User Reviews

So Season 3 concluded on Sunday night with the demise of another gangland figure, one of the original characters, and the stage set for another intriguing set of episodes in Season 4.

Love/Hate has grown and evolved admirably over the past few years. Season 1 I felt tried TOO hard at times to mimic the likes of the Wire, and shots of Dublin gangsters driving around in SUVs with a pounding rap soundtrack just seemed a little bit contrived, not to mention unconvincing. Nevertheless there was enough in the first season to hold on to, and I believe the show really came into it's own during the far stronger second season that saw further character development and a far more appropriate soundtrack with the likes of Luke Kelly providing an appropriate backdrop.

The third season as a whole didn't quite match up to its' predecessor, however as a part of quality television I felt that episode 5 was absolute quality, it was an hour that kept me genuinely on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Season 3 begins with Nidge running the gang, only for internal splits and conflict with the Continuity IRA to shatter his little world of drug dealing, orgies with prostitutes and vigorous but largely unsuccessful attempts to cheat on his long suffering spouse. He still manages to find the time to fret regularly about male pattern baldness.

One thing is for certain - the producers certainly upped the ante when it came to graphic scenes of violence. The season opener was ferociously hard hitting, containing scenes that would have seemed forceful on the Sopranos, so you can imagine there was a few raised eyebrows with them being shown after the News on Sunday night on Ireland's number one "family" channel. This spawned the usual tired debate about glamourising thug life and violence, although let me assure you that there was nothing glamorous about the scenes I refer to.

I would still criticise some of the acting, with some of the accents of the lead characters in particular really leaving a lot to be desired. Nidge and Darren's accents were erratic in particular, although I would like to add that some of the smaller characters such as Aido and Donna were really impressive and perhaps worthy of a bigger role in any future seasons.

Credit to the producers for showing some lovely shots of early morning and late night Dublin, and generally beginning each episode with some poignant music and/or a montage of shots involving one of the characters.

So all in all I have given Love/Hate 7 out of 10, but to be honest the proof of the pudding is in the ratings - an impressive 1 million apparently tuned in during the finale, so they must be doing something right. Right?

PS - Look out for the handsome extra (actually you can't see him because he is wearing a white forensic suit) seen checking for blood in the bar using a torch and spray :)