History Series / Blackpool

The original series was broadcast on Creator/TheBBC in 2004, with a one-off sequel, ''Viva Blackpool!'', shown in 2006 (''Viva Blackpool'' was also the title given to the original series on it's broadcast in the United States).

Creator/HughJackman made an American version in 2007 called ''Viva Laughlin'' that was [[ShortRunners canceled after two episodes.]]

Sound like an average crime drama? Think again. Not only does ''Blackpool'' contain more than a little bit of dark humour and CharacterDevelopment and complexity, but it's also a [[TheMusical Musical]]; the characters will often spontaneously break into surreal song and dance routines, singing along to the (actual) pop songs that form the soundtrack of the series and reflect the feelings of the characters and events that are occurring on screen; for example, a drug dealer is arrested in a dance routine choreographed to 'The Boy With The Thorn In His Side' by The Smiths.

* AccidentalMurder: [[spoiler: The crime turns out to be this. Danny merely intervened when the victim was beating up a prostitute and hit him, which resulted in his death.]]

** Ripley initially seems like an unrepentant, corrupt asshole, but he genuinely loves his family and community and most of what he does is for their benefit. [[spoiler: He's also entirely innocent of the violent crimes of which he is accused, though certainly not innocent overall.]]

* AssholeVictim: The murder victim was cheating on his fiancee while on his stag weekend, and also liked to gamble. He also liked to fight men and hit women. [[spoiler: He was beating up a prostitute when Danny intervened and accidentally killed him.]]

%%* ComingOutStory: [[spoiler: Danny]]

* FrameUp: [[spoiler: Carlisle threatens to do this to D.C. Blythe if he doesn't cooperate.]]

* GreyAndGreyMorality: Very much so. [[spoiler: Ripley Holden, initially a violent, vulgar bully, turns out to be a vulgar bully who hasn't committed any of the violent crimes he's been accused of, and who genuinely loves his family and does what's best for them. Carlisle, on the other hand, tries to do some very questionable things.]]

* SoundtrackDissonance: Several times, but the final number of Part 5 [[spoiler: revolving around Ripley having a breakdown and setting the flats on fire]] set to Mary Hopkin's "Knock Knock, Who's There?" is a particularly stunning example.

* MusicalWorldHypotheses: Given that the musical numbers are surrounded by a gritty police drama, Blackpool, seem to fit with the 'Adaptation Hypothesis' best, though somw numbers fit 'All In Their Head' better.

* MusicalWorldHypotheses: Given that the musical numbers are surrounded by a gritty police drama, Blackpool, seem to fit with the 'Adaptation Hypothesis' best.
* OralFixation: Carlisle and his eating habits

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: Ripley likes hookers. Natalie fell in love with a man was attentive to her.

%%* YourCheatingHeart

A murder is committed in a Blackpool games arcade, and the resulting investigation will tear apart the lives of everyone involved -- Ripley Holden (David Morrissey), the bullying, luck-obsessed arcade owner; his shy, insecure trophy wife Natalie (Sarah Parish); the manipulative but charming and sweet-natured investigating detective Peter Carlisle (Creator/DavidTennant), and Ripley and Natalie's children, the self-destructive and awkward Danny (Thomas Morrison) and spoilt daddy's girl Shyanne (Georgia Taylor). Ripley finds his life gradually self-destructing under the pressure of the investigation, his failing plans to transform Blackpool into a Las Vegas-style gambling mecca, and his daughter's fiance, an old face from his past whose renewed presence in his life awakens long-forgotten demons, whilst his nemesis Carlisle, who has taken an instant dislike to Ripley, finds his plans to secure Ripley's guilt in the murder scuttled when he finds himself falling desperately in love with Natalie.

Hugh Jackman made an American version in 2007 called ''Viva Laughlin'' that was [[ShortRunners canceled after two episodes.]]

%%* WeddingDay

%%* AccidentalMurder
%%* AntiHero
* AssholeVictim: The guy was cheating while gambling and on his fiancee. He also liked to fight men and hit women.

%%* DarkAndTroubledPast

%%* AssholeVictim

%%* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery

%%* IKissYourFoot

%%* ParentalMarriageVeto

%% ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

%%* BadassLongCoat: Carlisle's outfit of choice.

%%* DaydreamSurprise: [[spoiler: The "I Second That Emotion" sequence.]]

%%* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy

%%* LoveMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler: Carlisle]] has a mild case of this.

%%* MayDecemberRomance

----

This show provides examples of:
* AccidentalMurder
* AntiHero
* AssholeVictim
* BadassLongCoat: Carlisle's outfit of choice.
* BathtubBonding
* BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible: Particularly Ripley.

* CarpetOfVirility: Ripley Holden.
* ComingOutStory: [[spoiler: Danny]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast
* DaydreamSurprise: [[spoiler: The "I Second That Emotion" sequence.]]
* DrivenToSuicide
* EarnYourHappyEnding
* FaceHeelTurn
* FairCop: I think most David Tennant fangirls would agree.

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold

* IKissYourFoot
* InsuranceFraud
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy
* JerkAss: Ripley Holden. And how.
* LoveTriangle
* LoveMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler: Carlisle]] has a mild case of this.
* ManipulativeBastard: Carlisle, although he's an unusually sweet-natured example.
* MayDecemberRomance
* ModestyBedsheet
* MoralGuardians: Hallworth.
* MusicalEpisode: Every single one.

* ParentalMarriageVeto
* PuppyDogEyes: Carlisle has these at a few points.
* RightThroughHisPants: Averted. Many David Tennant fangirls squealed.
* ShirtlessScene: David Tennant gets quite a few of these.

* SympatheticAdulterer: Natalie. Ripley, on the other hand, not so much.
* WasItAllALie
* WeddingDay
* WithDueRespect: Blythe to Carlisle on a few occasions.
* YourCheatingHeart

* NiceGuy: D.C. Blythe. Possibly the only one this show has. And even he's a little bit of a dick.
** [[spoiler:Steve comes out of it all right too (a lot of people were expecting him to be the murderer, or at least to be using Shyanne to get back at Ripley, but no).]]

* BigEater: D.I. Carlisle
** [[spoiler:Unless he's heartbroken at the time.]] The look of absolute shock on D.C. Blythe's face when Carlisle refuses a doughnut says it all.

** [[spoiler: [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Then again]], he's innocent of the crimes people think he's done and genuinely loves his family.]]

* BadBoss: D.I. Carlisle. [[spoiler: In order to stop Blythe from arresting a man they both think committed murder, he blackmails Blythe by threatening to tell their superiors the poor boy is ''taking drugs''.]] Not to mention all the other, ahem, ''morally questionable'' things he does throughout the series...
** Carlisle does lampshade it in a sense, pointing out his own shortcomings as a superior officer as one of the reasons why their superiors would have little hesitation believing Blythe would turn to drugs in frustration.

* [[spoiler:AccidentalMurder]]

* [[spoiler: DrivenToSuicide]]

The original series was broadcast on TheBBC in 2004, with a one-off sequel, ''Viva Blackpool!'', shown in 2006 (''Viva Blackpool'' was also the title given to the original series on it's broadcast in the United States).