving all those participating exhausted.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The second development involves the research undertaken by Katrine and Hanne into the activities of the front man for the Danish Industrialist in the African Country. He offers to provide the two with significant information if they agree to a contracted undertaking to drop their information and interest in his activities. The detailed information which includes a break down of he oil accounts is that the North has been cheating the south of its due oil revenues by 10%.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Prime Minister invites the two journalists to a meeting at which they shown the work being undertaken and the implications for the peace process. The two women then persuade the programme director to drop the story altogether if the peace process succeeds. When the North leader attempts further or fabrication in the hope of ending the process so the Chinese will relent and provide the military might for him to achieve all his original objectives she uses the knowledge gained from the Katrine and Hanne to blackmail him into cooperation. The two men are seen to shake hands on the deal at a media conference and the Prime Minister is acclaimed world wide and within Demark for putting the county on the political success map. Things could not appear to be going any better for the Prime Minister, and then her world comes crashing down all over again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In previous notes I have explained how the relationship between Birgitte and her husband came to break down and her attempts to save the relationship finally accepting the situation, agreeing to the divorce and developing relationship with her husband and his new partner which involve creating an open and friendly atmosphere to enables the children to spend time with both parents, although because of the intensity and nature of her role they come to spend more time with their father and partner than they do with Birgitte although she employs a nanny to help her and the children. The nanny moves in while l she is away from home during the visit to Africa and her involvement in subsequent peace process, given that she has all her other government, Parliamentary and political roles to perform.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The boy Magnus appears to have well adjusted to the situation although earlier he was showing disturbance at the loss of attention from his mother. It is now the older daughter to comes into focus as she refuses to attend the annual holiday camp with other teenagers. Birgitte puts her daughter‘s difficult behaviour due to adolescence. She in effect forces the girl to attend the camp and keep in touch by phone. However as the peace process commences the girl attempts to ring her mother and is rebuffed by the official secretary who has replaced Sanne the young woman Birgitte and wanted to replaced but grew to appreciate despite her lapse had a kind and thoughtful heart and got on well with the children. When the school responsible for the camp are also unable to get into contact with her they attempt to contact the father who is also away and it is left to his partner to collect the young woman who in turn advises Birgitte at the earliest opportunity. The young woman has had an emotional breakdown and attack.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Arrangements are made for the girl to see a psychiatrist and he like the new partner of the former husband recommend a course of anti depressant to enable the talking with the girl to work. Birgitte is not happy about her daughter taking “happy pills” nor is the girl herself and when Birgitte is involved with the peace visit and subsequent negotiations her daughter parents to take the tablet and then spits out, When her brother discovers what she is doing he is bullied into silence with the inevitable consequence that she breaks down into a psychotic state and is rushed to hospital when the occultist explains that often you g women refuse to take the tablets in an attempt to keep some control over their lives but the impact of the sudden withdrawal leaves them ill and in a dangerous situation. He impresses on the parents that their will have to be major changes if their daughter is to get better,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">While they reflect on the information and situation a TV in the hospital waiting area reports on the success of the conference and the enhanced standing of the Prime Minister. This segment of programme could be described as the price to be paid.</span></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-35662524934674122202013-11-22T10:26:00.003-08:002013-11-22T10:26:34.986-08:00Borgen season two episodes 1-4<span lang="EN"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">My approach to season two of Borgen will be different that previously attempting to concentrate on the individual personal stories and then adding the personal life information of the Prime Minister Birgitte and her family as well as of Kasper her media Director and Katrine the dedicate journalist with integrity who has moved from the TV station One rather like our BBC One where she and Kasper once worked together for a short time to working for Hanne Holm to the Express scandal sheet directed by the former leader of the labour Party on a mission to destroy the Prime Minister who he has come to hate, after Birgitte rejected his attempt to outwit and force her to accept him as Prime Minister after she had been appointed to try and form a new coalition cabinet.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It will be recalled that on becoming the Prime Minister Birgitte had quickly discovered how much of her time had to be devoted to the job so that even when home she was reading paper or thinking about the latest issues which required her attention. At first her teenage daughter appeared the most well adjusted to the situation and it as her son and then her husband who reacted badly, the son with wetting himself and not wanting to go to school, to an extent that towards the end of the first year there ware days when she had her son at the office with her being cared for by others and even in this instance she brings him in once more to her office as she is taking him for a medical appointment later that morning. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the second season after the separation with her husband has taken place, the boy makes it plain he wants increasingly to be with his father and situation comes to a head after the husband discloses that he is now in a serious ongoing relationship and wants to introduce the children to his new woman.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte reacts emotionally to the request for them to meet the woman on a visit to the pictures but then changes her mind, spends time tidying the house and herself only for the husband to agree the time is not right and they should meet casually rather than formally in the first instance</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This happens when she is in the midst of unclogging the sink after washing her hair which is still wet. She then agrees to the children staying with him and the woman when he is on a four day visit to see his/her parents before Christmas which they are spending with her this first year. She receives a call from her daughter at one point when in the background she can hear the noise of her son having a great time and it is evident that both children get on very well with the woman who despite having a career has the time for home cooking, something which Birgitte rarely has the time to do, arranging for home delivered meals which son Magnus in particular rejects.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte is also resistant to signing the divorce papers and admit to her husband that she does not want them to part in such a definite way, but common sense and reality prevails and eventually she signs, signalling acceptance of position and her need to adjust to a new era as a single and desirable comparatively young woman once more. Late one night with the sink still blocked (presumably she has forgotten to stock up with a sink unblocker the young driver calls with an important letter which requires her immediate signature and they end up in bed. Kasper arranges for him to move to another ministry and to keep his mouth shut. However this is not the end of the matter.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the third of the four episodes the Cabinet is preoccupied with finding greater priority on education and this mean finding the required funds from another budget and the plan is to wind back what had been a policy to introduce early retirement for everyone paying the state pension at an earlier age if individuals wished to retire early. The cabinet are to hold a much published seminar in a residential hotel to working out the policies and details consequential to the plan but at the last moment the leader, a man good man from the trade union movement but not a leader, but who had beaten the ambitious number two and subsequent Minister of Justice insisted on having only a professional relationship because of his machinations in relation to the bugging of another governing Coalition party and the current Minister for equality.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He and other members of the Labour Party demanding that they have time out to hold a Party meeting stopping the Seminar in its tracks just after it commences, They then make the announcement that the leader has resigned with the former Minister of Justice taking over as interim leader which is subsequently confirmed. The seminar is postponed but as it is late in the day a number of participants, including some of the media remain at the hotel.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This includes the new leader of the Labour party who Katrine, attending with Hanne Holm for the Express spots talking to the temporary photographer as an intern attached to the regular man. We the audience appreciate the previous allegations about the Leader being homosexual within his marriage with children, a homosexual with an interest in young men. We the audience see him go to the room of the new Leader and that someone else is taking photos from outside the hotel at the uncovered and lit window.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine is also distracted as Kasper despite having a established a relationship with a beautiful loving young woman is still in love with her and sexually attracted so they have great sex when after a rebuff to his advances he goes to her room and they passionately embrace. They have sex again the following day but Katrine makes it clear that this changes nothing about the impossibility of their relationship. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In part because of this and in part because of the demands from is position as the Director of Communications for the Prime Minister, his partner senses that he is not with her when they are together, in the same way experienced at first and questions if he still wants to move in with her. He confirms his wish and previously he had explained that he had few possession, spinning the tale that he had something with his parents who lived in the South of France despite the death of his father and his mother living in Denmark. I cannot remember the time sequence but at one point Katrine is musing to Hanne about being 31 without a husband and children and having gone backwards in her career compared to that of Hanne. Kasper arrange with his girl friend to celebrate the birthday with Katrine with a meal out, and they are joined by Hanne for he occasion although Kasper still arrives late home.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the fourth of the four first episodes of the second season, the former Labour Leader tells Brigitte and Hanne to publish the story of the new Labour Leader having sex with a young man on the grounds that being bisexual is something he had denied and kept from his wife and children. The two female journalists are not happy with the story and feel something is not right given that their boss has previously pressed them to smear the politician who had taken his position from him. They notice that the photographs the published are only part of a set and therefore when the boss is occupied in a meeting with Hanne, Katrine uses the password supplied by Hanne to check his computer and gains access to all the photos which reveal that the participant is none other than the intern. They make further investigations and discover that the young man works as a male escort and get him to visit Katrine with Hanne and force him to disclose that he was hired by the former Labour Leader Michael Laugesen on the understanding that his face would not be disclosed.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Having gathered the evidence they confront Laugesen and demand the stops the story. When he refuse they resign and while he admits Katrine will get another job he tells Hanne she will not. He then takes great delight in meeting with Hoxenhausen and advising him that the photos accompanying an article will be released the following morning, Hoxenhausen goes to see the Prime Minister and she recognises the harm this could do to the Party as well as to the man and his family and advises that this does not necessarily mean the end of his career if he breaks the information first and goes immediately to alert his wife and children. He is appreciative of the response of the Prime Minister given the way he has behaved to keep his position and to try and replace her as Prime Minister. However he cannot tell his wife and children or cope with the media attention that will follow, He is found in his car dead having taken an overdose of sleeping pills taken from the private bathroom of the Prime Minister. Birgitte then demands to see Laugesen and warns him to stop the adverse publicity about the dead man or she will reveal that he framed the former politician. However while Laugesen knows he has been beaten he also mentions that he knows about her and the official Chauffer who contrary to his promise to Kasper has told th story to the former Labour Leader.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The second political story in the second season concerns the need to appoint a new Danish Commissioner for Europe and if the person is of the right calibre the allocation of an important Ministerial position. The best person is her former trusted adviser an Financial Minister Bent who early and in the run and at the commencement of the second year had warned that she could not afford political friends and that to gain continuing Labour support she would have to agree with whatever demands they made. Their price was the scalp of Bent which he took hard but still remained powerful the party’s deputy chairperson but now he tended to disagreed with everything Birgitte wanted to do and vice versa. She decides that he is the best person for the European position and where the post pays double that of the Prime Minister. However he angrily rejects the offer saying she wants to get him out of the way, In fact separate his wife comes to visit to plead with her not to appointment him because she now sees more of him and he is a much less stressed person.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She then offers the position to Kruse, the up and coming young minister and a protégée friend of Bent from her party and who is the Europe Minister in the cabinet. He declines saying he wants to play his role at home as Denmark is to chair the European commission for six months coming up shortly. He real motive is wanting to build up his popularity and support base for a leadership bid at the appropriate time. He offers to try and persuade Bent to reconsider and she is delighted when in the last hours before the arranged announcement and presentation of the nomination Bent agrees, However he collapses and is rushed to hospital. It then emerges that Bent’s wife had told Kruse that her husband already had an embolism the previous she which he had kept quiet and why she had pleaded that he should not be offered the position, The Prime Minister then insists that Kruse take the appointment of European Commissioner.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I would also mention that that in the fourth episode there us another power Battle over the position for Prime Minister when a Danish cargo vessel is hijacked and Danish seaman kidnapped. Traditionally the PM take the lead and decisions in such a situation but everything is done to take the initiative away from her but she outwits and arranges for a Danish special forces unit to rescue the kidnapped having established they are board the hijacked vessel as it can be stopped by a Danish Warship before reaching port.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The series opened with a moving story about the involvement of the Danish government in the war on terror in Afghanistan and where the Taliban are having their onslaught on allied forces in order to force an earlier withdrawal than announced and before the Afghans have been adequately prepared to provide for their own security. Birgitte is on a visit with Kasper but they have to quickly leave when a patrol from the Danish base is blown up with more casualties in a day tan previously. Now a short whole beforehand an eighteen year old had been photographed with the Prime Minister.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Also visiting the base is Katrine and a photographer with their paper having arranged for them to be embedded but because of the deteriorating situation they are also forced to leave for the homeland early.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte and her Party and the Greens had been opposed to Danish military involvement in the conflict supported the earliest possible withdrawal. However now she is getting conflicting pressure with the Military saying they should not appear to be yielding to pressure which would reinforce the position of the Taliban and add more pressure on everyone making the situation even more dangerous, a view which is that of the United State and most other supporting European member states</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine wants to do a story about the impact of the death on the families and goes to the father of the young man photographed with the Prime Minister, and who refuses to hand over the letter the young man will have written in the event or to say anything that it senseless and he did not understand or forgive his son for joining up and go to Afghanistan. The Prime Minister appears to be supported by the Liberal Leader Hesselboe but who in fact outsmarts and wants her to send in more men and better equipped. Because her Cabinet is divided it appears she is not to attend a meeting with bereaved parents when it has been arranged for them to meet political Leaders. She sees the local army commander she met on the visit to Afghanistan back with the bodies of the killed young men and asks him what he wants and this has the effect of getting her to go to the meeting with the families where the father of the young boy gives her the photo of the two and says it is senseless, The Prime Minister sees him and her is persuaded to read the letter the by has written, after which he gives to Katrine to publish and her story goes out with the headline 96000 children.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This is a quote from the letter in which he young man says sorry to his father because it means that he has did, he says he remains the happy go lucky young seeking adventurer but he does not regret his actions because there 96000 more children alive than there would have been and because of the schools opened with girls also being able to attend. Birgitte has also met representatives of he NGO’s, Non Government Organisations including a woman who draws attention to the things she can do which were forbidden under Taliban rule. Birgitte then announces that she has decided to send more troops with more and better equipment to the agreement of the majority of those in parliament and in the country at large.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She has com full circle in confronting the challenges of the realities of day to day politics as Prime Minister and Party leader of a coalition with the idealism and principles which brought her into to politic and to join the Moderate party.</span></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-24761074379666102552013-11-20T08:33:00.000-08:002013-11-20T08:33:05.747-08:00Boardwalk Empire season three reminder and episodes i to 4 of season four<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-GB"><div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
