Fake Dog Loves #3: The Sweeney
Written Apr 16, 01:25 AM by Dara
The Sweeney is a seminal 1970’s British cop show, which has had more than a slight influence on Fake Dog. Now, the reason this show is so important is because, before this, all British cop shows were quite tame and white-washed. Then, The Sweeney came along and basically said “Fuck the handbook!”. It was gritty and realistic, and its two stars Regan and Carter had a complete disregard for protocol, as long as they got the job done.
Regan and Carter are members of The Flying Squad, an elite branch of the British police force specialising in armed robbery and violent crime. The name, Wikipedia informs me, comes from cockney rhyming slang. As in “Sweeney Todd” rhymes with “Flying Squad”. A bit sill really, but it does sound cool.
The Sweeney is famous for its tyre-screeching car chases, but people seem to forget it’s also very funny. The banter between Regan and Carter is quite entertaining, and they always seem to be chatting about the case at hand over a mug of whiskey in the office, or down the pub on their lunch break. And the dialogue is highly quotable, especially the put-downs; “Do me a favour!”, “Shut it!”
It’s become part of our culture now, whether or not you realise it. It’s been parodied in everything from car ads to sitcoms. That’s why you may laugh at some of the clips, because they seem like cliches. But it’s the same with everything. Cliches have to start somewhere. So, if you do get a chance, watch it with an open mind, you shan’t regret it. By the end credits, you’ll always be left wanting more.
— Dara
Do me a favour!
— Paul · Apr 16, 10:38 AM · #
Shut it!
I must watch it now, it looks brilliant! I also thought that Nissan ad was hilarious, and the fact that in the car chase the guy went clean through the window despite crashing at about 10 miles an hour!
— Gearóid · Apr 16, 05:11 PM · #
Yes, there’s a bit of get-some in some of the episodes too!
— Dara · Apr 16, 11:36 PM · #
I do like that closing theme music..
— Laura · Apr 17, 06:08 PM · #
I know, it’s so sad! It gets me every time…
— Dara · Apr 17, 07:46 PM · #