History Series / EdgeOfDarkness

This series was given a Hollywood [[TheFilmOfTheSeries film adaptation]] in 2010, also titled [[Film/EdgeOfDarkness2010 Edge of Darkness]].

Ronald "Ronnie" Craven (Bob Peck, who won a BAFTA) is a Detective Inspector in the Yorkshire Constabulary; he was decorated for bravery in the line of duty during his time in [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles Northern Ireland]]. His wife died of cancer, roughly a decade ago, since when he has brought his daughter Emma up single handed. As the story opens, she has grown up to be a politically radical student, who seems to be the only remaining person on the face of the planet who can make him smile. Ronnie drives her home from a political meeting -- trying to keep her out of the [[EmpathicEnvironment rain]], which has become [[AStormIsComing absurdly and suspiciously heavy]] -- whereupon she is shot dead by a balaclava-clad thug wielding a sawn-off shotgun. Later, a grieving Ronnie is going through Emma's belongings; he finds [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking a loaded gun, a geiger counter, her vibrator, and her old teddy-bear]].

* StormingTheCastle: Craven and Jedburgh infiltrate the mine/storage facility ... [[CrazyAwesome and stop half way to enjoy a three course dinner with fine wine, cigars and classical music]].

* NewsreaderCameo: Television reporters Sue Cook and Kenneth Kendall, weatherman Bill Giles appear as themselves.

* RealMenWearPink: Jedburgh may play the part of a loud redneck, plus he's a highly skilled soldier, who is also a gourmet and devoted to watching a ballroom dance competition (the long running ''ComeDancing'') on TV.

* ArtisticLicensePhysics: {{Averted}}. An expert came on board to ensure that all the science depicted was accurate; initially, he didn't want to do it because he was convinced this trope would come into effect and embarrass him, but the production team managed to convince him that they wouldn't mess it up. They didn't. However, two instances play the trope straight:

** Secondly, when [[spoiler:Jedburgh is explaining the homebrew nuclear device he made to Craven]], there's a significant failure in the design described: fission-based nuclear weapons don't have the high explosives in the core; it would just cause the fissile material to spread in the explosion (closer to a dirty bomb). Putting the explosives on the outside and microsecond-precise detonation of them is what causes a high-grade detonation. [[spoiler:Even shooting a plutonium bullet the size of a .22 into the former won't trigger a proper detonation.]]

Craven encounters, on his travels, the bullish, beaming CIA agent [[LargeHam Darius Jedburgh]], two [[AffablyEvil extremely affable]] men who might - or might not - work for British Intelligence, a host of other twilight figures who [[BlackAndGreyMorality might be good or bad or both or neither]], and - frequently - Emma herself. Emma's post-mortem appearances are not explained; she could be symbolic of his obsession, a useful stalking horse to let the writers exteriorise Craven's inner dialogue, an on-screen symptom of Craven's mental breakdown, or an actual ghost. The series doesn't ever commit to any of those, although there are elements of mysticism in the rest of the story that mean that even the ghostly explanation - ordinarily unlikely in the context of a deathly serious modern thriller - cannot be dismissed out of hand. Indeed, as written, the original ending featured Craven turning into a tree. Thankfully, the production team were willing to tell even Troy Kennedy Martin to think again.

On original broadcast, it proved so popular that, immediately after it finished its run on BBC Two, it was repeated on BBC One, a unique occurrence in the history of British Television. It was praised, and awarded, for its acting, scripting, and direction, and launched the career of Creator/MartinCampbell, who would later go on to direct ''Film/GoldenEye'' and ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' for the ''Film/JamesBond'' franchise - and who cast Creator/JoeDonBaker as a cheery CIA agent in that movie in direct reference to his role in this series. Oh, and [[Music/EricClapton Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton]] collaborated with Music/MichaelKamen to write the show's distinctive, haunting [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic score]].

A classic - perhaps ''the'' classic - BritishConspiracyThriller. Troy Kennedy-Martin -- of ''Series/ZCars'' and ''TheItalianJob'' fame -- wrote the screenplay as a [[WriterOnBoard cry of anguish]] against the contemporary political situation, and was rather startled when Creator/TheBBC decided to produce and broadcast it.