</li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB"></span></li>
<span lang="EN-GB">
<li></li>
<li></li>
<li></li>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span>
<li><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The third season of the Boardwalk Empire ( see 0038 for Seasons One and Two reprise) commences with everyone recovering from the shocks of the deaths of Jimmy and his wife, and Doyle and with Richard Harrow seeking revenge. The season begins on New Year’s Eve 1922. </span></div>
</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Gyp Rosetti is introduced as a violent, easily offended Sicilian mobster from </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/New_York_City"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">New York City</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. During a meeting with Nucky Thompson, the boss of Atlantic City who has survived a major attempt to dethrone him by the man he once dethroned and who joined forces with War veteran and former right hand man Jimmy Karmody, and Nucky’s brother Eli, former Police Chief, who went to prison to save Nucky and who has a large family which Nucky has envied at a distance.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Rosetti receives some bad news regarding his new exclusive partnership with Rothstein from New York who gives the impression of being the sophisticated and aloof from the other mobsters, especially Capone and those from Chicago. In retaliation, Rosetti racially insults everyone in the room and storms out. </span></div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky attends meetings and deals with his mistress and now wife‘s Margaret's past actions, which made him an involuntary philanthropist when she donated millions of dollars worth of New Jersey landholdings to achieve her social welfare projects. </span></div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Van Alden former prohibition agent sent to nail Nucky and who slid th slippery slop committing fraud, then murder from his sexual passions, divorcing and living with a former mistress of Nucky, now works as a clothing iron salesman in </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chicago"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Chicago</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> when he stumbles into a dispute between Al Capone and Dean O'Banion, the latest mob leader on the scene. </span></span></div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Jimmy's death has left Richard Harrow, (<i>the War hero sniper now with half a face and a mask who became hit man for Jimmy</i>) in charge of his son while Jimmy‘s mother Gillian who bore him when 13 years of age, refuses to let the boy learn the truth about his parents. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Eli gets out of jail and has trouble accepting his brother's plans for him and the new reality at home. Nucky meets 'special investigator' Gaston Means, acting as Harry Daugherty's bagman in New York. Displeased by Nucky's refusal to sell alcohol to anyone but Rothstein, Gyp takes over the strategically situated small town of Tabor Heights, New Jersey and blockades the alcohol shipments between Atlantic City and New York. Margaret's interest for the sanitary conditions at St. Theresa's hospital is met by resistance from both patients and doctors, and Chalky White, the leader of the black community and who manager a local still, argues with his daughter over their conflicting plans about her future, especially her involvement with a young man from a good family.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Owen from Ireland with IRA background and where Nucky has made a visit to gain fresh supplies of whisky has established an increasingly prominent role in the bootlegging operation which is met jealousy from Nucky when they both end up hiding out in the house of a precocious liquor thief. Nucky’s has become suspicious of the friendship between Owen and his wife and their children(by marriage)</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Capone, whose son is being bullied at school, takes out his frustrations on one of O'Banion's men. Charlie Luciano sits down with Masseria, who muscles a high tax on Lucky's growing business and tells him to be wary of his Jewish partners. Mickey receives a menacing phone call from Rothstein and, over Eli's objections, ignores Nucky's instructions not to transport liquor through Tabor Heights, which leads to “grave” consequences. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Van Alden comes clean with his latest wife, but this backfires when they are visited by a Prohibition agent, forcing him to return to O'Banion's place. Margaret suffers setbacks while trying to promote her Women's Health clinic. Gillian seeks Leander's counsel in financing her bordello, for which she must either change her business model or let go of the past. Nucky enlists a reluctant Eddie Cantor to help a Billie Holiday type singer move up in the world. An attempt is made on Gyp Rosetti's life. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky manoeuvres to avoid taking a political fall for the Attorney General, getting arrested in the process. Eli and Mickey visit Tabor Heights. Richard Harrow befriends an older veteran and his daughter, Julia. Gillian takes on a young lover, who she names "James". While her grandson longs for a male presence in the house, Margaret rekindles an affair with Owen. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky, Eli, and their respective families bond over Easter dinner. Richard takes young Tommy to dine with the Sagorskys, and Julia accepts Richard's invitation to the local Carnival. In danger of reprisal over his actions in Tabor Heights, Gyp brokers a deal with his boss, Joe Masseria. Gillian comes to terms with the death of her son Jimmy. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Arrangements are made for Nucky to attend a private club, where he makes a proposal to the Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew Mellon. Torrio, fresh from an Italian vacation, gives Al a larger role in business operations. Van Alden, now indebted to O'Banion, is forced to work for him after hours, while at the same time facing problems in his day job. Nucky and Billie argue about the nature of their relationship. Margaret decides to take a stand on birth control and looks for a birthday pony with Owen's help. Gillian cuts ties with Luciano, giving Gyp a tip in the process. The result is an attempt on Nucky's life in which Billie is killed</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Taking refuge in the Ritz, a wounded and feverish Nucky struggles to be the man in charge with the help of his family and closest accomplices while they plan his next move. Gyp returns to Tabor Heights and starts his own importing operation with the blessing of Joe Masseria. Richard takes Julia to a dance and Gillian blames him for Tommy's latest misadventure, firing him. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky and Owen plan a move against New York, pursuing Masseria first. A middle-man who could expose both Nucky and the Attorney General is targeted. Van Alden’s new sales job gets him into trouble with Capone. Richard and Julia's relationship takes a step forward. After being rejected by Rothstein, Luciano, and Lansky go into business with Masseria. Margaret reveals to Owen that she is pregnant with his baby, but before they can run away together he is killed by Masseria's men. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Gyp and his crew move into Atlantic City. Nucky goes on the run while his wife disappears with her children; She has taken a trip to New York previously to meet her family of hard worker brother and sisters who have now idea of her life when coming first to the USA from Ireland.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky and wounded Eddie turn to Chalky for help, and Chalky has a standoff with Rosetti. Lansky advises Luciano to be cautious in their new heroin operation. Gillian turns on Richard, evicting him from the house. Eli brings Capone back from Chicago with him as a major ally in Nucky's fight to hold onto his empire.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It's a full-scale war in Atlantic City, and bodies are piling up on both sides. Operating out of a lumber yard, Nucky seeks to weaken the Rosetti/Masseria alliance while struggling to keep peace between Capone and Chalky. In New York, Luciano is framed by Masseria and Rothstein with the aid of corrupt police. Gillian makes a failed attempt to woo, drug and presumably kill Rosetti. Nucky strikes a deal with Rothstein to break Rosetti's strength. Chalky and Capone's army massacre Masseria's men as they are retreating to NYC. Richard storms Gillian's house and kills many of Rosetti's men. Rosetti escapes. Nucky then uses his political connections to settle a score with Rothstein. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Richard gives Tommy a new home at Julia's, sacrificing his own relationship with her in the process. Rosetti meets with his three remaining henchmen but, on orders from Nucky, Gyp's main assistant stabs him to death while he is urinating on a beach. Nucky tracks down Margaret, who ends their relationship. A depressed Nucky then proceeds to walk the boardwalk where he is recognized by other pedestrians. While he is lonely, he has finally retaken control of Atlantic City bringing to an end Season three,. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The latest season, the fourth begins on February 1924 with Nucky in a hotel suite rarely venturing out and cared for his by his now disabled but devoted German background valet who has been with him throughout the series and a great keeper of secrets. The valet has great difficulty in carrying out his role, insisting on pouring tea with a very shaky hand and putting out the daily changes of clothing all with increasing difficulty. Nucky suggests getting a helper which is furiously rejected.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As Nucky recovers his zest for life after doing a deal with the New York and other mobsters, at a price to let sleeping dogs lay, he plans a trip to Tampa Florida to do a deal on more bootlegging with an associates who he owes. He plans to travel alone but before he sorts something out with the valet giving him powers and offering him promotion as well as an assistant to undertake the chores. While Nucky is away the valet meets up with the brother of Al Capone to make a payment and then takes the gangster on a night out of a meal and the to get drunk sing with his German cronies.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Down in Tampa he befriends a woman bar owner Sally having resisted offers of female entertainment from his hosts and tells her about losing contact with Margaret’s children who he came to regard as his own and who has gone to New York to her family. My impression is that she is not out of the series yet.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky’s associate is desperate for the deal to go ahead to pay off debts accrued after custom’s men captures three ships laden with illicit alcohol. He finds out that the man behind the deal has great connections and is in control of the local situation but he declines the deal because of knowing th plans fo the area to be developed which means that it will become difficult to impossible for the ships to bring their illicit cargo offshore and to be unloaded on quite beaches and for the trucks then to head north without being noticed by the new good citizens who have bought holiday homes or moved in the district, </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">After listening to Sally he decided that the best approach is to buy up the investment land and go ahead with the deal because the location enables cargo to be delivered from new areas of the world, thus increasing the volume of alcohol and drugs available. He contacts his associate to give him the good news, but too late as the associate has inserted a meat type cleaver into the head of the local gangsters as th man had attacked him for failing to find a way to meet the debt incurred when customs apprehended three of the whisky laden ships. Nucky does not like the way Rothstein behaved and decides to make Lanksy the other New York boss accompanying Rothstein his partner in the Tampa deal.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Talking of customs a new prohibition agent Warren Know is introduced on a special commission from J Edgar Hoover to infiltrate posing as a corrupt official.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Rothstein visit Atlantic City to discuss the suggestion that he joins Nucky in the Tampa expansion by making a substantial cash investment. Rothstein’s way of responding is to insist that Nucky’s plays him at poker with increasing stakes and where Nucky proves he has not lost his winning abilities at cards. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In New York Van Alden is being used to deliver flowers by his boss and bumps into Capone who is visiting an associate in hospital. Capone then insists on Van Alden assisting him in some strong arm visits as he decided to go debt collecting for the man in the hospital. This involves growing a man through a glass window on the roof of a car below in one instance. Returning they spot one of distribution vehicles of Van Alden’s boss in an deserted street and decided to drive away to a secluded spot to remove the valuable goods only when they hear knocking as the driver who had gone to sleep at the back wants to be let out. While it does not matter to Capone and his companion that the driver recognises them, the drawing attention to Van Alden that his boss O’Banion might be concerned and gives the former prohibition officer a hand gun. Just to make sure that the man is dead after Val Alden has shot him in the back as he rushes away, Capone takes a machine gun and fires a clip at the poor man. Van Alden has not alternative but to accept the offer of Capone to work for him as a hard man. Van Alden had recently been employed by his boss to break heads stopping a political candidate gaining votes in an important election.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The first episodes of the fourth series have also features the club the night club that Chalky White has opened as he attempted to move into a “respectable”. The cub is daily managed by an assistant who when a white booking agent, accompanied by his white wife calls bringing two black male tap dancers the wife sets her cap at the manager and who obliges. However when he is the midst of passionate sex the husband enters and wants to watch while he masturbates, having first feigned anger and demanding the manager makes a humiliating acceptance of continuing to serve the white as a superior beings. The manager then beats the agent to death before the horrified wife who runs off an cannot be found after Chalky is called into sort out the mess.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Chalky and the manager are then visited by a new character from New York who appears to be in control of Harlem having a financial piece of everything going, while also controlling all entertainment acts and also heading a campaign/movement for black power. The man has the window of the agent with him and demands compensation. Against the wishes of the manager Chalky gives the man ten percent interest in his club after the man has stopped all his entertainers from performing in the club. The man then has some of his assistants killing the widow and dumping her body in an secluded spot on their way back to New York. He also makes overtures to a disgruntled manager, codifying that Chalk had offered to sacrifice the manager as part of the compensation deal. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Another regular character also featured is Richard Harrow the World war one veteran, who return to the family home where his pregnant sister is trying to keep the holding going having recently lost her husband and getting into debt. Richard has called in at the family home having obtained a commission to kill dome one in the nearby ton. However when he makes he visit he decides not to kill the individual.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Whether he had experienced too many killings or whether something has triggered within him he has lost his appetite for killing. He is continuing to grieve for the deaths of Jimmy’s wife and having to give up the boy leaving the child the care of young women with whom he would have been able to have a meaningful relationship despite his facial disfigurement if he had not become a hired killer. He is also affected when his dog kept at the holding by his sister needs to be put down and he cannot use the hand gun she has found that he has to do so. She kills the dog. </span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The sister has what used be called a Gentleman caller who is willing to make friends with the brother and wants to provide a home for all of them, something the sister begins to warm to. The man who hired Richard then turns up seeking retribution because the contracted killing has not been carried out. He gets the better of Richard when they fight and it is the sister who uses a shot gun to save her brother, This underlines Richard‘s inability to lead a normal life so he moves on.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Gillian, (<i>Jimmy‘s mother turned into a whore by the man who wronged her with the help of Nucky and who owned and ran the bordello before the massacre of clients and staff to prevent her gaining control of the boy</i>), survived and is attempting to sell or rent out the property, offering herself to enquiries if they decide the property is not for them. One of the visitors is a chain store owner who wants the property short term and then hires Gillian to show him around and then to pose as his wife when he meets someone and his wife to a dinner which will hopeful seal a deal bringing the two businesses together in a common enterprise. Gillian does so well that that the man takes an interest and is at the point of buying an engagement ring when they run into one of her former former clients.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Eli’s widest son is now going to university college and as with younger brother Michael in the Godfather or Soprano and his son and daughter, Eli wants his son to make something legitimate of his life, become a lawyer and keep out of the gangster business. Taking him back to college he tells the boy to stay in the car when he make a call on a whisky storehouse on the way. The son finds himself a social fish out of what among the sophisticated and old money other students and tries to ingratiate himself by offering to find alcohol for a party and eventually gets away with a case after being caught trying to take one with the threat of his father being contacted.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">At the party his standing rises as he finds himself alone with one of the old money young girls only to be interrupted by the arrival of the main local social leader and his cronies and he feels humiliated. To get his own back he laces the drink of the tormenter in such a way that the young man can not get to the toilet in time and spends the rest of the night there to be discovered in the morning that the substance has proved lethal.