Love/Hate

Tony EH wrote: »

The introduction of Fran took it up several notches.

Yeah the development of Fran and also the introduction of the IRA really improved it, I think.

Even it's not to people's taste, it's good to see decent indigenous drama being made here.

I think this is an excellent series. Season 1 was too short at 4 episodes but it did well in that 4 episodes. The last 2 of the 4 being very exciting and tense. Some called it Fair City on speed, etc. In fairness, Fair City ain't a bad soap imo: it is often much stronger than many of the British ones. Fair City ironically is at its best when we have drug dealer characters in it like Billy Meehan. Like those in Love/Hate, FC's drug dealers are often based on real life ones.

I think everyone expected Love/Hate to be yet another Big Bow Wow or Trouble in Paradise but most were taken aback at how good it was. Season 2 built things up and by then the series was cemented as a regular and removed any doubts.

Season 3 was the absolute best and with rape scenes and savage fights with lots of blood, this went way beyond anything on Irish TV from previous times, yes, inclusive of previous seasons of Love/Hate itself. Season 3 was criticised for its extreme violence. But in these 6 episodes, we see what real gangland is: violence, death, fear and deals.

Season 4 I think was excellent too but because it followed the best season (3), it disappointed many. Yet, it is to me the second best and also the second most violent. Nidge has been one of these character like Dallas' JR Ewing who originally was not even meant to be the main character but who became the main character due to public demand. He is violent, cunning, ruthless and ambitious but also can be kind, generous and very likeable.

What annoys me is when people start comparing it to US shows about drug dealers and gangsters. Each show should be regarded in its own right. There is only one Miami Vice, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, The Wire, etc. Similarly, there is only one Love/Hate. All these shows do deal with drug dealers and gangsters/organised crime and in very different ways. Some are solely gangster orientated, some are cops v gangsters and some mix the two. All are excellent shows when at their best. But none of them can really be compared to each other specifically. Love/Hate is not the Irish remake of any of the above either.

I think it's brilliant, really well produced. Don't be put off by the first couple of seasons, it gets much better from season three on, but it helps to watch the first seasons to know who's who and what their history is.

The guy wrote: »

It's more like Fair City with guns.

Fair city had its fair share of guns and gangsters too. Remember Sylvester Garrigan, Billy Meehan, the Flynns, Paddy Bishop, etc. This current Robbie guy does not seem too wholesome either. Dan in self defense putting this guy braindead in the hospital is a little too like the Tommy story in Love/Hate though!

Tbh, it's a rip off of an Australian show called under belly.
If you haven't seen it, then go on the net and buy it.
You're welcome

EyeSight wrote: »

The only similarity is the subject of gangland. Otherwise they are very different. Underbelly is a reenactment of true events, Love/hate is fiction.
I've seen the first 3 seasons of underbelly and found it a little cheesy. Season 3 was good in fairness though so once Netflix puts up the rest i'll watch them

The first season of love /hate shares so many scenes that were in under belly , it's crazy.

But it's been a long time since I've seen it. Yet at the time I first saw love /hate I said to myself that it Was a rip off.