On original broadcast, it proved so popular that, immediately after it finished its run on BBC Two, it was repeated on BBC One, a unique occurrence in the history of British Television. It was praised, and awarded, for its acting, scripting, and direction, and launched the career of Creator/MartinCampbell, who would later go on to direct ''Film/GoldenEye'' and ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' for the ''Film/JamesBond'' franchise - and who cast Joe Don Baker as a cheery CIA agent in that movie in direct reference to his role in this series. Oh, and [[Music/EricClapton Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton]] collaborated with Music/MichaelKamen to write the show's distinctive, haunting [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic score]].

On original broadcast, it proved so popular that, immediately after it finished its run on BBC Two, it was repeated on BBC One, a unique occurrence in the history of British Television. It was praised, and awarded, for its acting, scripting, and direction, and launched the career of Martin Campbell, who would later go on to direct ''Film/GoldenEye'' and ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' for the ''Film/JamesBond'' franchise - and who cast Joe Don Baker as a cheery CIA agent in that movie in direct reference to his role in this series. Oh, and [[Music/EricClapton Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton]] collaborated with Michael Kamen to write the show's distinctive, haunting [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic score]].

* ThoseTwoGuys: Harcourt and Pendleton.

* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: It's never made clear whether Emma is actually speaking to Ronnie from beyond the grave.

On original broadcast, it proved so popular that, immediately after it finished its run on BBC Two, it was repeated on BBC One, a unique occurrence in the history of British Television. It was praised, and awarded, for its acting, scripting, and direction, and launched the career of Martin Campbell, who would later go on to direct ''Film/GoldenEye'' and ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' for the ''Film/JamesBond'' franchise - and who cast Joe Don Baker as a cheery CIA agent in that movie in direct reference to his role in this series. Oh, and [[Music/EricClapton Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton]] collaborated with Michael Kamen to write the show's distinctive, haunting [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome score]].

* LondonUnderground: Areas inside Northmoor are named after Tube stations.

* ActionGirl: Clementine has her moments.

* ArtisticLicensePhysics: {{Averted}}. An expert came on board to ensure that all the science depicted was accurate; initially, he didn't want to do it because he was convinced this trope would come into effect and embarrass him, but the production team managed to convince him that they wouldn't mess it up. They didn't.
** When [[spoiler:Jedburgh creates the criticality incident with the stolen plutonium at the conference]]—For one thing, the plutonium bars have insufficient mass by themselves in that shape to become critical, even when brought together. Doubly so if there's still airspace between them and no tamper to reflect neutrons.
** Later, when [[spoiler:Jedburgh is explaining the homebrew nuclear device he made to Craven]], there's a significant failure in the design described: fission-based nuclear weapons DON'T have the high explosives in the core; it would just cause the fissile material to spread in the explosion (closer to a dirty bomb). Putting the explosives on the outside and microsecond-precise detonation of them is what causes a high-grade detonation. [[spoiler:Even shooting a plutonium bullet the size of a .22 into the former won't trigger a proper detonation.]]
* BigNo, HeroicBSOD, arguably TheWoobie: Ronnie Craven.

** Still arguable with a couple of elements, unless there's evidence to the contrary:
*** When [[spoiler:Jedburgh creates the criticality incident with the stolen plutonium at the conference]]—For one thing, the plutonium bars have insufficient mass by themselves in that shape to become critical, even when brought together. Doubly so if there's still airspace between them and no tamper to reflect neutrons.
*** Later, when [[spoiler:Jedburgh is explaining the homebrew nuclear device he made to Craven]], there's a significant failure in the design described: fission-based nuclear weapons DON'T have the high explosives in the core; it would just cause the fissile material to spread in the explosion (closer to a dirty bomb). Putting the explosives on the outside and microsecond-precise detonation of them is what causes a high-grade detonation. [[spoiler:Even shooting a plutonium bullet the size of a .22 into the former won't trigger a proper detonation.]]