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">That the series so far continues to demonstrate that nothing lasts and that there is a high price to pay for the villainy although a few of the principals live on, at least for the time being.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-59148485660238934012013-11-20T01:47:00.000-08:002013-11-20T01:47:03.810-08:00Boardwalk Empre Seasons One and Two remembered<span lang="EN-GB"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">My fascination with the <b>Boardwalk Empire, </b>based on the prohibition era of Atlantic City and on the Bootlegging king Nucky Johnson, called Thompson in the series, the rise of Al Capone in Chicago and, the rivalry between New York based Crime organisations is questionable in terms of personal priorities and the state of the world around with me given the horror in the Philippines, the Tornadoes striking the USA and other more pressing concerns in the UK. However this manages to hold its own against the standard bearer, The Sopranos and the Italian Romanzo Criminale as it enters its fourth season.. As with many similar products there are characters and stories particular to one season while a few manage to survive and continue have significant parts from season to season. Although eh creators have provided us with some end of season shocks, similar to the Downton Abbey Christmas specials and occasional fires, murders, and planes dropping from the sky in Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emerdale.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Because of the need for some continued I am quoting from Wikipedia or using their summary as a reminder to me, edited according to my view of what is of continuing interest and what is not, I also try and note those characters who carry forward to the present seasons as I go along. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Boardwalk_Empire"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Boardwalk Empire</span></span></i></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> premiered on September 19, 2010 and concluded on December 5, 2010, consisting of 12 episodes. The series was created by </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Terence_Winter"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Terence Winter</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and based on the book <i>Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City</i> by Nelson Johnson. Set in </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Atlantic_City,_New_Jersey"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Atlantic City, New Jersey</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, during the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Prohibition era</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, the series stars </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Steve_Buscemi"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Steve Buscemi</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (based on the historical </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Enoch_L._Johnson"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Enoch L. Johnson</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">) political figure who rose to prominence and controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Prohibition"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Prohibition</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> period of the 1920s and 1930s. It is factual that Johnson was involved with several historical figures in both his personal and political life, including mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look up to him. The federal government also takes an interest in the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Rum-running"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">bootlegging</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and other illegal activities in the area, sending agents to investigate possible mob connections but also looking at Nucky's lifestyle—expensive and lavish for a county political figure.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The first season takes place between January and November 1920, beginning with the start of national prohibition and ending with the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1920"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">1920 presidential election</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">., with a final cost of $18 million was directed by </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Martin_Scorsese"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Martin Scorsese</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and was the most expensive pilot episode produced in television history. The series was given widespread praise, particularly for its visual style and historical accuracy The </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/American_Film_Institute"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">American Film Institute</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> named <i>Boardwalk Empire</i> one of the ten "best television programs of the year".</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">On the eve of Prohibition, Atlantic City Treasurer Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, arranges a deal with many of his associates to get into the bootlegging business, in order to pay finances for the city. He has employed as a driver returning from World War Jimmy Darmody who is married with a son, and is frustrated that Nucky refuses to give him the respect he believes he deserves. There is back story about the two which Jimmy does not know.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky is approached by a pregnant woman, Margaret Schroeder, asking for him to find a job for her alcoholic and abusive husband. She belongs to the Temperance League who are strongly opposed to secret activities of Nucky and his brother Eli who control the city police. Eli is married and has a an increasing large family.. Margaret is to have a major role in the series until the end of series three although she does reappear for some episodes in the present fourth series but not the first four episodes which have so far been shown in the UK and elsewhere outside of the USA and Canada,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky goes to discuss operations with gangsters Arnold Rothstein (his Jewishness is significant on terms of the divisions between criminal organisation based in mew York and New Jersey. Nucky also develops business associations with and Charles “Lucky” Luciano of New York, and Jim Colosimo and Johnny Torrio of Chicago. Afterwards, Jimmy befriends Torrio’s driver, Al Capone, and both plan to steal whiskey shipments from one of Rothstein and Nucky’s deals in order to make their way into the bootlegging business. The heist goes wrong, however, resulting in the death of many of Rothstein’s men, and the raiding of the Nucky’s Irish Associate Mickey Doyle’s hideout from the feds, led by Agent Nelson Van Alden. Capone delivers his part of the shipment to Torrio, who orders one of his men to assassinate Colosimo. Nucky fires Doyle and replaces him with a black man, Albert “Chalky” White. All these are key characters although the involvement of Jimmy and Mickey has ended by series four.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky learns that Jimmy was behind the heist, and is advised by Commodore Kaestner to find a fall man. Commodore Kaestner is the old power in the City and a man who takes great interest in Jimmy and Nicky was once his protégée. He lives with a black servant woman.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">After learning Margaret husband has ended her pregnancy through beatings Nucky orders his brother, Eli the sheriff, to kidnap and murder the man, framing him for the massacre of Rothstein‘s men. Van Alden is suspicious about the conviction, however, and investigates Nucky and Margaret, becoming infatuated with the latter, despite the fact that he is a married Christian and is very religious..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Eli and Nucky manage to persuade Margaret that Hans was behind the massacre, and Nucky offers to help with her finances, and she becomes infatuated with him. She faces off with Nucky’s jealous girlfriend, Lucy. Margaret becomes frustrated with Nucky’s lack of attention, and she informs Van Alden of a bootlegging operation, which results in the arrest of one of Nucky’s men. Nucky then allows her to become his mistress, and Lucy is forced to live on her own.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A survivor of the massacre, Simon, is found in the woods, and is kidnapped by Van Alden, who intends to get a statement from him. Before he dies from his injuries, Simon manages to convey to Van Alden that Jimmy was one of the gunmen. With the Feds, Rothstein, and Luciano now on Jimmy’s tail, Nucky orders him to leave Atlantic City. Jimmy leaves for Chicago, partially motivated due to his distant relationship from his family, especially his wife, Angela. Angela developed a friendship with the wife of the local photosphere and the two women planned to run away together to France, however the woman goes off with her husband instead leaving Angela humiliated and even more vulnerable.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In Chicago, Jimmy and Capone continue to expand Torrio’s bootlegging business and subsequently threaten the business of another supplier in the area, Sheridan. Jimmy also falls for a young prostitute, Pearl, who is brutally attacked by Sheridan in order to send a message to Torrio, after noticing her attraction to Jimmy. Pearl soon commits suicide from the shame, and Jimmy, bent on revenge, takes out Sheridan and his crew with Capone. He soon befriends another war veteran, Richard Harrow, a man missing half his face. Richard is to have a important role tot his day in the series and become a good friend of Angela and the child of the marriage with Jimmy although Jimmy is stranger to the boy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Doyle struggles with his finances after getting fired, falling in debt to the D’Alessio brothers, who want repayment of their loan to his business. He allows them to attempt to kill Chalky and steal Nucky’s money, though the plan backfires and one of Chalky’s men is lynched and killed. Doyle then tells the brothers about a $3000 collection Nucky gets each week from one of his ward bosses, and their robberies halt Nucky’s operations. The D’Alessio brothers are soon approached by Luciano, bringing them into business with Rothstein, who is dealing with increasingly hostile accusations about fixing the World Series.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nucky prepares for the upcoming election day, hoping to get Warren Harding nominated for and elected president, so that he can get his money earmarked to pave the roads to Atlantic City. After going to Chicago for the Republican Convention, he briefly leaves Eli in charge, though he is soon shot and wounded by the D’Alessio brothers in a robbery. As a result, he allows Margaret to get further involved in his business, and he also gets Jimmy to come back to Atlantic City, who brings Harrow with him. Once Nucky returns, one of the D’Alessio brothers attempts to assassinate him, but fails. He is forced to fire Eli. This becomes and even me significant act later.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Van Alden is soon approached by Billy Winslow, the decoy Jimmy and Capone used during the liquor hijacking, who tells him that Capone and Jimmy were behind the massacre. Jimmy is subsequently arrested and set to be put up for trial. Agent Sebso, one of Van Alden’s men, who is revealed to be working for Nucky, murders Winslow and wounds himself, making it look as though both were attacked and freeing Jimmy from all charges. Afterwards, Jimmy attempts to repair his marriage with Angela, but she continues to feel frightened and remains distant from him. Meanwhile, Van Alden’s obsession with Margaret leads him to depression, culminating in him sleeping with Lucy Nucky’s former mistress) and getting her pregnant. Eventually, he kills Sebso in a baptism, aware of his involvement in Winslow’s murder. Thus Van Aden has commenced on his slippery slope, also stealing Federal funds in order to keep Lucy happy and for a time his wife still committed to him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Doyle returns to Nucky’s side, revealing his connection to the D’Alessios, and Nucky’s gang kills two of the brothers, preparing for war. Meanwhile, Nucky continues to use Margaret for his political gains, who grows increasingly suspicious of his actions. She contemplates leaving him behind, but decides to stay his mistress in order to support her children. Rothstein is eventually forced to compromise with Nucky, due to the Black Sox Scandal, and he allows Nucky to kill the remaining D’Alessio brothers. Nucky uses the assassination to earn political favour with the public, and on Election Day, Republican Bader wins the mayoral election, and Harding wins the presidential election. Bader reinstates Eli as sheriff.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It is now Jimmy learns that the Commodore is his father, having had sexual relations with Gillian when she was just 13 years old. The Commodore, who Jimmy discovers and reveals is dying from arsenic poisoning, tells him that Nucky previously worked for him as a pimp early in his career, and set up the meeting between him and Gillian. After the maid is revealed to be poisoning the Commodore, he reveals that he and Nucky were caught election rigging in the past, and in an arrangement with Woodrow Wilson, only the Commodore took the fall. When he was released from prison, he found Nucky in control of the city. He enlists both Eli and Jimmy to help him take back Atlantic City from Nucky.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The second season takes place between February and August 1921. Jimmy, Eli, and the Commodore move along with their plot to remove Nucky from power. Nucky has suspected a plot, especially after a </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Ku Klux Klan</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> attack on Chalky White's warehouse and Jimmy's increasingly distant attitude. The Commodore's faction decides to frame Nucky for election fraud, vengeance for the Commodore's own imprisonment for similar charges.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A heavily pregnant Lucy is forced into living with Van Alden until the baby arrives. She eventually gives birth to a girl, before leaving the child with Van Alden. After discovering his secret, Van Alden's wife, Rose, asks for a divorce. In desperate need of money, and due to having a vendetta against Thompson, Van Alden agrees to supply evidence that could further prove Nucky's guilt.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Jimmy attempts to make allies with powerful criminals, such as </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Arnold_Rothstein"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Arnold Rothstein</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and Manny Horvitz. Although Rothstein does not make a business deal with Jimmy, Manny takes a liking to him until the relationship turns sour.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Margaret meets Owen Sleater, who has come from Ireland to assist Nucky. She is attracted to him, but does not act upon these feelings immediately. She eventually sleeps with him after visiting her family in New York. When her daughter, Emily, contracts polio, Margaret is plagued with guilt over her past sins, which include living with the man who ordered her husband's death.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Jimmy reluctantly orders a hit on Nucky upon the insistence of Eli. This event, along with his upcoming trial, forces Nucky to resign. Jimmy has a short-lived and unsuccessful reign as boss of Atlantic City, while Nucky uses the time to get out of his predicament. Manny Horvitz, meanwhile, murders Angela, Jimmy's wife in revenge. Rothstein sets Nucky up with his lawyer, while Van Alden flees to </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cicero,_Illinois"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Cicero, Illinois</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> after the death of his former partner is brought up, and Jimmy, high on </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Heroin"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">heroin</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, murders the Commodore.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">After having lost his wife, Jimmy tries to fix all that he ruined, and Nucky marries Margaret so she cannot testify against him. After the charges are dropped, Nucky is able to forgive Eli but not Jimmy for the plot against his life. He then murders Jimmy, insisting that he is not seeking forgiveness. When Margaret learns that Nucky most likely did kill Jimmy, she responds by giving a land grant that Nucky was going to use for roads to Atlantic City to the Catholic Church. During this time the war veteran befriend by Jimmy, a sharp shooter, becomes his hit man murdering people on command in a detached way or so it seems. The death of war veteran Jimmy .more a victim in the series is hard to take along with the young women who have been used, abused and killed.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
