Love/Hate doesnÕt need gratuitous stunts to draw ratings

Date Published: 26-Nov-2012

If one were cynical – and cynicism, by tradition, has no place in these parts – one might suggest that the producers of RTE’s Love/Hate got exactly the reaction they wanted with that heavily-hyped rape scene in the first episode of the new series.

It had the country talking for sure, and while there was the usual backlash from the Concerned-Mothers-of-Seven, all of the discussion probably helped to increase the awareness and the audience for the rest of the series.

The pity is that the producers should think they have to rely on hype, because – from poor beginnings when this crime drama had all the grit of a world championship snooker table – Love/Hate has evolved into one of the station’s best offerings.

Perhaps it has taken a couple of years to find its feet, because this started off with way too many beautiful people trying to look threatening when in reality there was more mince than menace on these ‘Disney-fied’ streets of Dublin.

The reason for its growing realism may be singlehandedly down to Nidge, the new crime boss played so brilliantly by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, who is so utterly convincing that it wouldn’t be a major surprise were he to turn up on Crimeline.

Nidge started off as a sort of figure of fun, messing with guns, riddled with domestic difficulties and as unlikely a crime lord as he was a professional wrestler. But the end of the road for John Boy and the repercussions of that opened the door for the joker to become the king – and now we’re getting somewhere.

Of course, Love/Hate started life as a vehicle for the talents of Aiden Gillen as John Boy Power and Robert Sheehan as Darren Treacy. But Darren looked like a little boy lost and John Boy was like a criminal from a bad day at casting.

In fairness, this was beautifully shot and produced from the start – but it wasn’t credible. Now it has found its feet in terms of the violence and repercussions – perhaps too much so – and finally we have a drama that packs a punch.

For more, read  this week’s Connacht Sentinel.