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Grogan receives a lethal level of radiation from plutonium]].

* ThoseTwoGuys: Harcourt and Pendleton.

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: One of the major sources of inspiration for the story was RonaldReagan's then-recent Star Wars speech.

On original broadcast, it proved so popular that, immediately after it finished its run on BBC Two, it was repeated on BBC One, a unique occurrence in the history of British Television. It was praised, and awarded, for its acting, scripting, and direction, and launched the career of Martin Campbell, who would later go on to direct ''Film/GoldenEye'' and ''Film/CasinoRoyale'' for the ''Film/JamesBond'' franchise - and who cast Joe Don Baker as a cheery CIA agent in that movie in direct reference to his role in this series. Oh, and [[Music/EricClapton Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton]] collaborated with Michael Kamen to write the show's distinctive, haunting [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome score]].

* ActionGirl -- Clementine has her moments.
* ArtifactOfDoom -- Jedburgh describes plutonium in damn near these terms
* BigNo, HeroicBSOD, arguably TheWoobie -- Ronnie Craven.

* EagleLand -- Flavor 2 is heavily leaned on. Jedburgh returns to London from a mission in El Salvador, dressed in camo gear, with a golf bag containing - aside from clubs - an assault rifle, grenades, and several empty whisky bottles; he mutters "I had to leave a man behind" in a fashion that suggests he is distraught but keeping up an implacable facade. He also refers to the UK as "The Third World" and that [[BigBad Grogan]] is "stirring up the natives".
* TheEighties -- And how!
* FunWithAcronyms -- Though never mentioned in the series, this troper is convinced that the evil corporation '''Fu'''sion '''C'''orporation of '''K'''ansas has an acronym.
* GaiasVengeance -- the "proper" variety. Possibly.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard -- [[spoiler: Grogan receives a lethal level of radiation from plutonium]].

* TheMovie -- [[CulturalTranslation set in Boston,]] starring Mel Gibson as ''Tommy'' Craven. Still has a lot of British actors, though. One critic even pointed out that "the name Northmoor makes more sense in the original".
* NewEraSpeech -- we get one from a [[CardCarryingVillain disreputable]] [[ILoveNuclearPower character]].

* StormingTheCastle -- Craven and Jedburgh infiltrate the mine/storage facility ... [[CrazyAwesome and stop half way to enjoy a three course dinner with fine wine, cigars and classical music]].

* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic -- is there any incidental music in this series which doesn't hint of a looming apocalypse?
* TakeThat -- the Strategic Defense Initiative - or something that sounds rather like it - gets a fairly thorough rhetorical blast ([[IncrediblyLamePun well, flash, actually]]) from Jedburgh.

* ThoseTwoGuys -- Harcourt and Pendleton.
* YouFailPhysicsForever -- Averted. An expert came on board to ensure that all the science depicted was accurate; initially, he didn't want to do it because he was convinced this trope would come into effect and embarrass him, but the production team managed to convince him that they wouldn't mess it up. They didn't.

Ronald "Ronnie" Craven (Bob Peck, who won a BAFTA) is a Detective Inspector in the Yorkshire; he was decorated for bravery in the line of duty during his time in [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles Northern Ireland]]. His wife died of cancer, roughly a decade ago, since when he has brought his daughter Emma up single handed. As the story opens, she has grown up to be a politically radical student, who seems to be the only remaining person on the face of the planet who can make him smile. Ronnie drives her home from a political meeting -- trying to keep her out of the [[EmpathicEnvironment rain]], which has become [[AStormIsComing absurdly and suspiciously heavy]] -- whereupon she is shot dead by a balaclava-clad thug wielding a sawn-off shotgun. Later, a grieving Ronnie is going through Emma's belongings; he finds [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking a loaded gun, a geiger counter, her vibrator, and her old teddy-bear]].