</span><br /></span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-21072704565678470632013-11-19T12:29:00.001-08:002013-11-19T12:29:21.528-08:00Borgen part three season one ends<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The start of the third week of November 2013 commenced well with finishing Borgen part two before reminding myself of the first three seasons of the Boardwalk Empire before watching the fourth episode of the fourth season and then watching the last three powerful episodes of season one Borgen, after watching an excellent edition of Bargain hunt, catching up on World and domestic. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">So now I can devote my time to the last three episodes of season 1 Borgen which were powerfully moving and moved the series from been very very good to exceptional and without doubt the most outstanding political series todate.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The 8<sup>th</sup> episodes commences with the summer vacation for parliamentarians but not for Minister’s and their Civil servants. Birgitte is determined to have a break with the family as the difficulties between the couple and with their children begin to mount.. Because of the problems with security the decision is taken to take the family to the official weekend and holiday residence which the Prime Minister has never used. This is a large country house with many bedrooms rather like Chequers with the British Prime Minister uses for weekend house parties, an establishment which is full staff and with leisure facilities in secure seclusion. However the post nosh fails to impress the children who want Pepsi or a burger and chips and to be able to out to the pictures or the beach as any other family.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Meanwhile back at the ranch so to speak Kasper is facing two major problems. The first concerns the publication by the former labour leader of his political memoirs and which is suspected to concern the sexual behaviour of former leading politicians in the opposition coalition parties, targets including Bent, Birgitte’s trusted adviser and supporter, the Minister of Finance. If I remember correctly his affair was with a leading member of another party, sometime back. There are also accusations of homosexuality at the Minister of Justice despite his marriage and children. Kasper’s advice which the Prime Minister follows is to say nothing to the media and for the Ministers concerned to take no action. She appears on TV saying that it is a trivial matter part of the summer silly season.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">However this cannot be said for the questions to Kasper and the receipts about the use of the Minister’s credit card to bail out his wife from an embarrassing situation at the store. He makes the point that two days before his death he had given the receipts to his media adviser to fix the position with the Expenses people, how so did Kasper get hold of the information? Kasper had spent the week trying to get hold of an advance copy of the book having learned that it had been released for ten journalists in preparation for publication day, he had tracked down who had the copy at the TV1 station and approached his former colleagues for help which was appropriately rejected.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine had now realised that her former boyfriend must have gained access when he went to the flat to clear up after she had found her lover dead beside her when she woke in the morning. This immediately soured relations between the two and she did not believe when he tried to explain that on top of everything his father had died.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Previously Katrine had complained that although Kasper and met her parents and other family members she had never met his mother and father who he alleged had alive in Southern France for the previous couple of decades. He also tells Katrine that his mother had committed suicide/died when he was twelve years old. He learns the information when she manages to see him at the office and he is prepared to organise the undertaker but nothing else. He tells the undertakers that he wants a cremation service and an unmarked grave as quickly as it can be arranged. Back at the house he remembers his room and that at the age of twelve (it is assumed) his mother had to go away for a few days and his father had sexual abused him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">When Katrine finds out about the funeral she attends and find that she is the only other person there but Kasper subsequently refuses to explain why he does not want to talk about the matter other than saying his father was a coward and not a nice man.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In relation to the receipts he goes on TV refusing to disclose how he came by them on the grounds that being a good journalist one did not reveal sources and that he had taken the information to Birgitte who had said she was not interested and then to the Labour man because he felt strongly the matter should be investigation by the appropriate authorities. He had resigned and not sacked.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Because she is required to attend to political business the holiday does not go as well as the family hopes and when the daughter is about to miss a party friends they return. Because her son develops the problem of wetting himself she visits the school as a parent not as Prime Minister and he make the point that the boy may be reacting to changed atmosphere in the home and ask pointedly if her husband is happy with the situation that he finds himself in so when she poses the same question his answer confirms that her is not and that on issues is his dissatisfaction with being an academic lecturer rather than a functioning role in the business world he teaches.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Another indication that the relationship is fracturing is over sex where during the early part of the holiday she is interested but is not finding their situation has become mechanical and she admits the situation as the first time in a month she had felt inclined, because by the time I joined the series in the second season they were divorced this aspect did not have the same level of emotional impact as it would first time round, but the situation was emotionally affect such is quality of script, the direction and the acting.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This however is the beginning of the powerful emotional impact of the last three episodes with the eighth appearing to be about an aircraft contract where the price of the selected render goes up by a significant amount of Krone before it is signed. Because of this Birgitte attempts to find out about the planes that are under consideration leaving Bent among those coming to the aid of the Defence Minister saying the PM had to take the broad view, not create encumbrances for her Ministerial colleague and avoid getting embroiled in the details of a contract.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The first problem is when the media get hold of the information that the Defence Minister has been taken all expenses paid shooting trip in Scotland by the company winning the contract and he and the defence people plays this down saying it is part and parcel of the multi million process assuring her there is nothing else to find. However Katrine is persistent and manages to talk to the field sports person at the hotel where the Minister stayed and learns that he received an expensive present of a shooting gun within his personal name engraved and worth a quarter of a million krone. When this is raised with him on TV he pretends that the present was handed into the Ministry as is required when expensive presents are received after he realised its value. However he admits to Birgitte that this was only as soon as he realised the significance. The Minister gets to keep his job and the government survives again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">However this is not the position of the husband of the Prime Minister. He is head hunted and accepts the appointment as Chief executive officers of a company which the personal research undertaken by Birgitte reveals will gain a little as a subsidiary to the main contract, one of many Danish firms in this multi country produced fighter plane. She consults the appropriate official who advise that in the circumstances and because the appointment is being made long after the negotiations commenced the involvement is not a problem. It will be remembered that the husband has already been forced to sell environmental friendly wind turbine shares at a loss because of the contract that was to have been signed by the President of the former Soviet republic. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Unfortunately the renewed fuss because of the gun present means the media is scouring every nook and cranny to find evidence of corruption on the part of the coalition and she is told it would not be appropriate for the husband to take up the appointment. He is angry and devastated and when she insists he walks out of the household and there is no contact for several days.. She begins to think that he is involved with someone and goes to the home of the student who appeared to be interested in him only to find that she is in bed with another student. She is very lucky and the girl chooses not to go to the media about the situation. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The husband returns and admits that he has been spending the time with someone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the last episode of the first season, the first year in office is coming to an end and Birgitte is preparing to make the annual address of the Prime Minister to Parliament and she puts her heart and soul into the address which such a great success in terms of its appeal to patriotism and duty that she wins the praise of the former Prime Minister and also from the candidate on the extreme right and it has the desired effect of helping to bring unity and common purpose back to a country which has become overtly materialistic and divided.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She now dresses as a power woman and the strains and loneliness and isolation of her position has become all too apparent. In order to gain ongoing support from the Labour Party of the coalition she has been forced to replace her trusted friend and ally Bent with someone of their nomination. It is Bent who after all has throughout reminded her that in the position she cannot have political friends and must be prepared to hire and fire according to the needs the country, her Party and holding her position.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The great blow has been the decision of her husband to seek a divorce, despite her having offered that he could have erotic involvements which she could not provide as long as these were kept discrete.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Earlier having initiated her new policy of Government openness following the problems in relation to the Ministry of defence, she had insisted that everyone publish their diary of meetings, gifts and expenses etc just as she had previously insisted that Minister should not appear on TV, hold press conferences or issue press releases without these being cleared by Kasper who in effect becomes a Director of Communications.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">When working late preparing for the speech and become attracted to Sanne the inefficient but kindly secretary who the head of the civil service has claimed he has been unable to move because of the pressure from her Trade union. Kasper has already been warned the Civil service chief of that age old saying about not doing beauties on your own doorstep. After they are caught together Kasper is warned again that having a secretary crying all the time is not something that will be tolerated and he has to cool it making the point that if it was up to him and their situation was different etc... The girl is also moved but this also only reinforces the sense of isolation in which Birgitte finds herself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Testing out the new openness regime TV 1 wants top do a fly on the wall documentary about the Coalition government works and which will also include the family life of the Prime Minister. Because of the deteriorating situation at home Birgitte realises that they will not be able to go ahead unless there is editorial control over the scenes in the family home and she persuades Kasper to go to the head of the TV station with the request. Kasper plays a good game saying that another TV station has offered to do the programme on this basis and reluctantly the station agrees having previously trailed the development and also having appointed Katrine to undertake the task at the request of Kasper. She had been sent on leave for four weeks after her last bout of defiance and could not come back unless she was willing to be a team player. She was considering not returning hence the request by Kasper obviously feeling he owed her after causing the break up with the boyfriend and she supported him over the death of his father.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">When the team member whose nose was put out of joint by the return of Katrine. discovers Kasper involved in the editing of the part involving the home visit which provide a clear insight how something would could appear half hearted or negative is turned into a positive moment by switching the context, he advises Katrine who storms in and resigns on principle. What she does not know and does not give Kasper time to explain is that the Prime had to pull out of allowing any part of the home interview to be shown. The husband had been so affected by having to put on a show that he had spent the whole night in his car rather than go and see a girlfriend. He and decided that his wife had become a very different person from who he had married and he did not want to participate in the continuation of what he saw as the destruction of their relationship, he wanted to keep alive the good experience which they had had..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There are those who will not understand the brilliance which others attach to this programme and there will those where the programme will have struck many deep and painful chords.</span> </div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-22671975299798296652013-11-18T03:08:00.001-08:002013-11-18T03:08:09.472-08:00Borgen season 1 episodes 5 to 7<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The harsh reality of politics, being a leader and of coalition politics is to the fore in the fifth to seventh episodes of season 1 of <b>Borgen</b>, the impressive Danish series about a coalition government led by the first woman political head and which has had political resonance in general.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The fifth episode centres on the attempt to establish sexual equality throughout the country, especially in the boardroom where only about 5% of Directors are female. The coalition introduces a bill to ensure that at least 45% of a board membership are woman catering for situations where the board has an uneven number of members.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Prime Minister Birgitte Nyborg allocates the passage of the Bill to the Minister concerned with business, someone who she brought into the Government from outside Parliament because of proven business acumen. This decision upsets the coalition nominated Minister responsible for equality issues. The Minister expresses her strong disapproval and attempts to put her grievance on the TV 1 station but its ordered not to do so by Birgitte who reminds that she her party just got above the minimum percentage number of votes to qualify for seats in the parliament</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In turn the Equality Minister makes the point that she should become a member of the central policy committee which has an uneven balance between men and woman as the committee is formed by specific Ministerial positions with a male dominance as a consequence and prophetically she says she is available to step in if the situation of need arises.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Then Birgitte is the faced with an aggressive threat by the leader of the main Danish owned company who threatens take his business interests out of the country with the loss of thousands of jobs and billions of Krone to the economy unless she drops the insistence on Boardroom equality. Birgitte does her homework with the help of Kasper and other Ministers establishes that the man is a very loyal Dane who has tea regularly with the Queen and supports a number of Danish charities, the country’s arts and other important interests. When he returns having given her 48 hours to reconsider continuing with the Bill she calls his bluff and argues that he can ensure he gets the best female directors available and show leadership by openly accepting the move and taking the initiative to make the change. He negotiates a concession on an environmental levy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Getting his own back, in a way, it is assumed that the business leader is responsible for the leak of information about the false academic background of the Minister and that she does not possess the qualifications she has supplied to the Government and are part of her published information in Whose Who. Birgitte suggests a way out for the Minister to come clean and admit her mistake but the woman clearly does not appreciate that this matter has been uncovered and fails to make the disclosure so the Prime Minister does not have the opportunity to arrange a facing saving solution and is forced to ask for the resignation. However the Minister is allowed to resign because of the adverse publicity about her private life and moral character.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Previously the Opposition newspaper led by the former leader of the Opposition had suggested that the Minister was someone of easy virtue in the past and present despite now being married with three children. Birgitte’s husband discloses that he had slept with Minister when they were both young and drunk although given the falsity of her academic qualification there is no information about the potential fictional authenticity of this aspect of the story. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Equality minister gain significantly from the fall of the Business Minister.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There are similarities and parallels with the seventh episode which I shall report next.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The leader of the Solidarity Party. a comparatively young woman, Birgitte previously mentored and encouraged her to go into politics, is present when a highly sensitive latest bugging device camera is found in the main room where the Party now meet. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The slimy and unscrupulous Minister of Justice cooks up a story with the head of the Secret Service that the bug was placed in the building when it was occupied by a publishing House with extreme involvements and in effect it had been forgotten to remove the device. However the Justice Minister in an interview arrange without consulting the Prime Minister with the head of he Secret service implies there have been on going matters of concern and later he discloses to the Prime Minister the existence of tape recording of a conversation at a Party when the former activist talks of kidnapping the children of the then prime Minister to agreed to support the USA/UK war intervention in Iraq. The tape is several years old and as the PM points out it was not considered grounds for taking action before. She orders the Minister not use the tape and but to put up a good show when he is questioned by the Parliament. Not only does he fail to accept responsibility and apologise but he continues to imply justification. Birgitte feels she has no alternative but to call on him to resign and suggests he goes and talks over with his family.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Instead he arrange with the head of State Security to release the tape to the TV 1 station where Katrine realises will take away from the story of th bugging and is intended to deflect public attention from he real issue, the illegal bugging of a political party</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte is determined the sack the Minister but is persuaded by her trusts supporter and adviser, Bent who is the Minister of Finance, and Kasper as well as other Members of the Coalition who suggest reprimand. This is because the Solidarity Party leader did talk of kidnapping the children fo the former Prime Minister. On learning of the bugging he had launched a major attack on Birgitte and the coalition but when he heard the broadcast tape he immediately change his position defending the actions of the Justice Minister and the Secret Service. The Minister of Justice had cleverly outwitted the Prime Minister.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">However she is unforgiving and saying that while she is not in a position to sack him, they will only meet formally and that she regards him as a dead Minister to be replaced at the earliest opportunity.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There is blackmail of a similar nature in the middle of these three episodes of season one when the president of an emerging twenty year old former soviet satellite neighbour of Russia visits because he is taking over the Presidency of a fictitious democratic union from Denmark. The Minister of trade with colleagues announces excitedly that the visit is the opportunity to sign a billion krone deal to supply environmental wind turbines to the visiting state. Coinciding with the state visit where in the evening there is to a state visit to the Opera with the Queen arranging a buffet in the intervals. An internationally recognised poet and freedom fighter from the visiting head of state is also holding protest meetings because of the disappearance of some 90 other dissidents and Amnesty evidence of significant abuses of the standards required for membership of he democratic body, let alone its chairmanship.