Throughout Season One, DI Sam Tyler has tried to convince his DCI Gene Hunt that employing best practices is the correct way to fight crime. Tyler demonstrates the use of forensic science. He preaches to not bully / terrorize suspects; to protect witnesses; to confront organized crime; to not jump to conclusions; to use dialogue to obtain results with suspects and witnesses; and to hold people accountable for their actions. Tyler always leads by example, and his methods prove effective.
In this episode, Tyler's examples have really started to pay off. Hunt is following Tyler's advice and doing things by the book. Tyler, however, has two problems: he *knows* the suspect is a ruthless murderer (Tyler puts him away 30 years hence), and he suspects the suspect is trying to kill him while he lays in a coma (the underlying sub-plot). These two forces compel Tyler to abandon all of his principles and sink to committing the very police crimes he so disdains.
It's always easy to stick to principles on sunny days. Principles only matter when the going gets tough, and Tyler shows us that his don't run very deep. The question for us is: Do we forgive Tyler for these crimes since he obviously knows the future? (Do we implement the Minority Report?)
Unfortunately, the episode doesn't even begin to address this. Annie gets promoted, and Tyler is "proud to be on the team."
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