Ronald "Ronnie" Craven (Bob Peck, who won a BAFTA) is a Detective Inspector in the Police Force; he was decorated for bravery in the line of duty during his time in [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles Northern Ireland]]. His wife died of cancer, roughly a decade ago, since when he has brought his daughter Emma up single handed. As the story opens, she has grown up to be a politically radical student, who seems to be the only remaining person on the face of the planet who can make him smile. Ronnie drives her home from a political meeting -- trying to keep her out of the [[EmpathicEnvironment rain]], which has become [[AStormIsComing absurdly and suspiciously heavy]] -- whereupon she is shot dead by a balaclava-clad thug wielding a sawn-off shotgun. Later, a grieving Ronnie is going through Emma's belongings; he finds [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking a loaded gun, a geiger counter, her vibrator, and her old teddy-bear]].

* BigNo, HeroicBSOD, arguably TheWoobie -- Ronnie Craven.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard -- [[Spoiler: Grogan receives a lethal level of radiation from plutonium]].

On original broadcast, it proved so popular that, immediately after it finished its run on BBC Two, it was repeated on BBC One, a unique occurrence in the history of British Television. It was praised, and awarded, for its acting, scripting, and direction, and launched the career of Martin Campbell, who would later go on to direct ''Film/GoldenEye'' for the ''Film/JamesBond'' franchise - and who cast Joe Don Baker as a cheery CIA agent in that movie in direct reference to his role in this series. Oh, and [[Music/EricClapton Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton]] collaborated with Michael Kamen to write the show's distinctive, haunting [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome score]].

Ronald "Ronnie" Craven is a Detective Inspector in the Police Force; he was decorated for bravery in the line of duty during his time in [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles Northern Ireland]]. His wife died of cancer, roughly a decade ago, since when he has brought his daughter Emma up single handed. As the story opens, she has grown up to be a politically radical student, who seems to be the only remaining person on the face of the planet who can make him smile. Ronnie drives her home from a political meeting -- trying to keep her out of the [[EmpathicEnvironment rain]], which has become [[AStormIsComing absurdly and suspiciously heavy]] -- whereupon she is shot dead by a balaclava-clad thug wielding a sawn-off shotgun. Later, a grieving Ronnie is going through Emma's belongings; he finds [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking a loaded gun, a geiger counter, her vibrator, and her old teddy-bear]].

* RealMenWearPink: Jedburgh may play the part of a loud redneck, plus he's a highly skilled soldier, who is also a gourmet and devoted to watching a ballroom dance competition on TV.

--->'''Emma Craven: '''Millions of years ago when the Earth was cold, it looked like life on the planet would cease to exist. But black flowers began to grow, multiplying across the landscape until the entire surface was covered in blooms. Slowly, the blackness of the flowers sucked in the heat of the sun and life began to evolve again. That is the power of Gaia. The planet will protect itself. If man is the enemy, it will destroy him.

On original broadcast, it proved so popular that, immediately after it finished its run on BBC Two, it was repeated on BBC One, a unique occurrence in the history of British Television. It was praised, and awarded, for its acting, scripting, and direction, and launched the career of Martin Campbell, who would later go on to direct ''Film/GoldenEye'' for the JamesBond franchise - and who cast Joe Don Baker as a cheery CIA agent in that movie in direct reference to his role in this series. Oh, and [[Music/EricClapton Eric "Slow Hand" Clapton]] collaborated with Michael Kamen to write the show's distinctive, haunting [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome score]].

Ronald "Ronnie" Craven is a Detective Inspector in the Police Force; he was decorated for bravery in the line of duty during his time in [[TheTroubles Northern Ireland]]. His wife died of cancer, roughly a decade ago, since when he has brought his daughter Emma up single handed. As the story opens, she has grown up to be a politically radical student, who seems to be the only remaining person on the face of the planet who can make him smile. Ronnie drives her home from a political meeting -- trying to keep her out of the [[EmpathicEnvironment rain]], which has become [[AStormIsComing absurdly and suspiciously heavy]] -- whereupon she is shot dead by a balaclava-clad thug wielding a sawn-off shotgun. Later, a grieving Ronnie is going through Emma's belongings; he finds [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking a loaded gun, a geiger counter, her vibrator, and her old teddy-bear]].