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The president makes it an issue and wants the man arrested and handed over for his alleged part in the bombing of a police station which killed several senior officers as well as members of the general public. However he fails to provided evidence and when he does it is not substantial enough to automatically consent to the request, There is also concern what will happen to the man if he is send back where the evidence indicates he will immediately disappear for good.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The solution is for the dissident to leave the country but he refuses and pressure begins to mounts from all sides for the Prime Minister to take action, not just from Russian but from other members if the Democracy organisation apart from France as well across the board from political parties at home. Eventually she agrees to the arrest of the man but insists that President tells her what will happen to th man if he is handed over. The president declines and threatened not to sign the contract. Birgitte has one more trick up her sleeve.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">But first I want continue to report the issue of the affect of her being the Prime Minister on her marriage and family. The husband is increasingly hostile to the demands on his life, the impact on their children and the limitations on his relationships with Birgitte. He appears to be taken an inappropriate interest in an attractive student who visits the home to ask his support and advice for an application she has made for an internship with a Bank. He uses her to buy a present for their daughter when she get A’s at school, because Birgitte is to be to do so. Throughout the episodes there are situation where it is evident the relationship is beginning to break down. The youngest child begins to wet himself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Her divorced father comes to visit and where the parent appear to have separated because they wanted to lead different lives and where the after admits that at fist he relished he freedom but this quickly evaporated and now he had taken to excessive drinking as a consolation for the loneliness of his situation. He has never got one with her husband who claims the father in law treats him like a school master and grown upset when the man borrows his dressing gown and drinks his red wine. He makes himself useful and is adored by the grand children but eventually Birgitte is in effect forced to ask him to leave in order to try and save her relationship when the husband threatens t move into a hotel if the father in law continues to stay. As the man has told the daughter to all that she can to keep the marriage, he appreciates that the time has come for him to depart,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We also begin to appreciate more that Kasper and Katrine still have strong feelings for each other but there respective position make a relationship impossible. Kasper becomes jealous when she establishes a sexual relationship with the fitness instructor and the two come to blows when he visits one evening. Kasper is head butted after provoking the instructor into a fight and alter he claims that he does not see Katrine and the instructor becomes a real couple other than through their good sexual relationship. Katrine aware that she has not appeared in public with the young man eventually invites him to her companion at a TV \wards night. However there is an incident where he admits that he doe snot know who the Minister of Justice is or what the fuss has been about and that he had no interest in politics. Katrine cannot stand this situation as Kasper words to her begin to ring true something which the young man also understands that she looks down at his indifference to her interests and walks out of the relationship.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine has been asked by her boss to arrange an interview with the Prime Minister using her known special relationship with Kasper but when she gate crashes his office he rejects her and tells the security to make sure they do not let in anyone unauthorised. The prime Minister however lets it be known that she wants to be interviewed and at the arranged end of visit press conference she asks Kasper to ensure that someone asks the last question she wants raised. He gives it to Katrine who resents being asked given the rejection and raises her own question but she reconsiders, checks the question she had stuffed in her pocket asks the visiting president if it is correct that the contract for the Wind Turbines is dependent on the extradition of the dissident. He says no and has therefore committed himself public ally, leaving the Prime Minister in the position of being able to refuse to hand over the arrested man who is allowed to then leave the country.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">However the episode ends with the information that issues about the contract and then raised once the President returns to his country. The Prime Minister has forced her husband to sell the shares he has, at a lost, in the company awarded the contract before the deal is struck and the share price rockets.</span></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-53390830785355793622013-11-17T03:47:00.004-08:002013-11-17T03:47:58.085-08:00Borgen series 1 episodes 1-4<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I only discovered the Danish political series <b>Borgen </b> midway during the second series showing in the UK last year and although I was able to view a number of previous episodes I was left with the hunger to experience from the outset and also not to wait for the showing of the third and final series, here in the UK but which was already available on DVD at a price. I then acquired a DVD set of the first two series at a reasonable price and promised that I would view before the third series commenced sometime this year, something that I forgot to do. With the start of the third series on Saturday (November 16<sup>th</sup>, 2013) I abandoned the backlog of other cultural experiences still unreported (see 0035) and intended to begin to day for viewing the first episode of Borgen after a long night of sleep and fantasy of a different life to one I am having.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">
<b></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>(Borgen </b>is the nickname given to the building in the capital of Denmark which houses the main buildings of the state, The Parliament, The Prime Ministers office and the Supreme Court, and which also appears to include the offices of the main political parties).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It was a worthwhile decision as the first episode of series one immediately reminded why the programme had such an impact not only in Denmark but has now been broadcast in over 50 countries with over half the viewing public engaged in the home country and in the UK channel four attracting a million viewers unheard for one of the other channels to BBC1 and ITV and Sky Sports. Given the amount of time I am spending I will begin with the basics about Demnark, a constitutional monarchy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">According to Wikipedia <b><span lang="EN-GB">Denmark</span></b> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English%20/%20Key"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">'</span></span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English%20/%20Key"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">d</span></span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English%20/%20Key"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">ɛ</span></span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English%20/%20Key"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">n</span></span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English%20/%20Key"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">m</span></span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English%20/%20Key"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">ɑː</span></span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English%20/%20Key"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">r</span></span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English%20/%20Key"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">k</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">; </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_language"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">: Danmark, pronounced </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Danish"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">'d̥ɛnmɑg</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> officially the <b>Kingdom of Denmark</b> (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_language"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">: Kongeriget Danmark, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Danish"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">['kɔŋəʁiːəð 'd̥ɛnmɑg̊]</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> is a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sovereign_state"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">sovereign state</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Northern_Europe"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Northern Europe</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, located south-west of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sweden"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Sweden</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, south of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Norway"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Norway</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, and bordered to the south by </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Germany"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Germany</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. The Kingdom has two autonomous </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Constituent_country"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">constituent countries</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in the north </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Atlantic Ocean</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Faroe_Islands"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Faroe Islands</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Greenland"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Greenland</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. At 43,094 </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Square_kilometre"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">square kilometres</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> (16,638.69 sq mi) a population of around 5.6 million inhabitants, Denmark consists of a peninsula, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jutland"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Jutland</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, and the Danish archipelago of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">407 islands</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> which around 70 are inhabited, are characterised by flat, arable land and sandy coasts with little elevation and a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Temperate_climate"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">temperate</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> climate. The national language, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_language"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, is </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/North_Germanic_languages"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">closely related</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> to </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Swedish_language"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Swedish</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Norwegian_language"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Norwegian</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Kingdom of Denmark is a unitary </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">constitutional monarchy</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> with </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Margrethe_II_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Margrethe II</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> as </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Queen_regnant"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">queen regnant</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, organised in a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Parliamentary_system"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">parliamentary</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> democracy. Ending </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Absolute_monarchy"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">absolute monarchy</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> introduced in 1660, the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Constitution_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Constitution of Denmark</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> was signed on 5 June 1849, only to be rewritten four times; the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Constitution_of_Denmark%20/%20Changes"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">latest revision</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in 1953. The unicameral parliament, the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Folketing"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Folketing</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, resides in the capital of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Copenhagen"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Copenhagen</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, together with </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Courts_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">judicial</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cabinet_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">executive</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, and </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Folketing"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">legislative</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> powers. Denmark exercises </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Hegemony"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">hegemonic</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> influence in the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_Realm"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish Realm</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Devolution"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">devolving</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> political powers to handle internal affairs to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Denmark became a member of the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/European_Union"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">European Union</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in 1973, maintaining </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Opt-outs_in_the_European_Union"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">four opt-outs</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> from European Union policies, as outlined in the 1992 </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Edinburgh_Agreement_(1992)"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Edinburgh Agreement</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. Both the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Faroe_Islands_and_the_European_Union"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Faroe Islands</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Greenland_and_the_EU%20/%20Outside_the_EU"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Greenland</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> remain outside the Union.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Home of the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Vikings"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Vikings</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/History_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">unified kingdom of Denmark</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> emerged in the 8th century as a proficient seafaring nation in the struggle for </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dominium_maris_baltici"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">control of the Baltic Sea</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. The establishment of the personal </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Kalmar_Union"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Kalmar Union</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> under Danish rule in 1397 ended with Swedish secession in 1523; one year later, Denmark entered </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Denmark-Norway"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">union with Norway</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> until its dissolution in 1814. Several </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cession"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">cessions</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> of Danish territory that had begun in the 17th century caused a surge of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/History_of_Denmark%20/%20The_19th_century"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">nationalist movements</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> that gained momentum in the 1830s and concluded with a defeat in the 1864 </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Second_Schleswig_War"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Second Schleswig War</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. A new European outlook was sought after the war, resulting in adjustment and cooperation.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Denmark remained neutral during </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/World_War_I"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">World War I</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/German_invasion_of_Denmark_(1940)"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">German invasion</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in April 1940 saw brief military skirmishes while the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_resistance_movement"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish resistance movement</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> was active from 1943 until the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Occupation_of_Denmark%20/%20Hardship_and_the_end_of_the_war"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">German surrender</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in May 1945. Denmark abandoned its traditional neutrality by joining </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/NATO"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">NATO</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in 1949. The post-war period generated an increase of wealth and brought closer </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/European_integration"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">European integration</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. Denmark has been an active participant in international peacekeeping missions. It took part in the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_Nations_Protection_Force"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">UN peacekeeping mission</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bosnian_War"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Balkans</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in the 1990s. More recently, it has participated in </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Military_history_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">military engagements</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Middle_East"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Middle East</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> at the turn of the 21st century.