'Trigger Point' viewers stressed over plot problems
Trigger Point might have promised a Line Of Duty-style series of plot twists and turns, but viewers have been sharing their frustration over baffling scenes.
Vicky McClure stars in the ITV drama as bomb disposal EXPO Lana Washington who is trying to work out who is behind a series of planted explosives that killed her teammate Nut (Adrian Lester) in the first episode.
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After the show's debut, many viewers asked the same question about why the bomb disposal squad kept removing their helmets in risky situations and the second episode has thrown up more problematic storylines.
Following Sunday night's instalment which ended with Lana desperately trying to deactivate a motion-triggered nail bomb at a mosque while ripping at the door it was attached to in the hope of freeing a hostage on the other side, viewers complained that it felt unrealistic.
One person tweeted: "An explosive device triggered by movement and yet you’re trying to remove the door attached to it."
Another viewer agreed: "Carefully slice the bomb bag open but happily rip the skirting off the bottom of the door as rough as you like..."
Someone else added: “'There’s a bomb which will explode if there’s any movement, so I need you to be really really still for me whilst I attempt to violently rip this door off.'”
The episode ended on a cliffhanger as Lana tried to decide whether to continue her rescue mission or run away from the scene before the bomb went off.
One viewer with expert knowledge of bomb disposal tweeted: "So as a former army bomb disposal officer. Things you don’t do: 1. Cut open a bag without x-raying it. 2. Pull wire out of a suspect. bag 3. Call your opo over with no protective equipment to take off your helmet. Apart from that, all good."
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Last week, viewers had criticised the character for almost triggering a bomb by turning on a light it was attached to, and this time they couldn't help commenting on it again when Lana was shown telling her worried parents they had nothing to be concerned about.
One viewer tweeted: "I’ve been doing it for years dad and I’m really good at it. Last episode you almost killed everyone turning the light on but no worries you do you."
So as a former army bomb disposal officer. Things you don’t do:
1. Cut open a bag without x-raying it.
2. Pull wire out of a suspect bag
3. Call your opo over with no protective equipment to take off your helmet.
Apart from that, all good 🤣🤣
#Triggerpoint— Womble ⚒ (@freddie_tash) January 30, 2022
Episode two sparked further questions about why Lana and her colleagues kept removing their protective gear while working, although McClure has previously addressed the issue.
Talking to Yahoo and other press about having real EXPOs to consult on set, she said: "It was great having their support so I could ask the silly questions, even so much as 'why have I just taken my helmet off and I'm right next to a device'.
"It made complete sense, everything that they were saying.
"It could actually be distracting, depending on the small space that you might be working in it could impair your vision, and also if it was to knock anything it could be a dangerous thing to do.
"Also the fact that if the explosion did go off, that little helmet is not going to save you."
Some viewers also complained about "bizarre" casting in the series, with one viewer tweeting: "The casting for #TriggerPoint is so bizarre; Finchy from The Office and Ray from The Responder was just all too distracting… Also Lana’s mum looked way too young?"
Another person commented: "Bloody hell that's all you need finchy from the office commander of the bomb squad."
Watch: See the trailer for Trigger Point