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">An industrialized exporter of agricultural produce in the second half of the 19th century, Denmark introduced </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Kanslergade_Agreement"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">social and labour-market reforms</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in the early decades of the 20th century, making the basis for the present </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Nordic_model"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">welfare state</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> with a highly developed </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mixed_economy"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">mixed market</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> economy. The </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_krone"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish krone</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> has been pegged to the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Euro"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">euro</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> since 1 January 1999. Denmark has close cultural, economic, and historical ties with its neighbours, resulting in the Danish-Swedish </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/%C3%98resund_Bridge"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Øresund Bridge</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and the planned Danish-German </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Fehmarn_Belt_Fixed_Link"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Denmark is frequently ranked as the happiest country in the world in cross-national studies of </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Happiness"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">happiness</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> Denmark ranks as having the world's highest </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Social_mobility"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">social mobility</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, a high level of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">income equality</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and has one of the world's </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">highest per capita income</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. For 2013, Denmark is listed 15th on the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Human_Development_Index"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Human Development Index</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and 9th on the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/List_of_countries_by_inequality-adjusted_HDI"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">inequality-adjusted HDI</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. Denmark ranks highly positive on the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Corruption Perceptions Index</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Legatum_Prosperity_Index"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Legatum Prosperity Index</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, and as a full democracy on the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Democracy_Index"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Democracy Index</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. Denmark is among the founding members of the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/NATO"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">NATO</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Nordic_Council"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Nordic Council</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Development"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">OECD</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Organization_for_Security_and_Co-operation_in_Europe"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">OSCE</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, and the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_Nations"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">United Nations</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. There are three Danish heritage sites inscribed on the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/UNESCO"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">UNESCO</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_Northern_Europe"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">World Heritage list in Northern Europe</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In a separate article on politics Wikipedia states- Denmark has a </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Multi-party_system"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">multi-party system</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, with two or three strong parties, and four or five other significant parties. No single party has held an </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Absolute_majority"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">absolute majority</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in the Folketing since the beginning of the 20th century and no single party has formed a government alone since 1982. Since only four post-war coalition governments have enjoyed a majority, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bill_(proposed_law)"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">government bills</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> rarely become law without negotiations and compromise with both supporting and opposition parties. Hence the Folketing tends to be more powerful than legislatures in other </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/European_Union"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">EU</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> countries. The </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Constitution"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">constitution</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> does not grant the judiciary power of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Judicial_review_(theory)"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">judicial review</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> of legislation, however the courts have asserted this power with the consent of the other branches of government. Since there are no </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Constitutional_court"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">constitutional</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> or </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Administrative_court"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">administrative courts</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Courts_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Supreme Court</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> deals with a constitutional dimension.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">On many issues the political parties tend to opt in for a co-operation, and the Danish state </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Welfare_economics"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">welfare</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> model receives a broad parliamentary support. This ensures a focus on public-sector efficiency as well as devolved responsibilities of local government on regional and municipal levels. The degree of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Transparency_(humanities)"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">transparency</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Accountability"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">accountability</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> is reflected in the public’s high level of satisfaction with the political institutions, while Denmark is also regularly considered one of the least corrupt countries in the world by international organizations.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There are two Parties with major seats in the present Parliament, the Liberal Party which is Left with 47 seats and the Social Democrats on the centre left with 44. The Danish Peoples Party is right wing nationalistic and then four medium size Parties in terms of parliamentary seats with the Danish People’s Party said to be conservative right wing and nationalistic with 22 seats, the Danish Social Liberals as radical but centrist with 17 and the Socialist Party, left wing and green with 16, followed by the Red Green Alliance with seats and previously the Communist party and Socialist Workers Party. There is also a classical Liberal centre right party with 9 seats and a Conservative People’s Party with 8 plus a Eurosceptical Party which has one seat in the EU parliament but none in the national.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Given the number and length of the programmes I will not be able to view everything before Saturday night so I will record the new episodes and then view after the catching up which is now likely to take several days, especially with the contemporaneous writing up of each episode.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Because of the attention I am proposing to give I am taking even more care to identifying the main characters and key story lines than usual. The outstanding star of the series which won a British BAFTA last year is Birgitte Nyborg Christensen, played by Sidse Babett Knuden, who won an award at Cannes. When the series begins she is the leader of the Moderate party which is part of the opposition coalition led by the Labour Party, with the government led by the Liberal Party which has the support of the extreme right Party, the Freedom Party. There is also the centre Solidarity Party and the Green Party. Thus it will seen that the programme makers have carefully avoided any immediate connection between the fictional and the fact although the names of the parties identify the kinds of support and policies of the reality.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The series begins with three events which are to shape the outcome of the General Election taking place and which catapults Birgitte into the Prime Ministership. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The first event is the decision of the Labour Opposition leader to introduce and even tougher stance on immigrants insisting illegals will be deported and others restricted in what they do in terms of work and benefits. The announcement of this development is replayed during a pre arranged interview with Birgitte on the main TV station TV1 by the young ambitious Katrine and who presses Birgitte into distancing herself from the Labour Party, potentially ending the chances of the opposition coalition gaining power from the governing group. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Her media adviser Kasper is horrified with her response and with the TV Journalist for breaking convention by raising subjects not agreed beforehand, Later she attends a party arrange by the Labour Leader who refuses to retract the position with the consequence that she refuses his offer of two additional Ministry positions to those previously offered. The adviser also approaches the Governing coalition leadership to ensure if there is an arrangement possibility. Birgitte realises that her decision makes her unpopular with some party members and her position as leader has come into question. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Meanwhile the wife of the Prime Minister who feels neglected by her husband, and looks to have a drinking problem is not allowed to purchase an expensive handbag having maxed out her credit card with other purchases and the Prime Minister finding that he has left his wallet behind and anxious to prevent the scene developing used his government business card to meet the immediate situation. This is an untreatable abuse of position although he arranges for the money to be immediately reimbursed in a situation where in fact the transaction is not officially processes i.e. account has to be settled two weeks ahead. His media adviser, fixer, promises to sort out the problem. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This is a married man with two children having a secret affair with Katrine, announcing he wants to divorce his wife and marry her which they celebrate in his apartment in the capital. The following morning Katrine finds her lover, dead from an heart attack and contact her previous live in partner, Kasper who insists she leaves and removes all trace of being present. He then does a clean up job of her presence and discovers the file with the information regarding the misuse of public money. He tells Birgitte of his find but she insists the information is not used as this is not the kind of politics she wants to support.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Everyone is building up to the final TV debate which involves all the party leaders. Unbeknown to Birgitte Kasper on impulse has revealed the information to the Labour Leader who decides to use his final two minutes at the end of programme to reveal the information causing the Prime Minister to threaten legal action and to walk out of the studios. The revelation leads to a dramatic changes in the actual election from the polls but not in favour of the Labour Party and its leader who is dismissed from his position by his own political colleagues and supporters. Birgitte also instantly dismisses Kasper from his position removing his credentials the following morning.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The is a major swing to her party who gain 15 seats under the proportional representation system. This is because before the expenses revelation, she abandons her prepared script and makes an impromptu speech attacking professional politics, the media management etsct and calling for a new more honest approach, expecting this to be her swan song. She returns home from an elated party meeting in the early hours of the following day with the news that she is wanted as a new Coalition Prime Minister</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In addition to these main events that are two areas which play parts of varying significance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We meet her husband, a college lecturer, who had agreed to his wife’s request that they give matrimonial priority to her career for five years over his and then vice versa. They have a good relationship but only because he has been prepared to take a back seat in term of caring for their two children, a teenage girl at school and a younger son.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The other concerns the TV station where Katrine is number two to Hanne Holm, the main interviewer and presenter, a mature woman who had a drinking problem and where a main rival leaks to the management that the woman is drinking again just before the final televised election debate. Instead of asking him to take over he appoints Katrine. Hanne blames Katrine confronting her in a gym. A very good engaging start with authenticity bred through and through.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In the second episode we immediately learn that although the Moderate Party increased the number of its seats from 86 to 91 Labour is the largest single party and that all Birgitte is able to do is expect the Queen to appoint her as the person in charge of forming a coalition government and that this quickly becomes not as straightforward as it might appear as although she invites all the Party leaders to bring delegations to her about participating in a coalition, the ruling Liberal party send in someone junior for talks about talks thus signalling they have no intention of attempting to join a Cabinet with her as Leader. While the Leader of the right wing Freedom Party accepts the invitation for a Danish and coffee he makes its plain that he opposes everything she stands for and vice versa. The Labour Party put off a meeting and the following day she learns why, that its leader, despite the unpopularity of his last minute intervention has fashioned deal behind her back where he remains Prime Minister with the support of other parties and offers her an increase in the number of Ministries and their importance. However just when it looks as she has lost and must report the situation to the Queen, a leading member of the Socialist Party comes with information which successfully topples their leader because of internal emails in which he makes racist remarks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The party has two deputy leaders one is of a long standing fourth generation of political leaders who has been sidelined by his leader and who is to be offered a Ministry outside of the cabinet.. The other is a political yes man without leadership qualities. However in the ballot for the new Leaders, it the light weight to come to fore and expects Birgitte and his party to accept his deal which she rejects because he lacks the qualities to be Prime Minister.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Just when she is about to advise the Queen that she needs to be appoint a new Government forming chair person there is what appears to be a significant development. The former Prime Minister goes on TV with his wife to explain her addiction to Alcohol, his failure to support his wife and how the problem re the use of the Government credit card came about. As this goes down well with the public he calls Birgitte to arrange a meeting which he cleverly arranges to take place in the office of the Prime Minister. She nearly swallows the ploy including the offer of a new Ministry for Overseas Development.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It is her faithful and long term Party supporter and adviser, Bent, who persuades her against accepting this political bluff and presses her on taking power as the opportunity has arisen and she summons a meeting with the Labour Party and the Green Party and makes them offers of positions for their parties offering the Green Leader Energy and Climate and a new ministry of International Development. The episode ends with the new cabinet, 50% women being presented to the media with Birgitte as Prime Minister. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine continued to struggle to cope after the death of her lover and she asks Kasper to accompany her to the man’s funeral where his wife talks of parliament being the other woman but of his loyalty to herself and their children. As the episodes ends after she has shared her distress with her mother, she finds that she has become pregnant. Hanne Holm before leaving tries to advise Katrine on what is really going on behind the scenes politically and apologies for she had said and accused her of.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There are swings of emotion among Brigitte’s household as pride is tinged with awe at the prospect of her becoming the Prime Minister, relief when this does not appear the situation as well as fear when she does . There is also a hint of the problems to come when one of the most attractive students where her husband is lecturing and when she calls to collect him with her children is clearly setting her cap at the tutor.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The third episodes begins some two and a half months into the Premiership Birgitte is facing a budget crisis as two members of the Workers party Labour are defying their leadership over the agreed budget demanding something more for pensioners. When she agrees this the demand is for a new Motorway which the Greens and one other party object to for environmental reasons.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Because of all the pressure she hires an academic as her media manager but because he takes the moral high ground and attempts to be rational he becomes easy meat, especially for the new political editor of a popular daily none other than the former Labour Party leader sent on doing everything he can down to bring down Birgitte out of personal hatred rather than for political reasons. Hanne Holm is also working for the newspaper.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">After Christmas, the paper leads with a story alleging an affair between the Prime Minister and the New political adviser and where he attempts to rebut on TV he strays into political matters attacking the basis of the readership of the newspaper. She sacks him and reappoints Kasper who meanwhile has been working for TV1. It is Kasper who warns her not to yield to the rebels Worker Party man because his agenda is different. Some years before he got into difficulties over expenses and had been protected by his party leader. Without the party leader in place he feels vulnerable and sees his himself as bringing down the Prime Minister’s administration and helping the former Labour leader to regain power. It is Kasper who makes her aware of the machinations and says that if she gives in on the motorway he will asks for something more which he does when tested.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It is at thus point she attempts to do a deal with the New Right, a party supporting the Liberals and where its female leader is described by the Liberal leader as always doing what he says. Birgitte has already done a deal with the Liberal leader by gaining from him extra time for the budget negotiations on the promise she will veto the call for a special commission. She meets separately with the leader of the New Right Party and offers her the money gained for the Motorway, to improve the police and the army. Hanne Holm reports the development as a triumph for the Prime Minister getting her budget through and also dividing the opposition.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine is faced with a great choice over her pregnancy where both Kasper and her mother are convinced she should have an abortion, her mother seeing the child as another indicator that her daughter still does not accept that he lover is dead and that she has to move on in her life. And finally she has an abortion.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Kasper has drafted the New Year Speech for the prime Minister full of platitudes but also making reference to new life, intended as an olive branch to Katrine too late as she gets the message after the abortion has taken place. We see something of back story between them His parents live in the South of France and she was never introduced them while he has met her family who live on a farm close to the capital. We do not yet know why they separated.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There is also growing tension in the household of the Prime Minister as she is rarely home before the children are in bed. She can only give an hour to Christ present buying and even the this has to be cut short. They are still strong together but cracks are beginning to appear. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The fourth episode is most powerful with the first collision between the political and journalist truth of the main characters.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Katrine is approached by a mysterious figures who announces that he has information which could bring the government down. It much later on transpires that he holds a senior position in military intelligence. His first claim which he supports with flight information and a photo is that the USA has used an airbase in Greenland for a rendition flight transfer from the middle east en route to Guantanamo Bay. They run with story and the Secret Service plays heavy handed charging various members of the TV company and telling them not to pursue the story. The matter is taken up with the USA who say the flight was an emergency one. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">At the core of this story is the relationship between Denmark and Greenland with Wikipedia describing as<span lang="EN-GB"> <i>Kalaallit Nunaat</i> </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Help:IPA"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">[ka'laːɬit nunaːt]</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> is an </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Autonomous_area"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">autonomous</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Constituent_country"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">country</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> within the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Kingdom of Denmark</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, located between the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Arctic_Ocean"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Arctic</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Atlantic Oceans</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, east of the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Canadian_Arctic_Archipelago"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Canadian Arctic Archipelago</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. Though </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Physical_geography"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">physiographically</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> a part of the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Continent"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">continent</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/North_America"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">North America</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Europe"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Europe</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> (specifically </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Norway"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Norway</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and later Denmark) for more than a millennium. In 2008, the people of Greenland passed a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Greenlandic_self-government_referendum,_2008"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">referendum supporting greater autonomy</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">; 75% of votes cast were in favour. Greenland is, in terms of area, the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/List_of_islands_by_area"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">world's largest island</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, over three-quarters of which is covered by the only contemporary </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Greenland_ice_sheet"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">ice sheet</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> outside of Antarctica. With a population of 56,370 (2013), it is the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_by_population_density"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">least densely populated country</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in the world, (The population is therefore 100 time smaller than the sovereign state but is over 50 times larger in terms of land area)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Greenland has been inhabited off and on for at least the last 4,500 years by Arctic peoples whose forebears migrated there from </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Canada"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Canada</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Norsemen"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Norsemen</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> settled on the uninhabited southern part of Greenland beginning in the 10th century. </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Inuit"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Inuit</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> peoples arrived in the 13th century. The Norse colonies disappeared in the late 15th century. In the early 18th century, </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Scandinavia"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Scandinavia</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> and Greenland came back into contact with each other, and Denmark established sovereignty over the island.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Having been ruled by </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Denmark%E2%80%93Norway"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Denmark–Norway</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> for centuries, Greenland (</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_language"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">: <i>Grønland</i>) became a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_colonial_empire"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish colony</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in 1814, and a part of the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_Realm"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish Realm</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in 1953 under the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Constitution_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Constitution of Denmark</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. In 1973, Greenland joined the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/European_Economic_Community"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">European Economic Community</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> with </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Denmark</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">. However, in a </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Greenlandic_European_Economic_Community_membership_referendum,_1982"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">referendum</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> in 1983, a majority of the population voted for Greenland to withdraw from the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/European_Economic_Community"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">EEC</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">, and Greenland officially withdrew in 1985. In 1979, Denmark granted </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Home_rule"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">home rule</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> to Greenland, and in 2008, Greenlanders voted in favour of the Self-Government Act which transferred more power from the </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Government_of_Denmark"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Danish royal government</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> to the local </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Politics_of_Greenland"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Greenlandic</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> government. Under the new structure, in effect since 21 June 2009,</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20cite_note-Greenland_In_Figures_2012-9"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">[9]</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> Greenland can gradually assume responsibility for policing, judicial system, company law, accounting and auditing; mineral resource activities; aviation; law of legal capacity, family law and succession law; aliens and border controls; the working environment; and financial regulation and supervision. The Danish government retains control of foreign affairs, national defence. It also retains control of monetary policy, providing an initial annual subsidy of </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Danish_krone"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB">DKK</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB"> 3.4 billion, slated to diminish gradually over time as Greenland's economy is strengthened by increased income from the extraction of natural resources.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In order to appease the Greenland sensibilities the Prime Minister sees the Greenland equivalent who understands the situation perfectly in terms of having no say over National Security matters. The USA government pleased at the handling of the situation suggests a presidential visit and Birgitte decides to make a visit to Greenland which is in effect kept to a day return much to the anger of the ethnic political leader, who counters the information fed by the press adviser and chief Civil Servant by persuading her to stay over night and go out and meet the people and understand a little more of the reality of his country.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The decision not to pursue the allegations against the USA also angers the man who risks his life disclosing the information especially as he can prove that two of the men being transferred are farmers who Amnesty International or similar body has listed as having disappeared. He also draws attention that always the SA government gets round the potential problem by claiming emergency flight and landing status for this and other flights which can be checked. He agrees to be interviewed live on camera but then fails to arrive revealing that it has been made clear to him that aspects of his background will be presented in such a way to destroy his reputation and credibility but worse from his viewpoint creates a major problem for his daughter who is about to seek a job as a teacher. Faced with this reality Katrine with the support of her management decides to hold fire.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">However his actions have not been without positive consequence because Birgitte ensures that Greenland will participate in future negotiation over changes to the area controlled and decisions taken by the USA government. However the USA president cancel his visit due to pressure of domestic business.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Birgitte shows that although she is inexperienced in the use of political power and the machinations of others, including those in her own party and coalition government she is able to hold onto her own and the principles of her party, However she admits ruefully that she is making terminological inexactitudes in terms of the interests of her country,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The episodes sees Kasper holding a position of great influence and knowledge re establishing a relationship, as best friend, with Katrine but they also have a problem in that she cannot reveal aspects of her work, because of his position and vice versa. Birgitte on the other hand suggests that given a gap of three weeks between having sex with her husband they plan to have relations on to a couple of set nights each week. Sex by appointment with the Prime Minister. The children are showing support but also missing her even more than previous, often without seeing her apart from breakfast.</span></div>
<br /></span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-37185771057803581462013-11-11T13:57:00.001-08:002013-11-11T13:57:09.743-08:00Downton Abbey 2013 season ends less the Christmas special<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Just discovered a full performance of Tosca from La Scala on You Tube which I will have as a sound background while I write more. Downton Abbey picked up as the series progressed with still much predictability and nothing shocking as the Christmas time death of Mathew the legitimate heir to Downton an husband of lady Mary the eldest daughter, or the death of her sister in childbirth the previous season and so on. So what is going to happen next?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nothing has happened much to his lord and ladyship although his lordship in part our of protectiveness for his daughter saw the opportunity to regain control of the estate, something which Mary eventually found the courage to challenge and continue what the husband had started in the reform of the estate to match changing times. He has to go to the USA to help a relative at the requests of his wife’s mother and this poses a problem for his Valet and the valet’s wife. She had been raped by the butler of a suitor to Lady Mary. When Mary rejected the offer of marriage the man had gone off and continued with the engagement he had previously entered into thus removing the rapist from the household, seemingly for ever.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The wrong woman had wanted to keep the incident secret knowing that to have revealed what happened would have created a situation in which he husband was likely to take the law into his own hands and having only recently been released from prison following the suicide of his wife faked as murder, he was likely to end on the gallows this time without much ado.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Eventually she confides in the housekeeper and the husband find out but the story appears to be accepted that the rape was carried out by a stranger .So when his Lordship is summoned across every effort is made to persuade his lordship to leave the Valet behind and take the obnoxious chief footman and deputy personal valet instead. This involves the housekeeper revealing to lady Mary the situation and she persuading the husband to take the deputy much to his bewilderment. This proves just as well as the manservant returns with his master one more time. The wrong woman copes and lady Mary decides to have a secret meeting with the Lord to persuade him to dismiss his manservant, someone who he had not taken to anyway. However this only fuels the potential fire as the Lord returns to report to lady Mary and strangely his valet meets with an accident falling from the placement in front of a bus in central London. This adds to her concern as the husband of the raped woman has asked for a day off to York as his master was away and he was under employed</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Lady Mary consulted another of her potential suitors. A childhood family friend is given hospitality with his boss as they visit estates to advise the government( coalition) on the future of the great home and lands of the aristocracy. The boss is rather contemptuous of the nobles and their inability to manage the estates appropriately to the changing circumstances and finds lady Mary cold and aloof. One of the ventures she has been persuaded with the help of the estate manager to taken on pigs and she accompanies the inspector on an after dinner visit to see how they are getting on, only to find the new pig man has not checked and the creatures are in a sorry state having knocked over the water trough and dehydrated with one almost dying. The to then spend several hours almost through the night drip feeding the pigs with water carried from the nearest barn. She makes then scrambled eggs on return before going to bed as the first staff arrived to commence morning preparations. This established a friendship between the two. I mention this development because when the coincidence of the accidental death of the rapist is advised together with the husband of the wrong woman having the day off and returning home late she asks the inspector for advice without being specific on the morality of saying or doing nothing in such a circumstance. His advice is to be remain silent but we the audience know that this is unlikely to be the end of the matter. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There were three other above stairs stories one which is best described as half and half. Mary’s young cousin has taken up with the black band leader singer encountered at the club in London who she goes to see on a visit to London boating on the Serpentine and then meets in a tea room at York when he has an engagement in the vicinity. She announces she is to marry and Mary appreciates that this is intended more to shock the girl’s mother than from any appreciation of what she is getting involved in. Mary goes to London to see the singer who announces he is not going ahead because he does not want to subject the girl to what is expected given the era. Mary is impressed with him. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The younger sister has not heard from the editor lover supposed in Germany gaining citizenship so he can divorce his mentally ill wife and marry, but has disappeared after leaving his hotel soon after arrival. She is pregnant after their one night of passion and confides in her aunt who reluctantly accompanies her to a back street doctor abortionist but she backs out. The decision is for the two to go on a long trip to Switzerland to have the baby and place for adoption, ostensibly to learn French, however the grandmother, played by Maggie Smith susses them out and offers to pay for the trip. She continues to finds insufferable the bereaved mother of Mary’s dead husband because of all her do gooding but softens a little after getting bronchitis and is nurses to health. As a sort of reward she is invited to lunch with her God son also widower whose company she does not always enjoy. He takes a shine to the guest accompanying her home and later sends a huge bouquet of flowers to the amazement of Maggie Smith.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The half above stairs is that before illness struck Matthew’s mother had invited the widowed husband of the third daughter who died in childbirth to attend a political meeting in York with the local Coalition liberal candidate. He goes alone and encounters a young woman school teacher ( South Riding territory). Later he encounters her at the village fete which the family runs for charitable good causes and than aids when the car breaks down, he was the family chauffer and one suspects he will now abandon his idea of going to the USA for a fresh start. He is also being encouraged to stand for the local council.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The there are two below stairs stories.. Kitchen maid Daisy who was loved by a footman and agreed to marry him when he returned from the first World war dying, had a pash for one of the footmen with ambitions to become a chef and who has got a place at a famous hotel in London The Ritz I think and who in turn developed a pash for another of the kitchen staff who flirted with him as much to annoy Daisy as from wanting him. He comes back to visit his seriously father and wants to stop at the Abbey but is put of by the Butler who puts him up at the local Inn explaining that they have flu at the House. He still calls in before leaving to say hullo to the girl of his dreams. After hi father dies and is returning North for the funeral he writes wanting the girl to move to London and to marry him something she does not wish to do. To avoid a scene Daisy is given the day off to visit the father of her former husband with whim she has become close and has confided, As it is unlikely the young man will ever have cause to come north again, Daisy is counselled to say good by rather than leave things at a jagged edge. They return to find that the young man has been rejected and is appreciated that he is able to part with Daisy who he recognises had his welfare always at heart as friends. The cooks says how proud she is of the girl and one left into thinking this may not be the end of the story. A good place to stop although there are still sub plot stories to unfold.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-74356861601318366962013-10-21T13:18:00.000-07:002013-10-21T13:18:01.272-07:00Sunday in October 2013 watching TV<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I just about managed to get down in time to watch the start of the Sunday Marr Programme where he asked Eric Pickles if David Cameron should give Andrew Mitchell his job back to which Eric replied he had always believed Andrew and would welcome back as a Cabinet colleagues saying decision was that of the Prime Minister, He also confessed that although he had once declared his opposition to the Leveson recommendations, in politics, compromise was the name of the game and therefore he supported the Coalition Royal Charter solution, adding that if papers did not sign up to it that was there prerogative which was not the kind of ringing endorsement I wanted although what he said I had feared,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Before this there was an exchange over the papers review which include Dr Mark Kermode following his appointment as the film reviewer for the Daily Telegraph after the departure of the man who had held the position for three decades. I cannot remember the other with both echoing what everyone else has been saying although a recent poll indicates that support for the police has remained strong around 60-65% of population despite the various cases that have undermined public confidence recently and since the sixties. The sting in the tale came later in the programme with the interesting government comment that one solution was for Chief Police officers to be drawn from outside the force if the possessed the right skills and background something designed to chill them further and perhaps ensure that the Police chiefs approach their inquisition at the Commons with the right spirit of regret and promise to make amends,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Something of what they will say as then revealed in an exchange between a former senior police officer and a writer from the Mirror over the question was there just a few rotten apples in the barrel or worse. The third Andrew of the morning ( Neil) Sunday politics show set the scene well by first showing CCTV of police beating up a young House of Commons researcher which led to his acquittal and compensation, Apparently the Chief Constables not only signed off the amended report but have formally admonished the officers in an attempt to close the case and presumably do so quietly which then explain even more clearly why the IPCC took the unprecedented step it has. I thought the former senior officer did an appropriate job in trying to place the catalogue of incidents in context and perspective, saying that it was only a small group of senior police officers who systematically altered the statements of the police who had given honest and accurate statements of their experience attending the disaster at Hillsborough, Everyone including Andrew referred to the recent Police Bravery Awards dinner although the sting in the tail of what office said is that he blamed politicians and the media of getting the situation out of proportion Hmmn. If they can dish it out can they take it when applied them? Perhaps Wednesday we shall see. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">14.30 About to get myself ready to go for some milk and salad thingies while listening to a Sky Arts programme about the career of Roy Orbison with the Gibb Brothers Barry and Robin, Robert Plant, KD Lang, Bernie Taupin, and Bono with all the favourites sang in full, Pretty Woman now, starting with Only the Lonely, Running Scared on what appears to be an early Top of the Pops and then Crying, The programme poses a challenge because I already have his greatest hits recorded and I have so far restricted myself to one programme with the others so far Joan Baez, Nina Simone, Bryan Ferry and so many other come and gone including the Stones, Beatles, Billy Holiday, Queen and Bob Dylan record and I am nearly out of space after recording a Phil Collins programme and a long over two hour programme about the Moody Blues last night all to view later today when I get back, Golden days while I write on Your baby does not want you anymore. Its Over (The title?). Walk on, if she would meet. Blue Bayou as Taupin states switching from the passionate to the most vulnerable. Time to get myself ready and go out if I am going to make it today although I want to stay.. Walked to Morrison on what was a nice afternoon, no wind, not cold and some sunshine for milk, lettuce, cucumber, a small tin of crab meat, some, salami, some luncheon meat and as an experiment some salad dressings all for salads, some liquorice 3 bags for £2 and one of the more expensive at £1.38, was a £1 and before that £1.98. Returned for a drink of cold Pepsi Max, finished listening to the Orbison which I shall not keep while playing Patience aiming for 270 games but reached a block. Must sort out the rest of the chicken.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Flog it Sheffield basket £220 estimate £180- £250, reserve set at £200. Clock work cars £60 star selling at £90 although estimate £100- £200 auctioneers discretion. Gold Cigarette case reserve £350-£500 93 grams £600 start and went at £640. Water Colour £200-£300 bought for £80 not sold. 10 p bric-a-brac sale Moorcroft not perfect condition honesty pattern reserve £150 £ 440 with bid in the room as well on the books that is just incredible divide up between a lot of children. Hornby Train for £500 estimate £200-£300, Apprentice piece Chest of Draws with a range of veneers £100- £150 first bid at £100 No reserve on some watches I am confident around £150 going to see for what it is worth. Art Deco £ 100 start over £200 finished at £210. Aboriginal Art split whole lot up £170 first item £ 10 last one £ £210. £ £180 fourth lot £170 last lot £ 620 on online a spear £1530 to be divided between Salvation Army and Water Aid brilliant.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Plan to miss out on Strictly Come Dancing dance off where the standard yesterday was all round good and with several improving their position. It is unusual to see 9’s given at this early stage with 3 in instances and 2 in another I was also impressed last night with the X Factor show which I part recorded in order to watch the start of the latest Montalbano finishing earlier in the afternoon. The song chosen by Sam Bailey which opened the show was not as great as it should have compared to the young powerful show ending number by the black teenager always in tears of joy mist remember her name who cannot still believe she is as good as is with other teenager the young Scottish schoolboy also singing from the heart about love which he admitted he has never experienced, the black mother with a daughter was also impressive, two of the groups less within having to participate in the sing off and where the third group did not perform because the pregnant member was unwell. I have also not recorded that I had watched Les Miserables once more which has come to Sky Films but cannot recorded must view live so to speak. I have recorded a wonderful performance of Verdi’s requiem mass Sky Arts from Venice which some glorious shot of the city and which was first heard live when I was sixteen seventeen half season Promenade concert at the Royal Albert Hall over nearly sixty years ago but just like yesterday.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">19 20 enjoyed three small home baked rolls filled with a Dutch cheese after stripping the remains of the chicken into a bowl for a Thai Stir Fry on Monday perhaps with noodles and then a Balti curry and brown rice on Wednesday. Good second exercise session to 43 mins. Now have on the recording of Phil Colin in Paris looks like Olympia. Had intention of turning to Montalbano but instead will some registering of completed work after checking out on email and deciding whether to use voucher or book ticket for Captain Phillips tomorrow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Watched an OK Downton Abbey which still does not seem to have a focus beyond a succession of stories which do not appear to leading anywhere. As anticipated the wife of his Lordship’s valet is not pregnant after the rape but the daughter of the house who spent the night with her editor lover before he went to Germany to gain citizenship and marry her and disappeared from the radar, visited a Harley Street doctor so as expected guess what, The childhood friends who professed love and marriage to Lady Mary has announced his engagement but a new face has arrived conducting work for the Ministry about the survival of the country houses with his boss and both are to stay at the house. Meanwhile the son if a tenant who has died with significant debt of past rents unpaid has done a deal to farm the patch showing that his Lordship has a sense of the past and a heart which pleases the socialist inclined son in law who wonders about his future and is considering going to the more egalitarian America. A boy is placed as a trainee gardener at the home of Maggie Smith against her better judgement only to believe he has taken an important paper knife. One of the footmen fails his attempt to become a cook at a top London Hotel (Ritz) much to the delight of one of the kitchen maids who hankers for him in silence. The notorious senior footman is up t his tricks arranging for a relative to come as laundress complete with an electric sewing machine which brings her into the servants hall as this is where there is an electric point and her Ladyship also pressures the nothing new fangled cook into accepting one of the new refrigerators to replace the ice box.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The key story I suggest is that his lordship’s valet pressurises the housekeeper into revealing that his wife was raped although she attempts to cover up by whom fearing the husband will take steps to kill the man involved While all is well between the couple and she moves back from the house to their home in the village, he advises the house keeper that the matter is not ended and he will find out and deal with the so called stranger no matter how long it takes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Later still I watched <b>The Wee Man </b>a film about a man who found not guilty in one of the longest and mst celebrated murder trials in that nation and has written books and claims to have turned his back on his life of crime. More on this another day</span></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138364992160905961.post-29926731567510021132013-10-18T06:01:00.003-07:002013-10-18T06:01:30.345-07:00The Newsroom and a question of truth and integrity<span lang="EN"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">20.00 The Newsroom is a series made by the same team that created The West which I watched most of the episodes over 7 seasons and plan to do so again this time on The DVD is which I bought at bargain price. The series has all the same fast moving talk and interactions and centre on a 24 hours channel which sets very high standards for integrity In this second season I am not sure for how many episodes we have been building up to the most recent viewed as recorded in which the Editor/ Controller in Chief. The Director and the News Front Man tender their resignations because of a set up by an influential source and the falsification of a crucial interview by a new man seeking a permanent position led the team after an investigation lasting nearly year that USA troops had used a chemical weapon when extracting two wounded individuals and which had killed uninvolved inhabitants.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">At least two episodes with a third dealing with anther story but also covered the interrogation by the chief lawyer for the company plus other layers in playing the devils advocate in defence of a law suit by the instantly sacked man for £5 million dollars claiming he was the scapegoat for institutional negligence. The owner of the loss making anyway company, a female tycoon with several companies refused to accept the resignations or settle the law suit and brings in her top lawyer and this end the programme an explains the three previous ones n which she ad her team quiz the positions of everyone in the editorial team who participated in the decision taking about the story over the year before it was screened,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The important government source who had provided the station with confirmation on a number of important stories in the pat had a son who was hired by the company at one point, but was hired and then died of illegal drugs and the man blamed the company and his head and plotted his revenge which was to confirm a story he knew to have no official foundation. The man who edited a film to give the impression a retired general had said differently from his qualified statement came with a chip on shoulder about USA involvement in the war and government behaviour and when the assigned assistant was not allowed in the room by the former general the took the subsequent opportunity to edit and was only found out after the story fell apart when the programme director realised there was a time gap in a TV showing football game.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">She and also concerns that she had led one of the other witnesses into confirming something he did not know and where it emerged he had sustained brain damage and memory loss for a subsequent incident about which he had been decorated, claiming he had for the award fir a different incident. Thus once the story was shown to have been false despite all the month of investigation and proofs the belief that the institution had failed rather than just the young man who had wilfully and dishonestly mislead, also gained ground..</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">22.00 There was also time to watch a programme screened previously to mark the 70<sup>th</sup> birthday of Mohammed Ali someone who is regarded by many in the UK as the greatest sportsman the world has seen both in terms of his ability with lightening fast reflexes as well as a personality with came to endear me and where he developed a support affection for the USA because of the loyalty and support which was maintained during the period when he was not allowed to box by the USA because of his political and religious view of being converted as a Muslim and changing his name from Casius Clay.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He is the only great sportsperson I have met albeit in passing when he came over to the table I was sharing with others and shook his hand at the Town Hall South Shields during a dinner reception to mark his visit to the Town where his marriage to his third wife was blessed at the Mosque attended by thousands of people who came to see him and given their support. His visit was in the same week that the Queen also visited as part of her UK tours to mark the 25th anniversary of coming to the throne and while she too was given a great reception at a gathering at the local stadium Gypsies Green however the natural charismatic charm of Ali had an effect on everyone that I have never witnessed before or since. It was not surprising that he was chosen to be one of those who stood with the Olympic Flag at the 2012 Olympics along with the other International figures selected.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I also went on to watch Question Time and This week where Diane Abbot was back to be reported next writing and also and watched the second health programme in which the need to stand and walk was emphasised to compensate for all the sitting down I do as well as how help someone who is choking.</span></div>
</span><br />Colin J Smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17694125912982445359noreply@blogger.com0