Episode five of top BBC crime drama Line of Duty wasn’t an easy rise for everyone’s favourite Northern Irish copper, Superintendent Ted Hastings.
Warning. Spoilers ahead!
Read more: Line of Duty: Five crucial questions after the fifth episode
AC-12 was taken off the investigation into undercover officer John Corbett (Stephen Graham), as the powers-that-be were concerned over the unit’s lack of progress.
The rebuff prompted Ted to take matters into his own hands and he carried out a mini undercover operation, venturing into the OCG’s night club and claiming to be corrupt high-ranking copper ‘H’ as he sought a face-to-face meeting with Corbett.
But as he had no clearance, Ted’s AC-12 colleagues Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) had to report him to his boss, DCC Andrea Wise (Elizabeth Rider).
Ted was suspended and later arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office when he refused to come along quietly for questioning.
The situation worsened when his visit to OCG member Lee Banks at Blackthorn prison linked him to Corbett’s death – and he was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
In the episode’s dramatic closing scenes, Ted shouted: “No, no, no, I am being framed! I am not bent!”
Viewers on Twitter were outraged that Ted was implicated, protesting his innocence.
One said: “Free Ted – now! The fella is not a bent copper.”
Another wrote: “MOTHER OF GOD!!!! This has to be a set up. Not Ted!!!”
A third tweeted: “#LineOfDuty You sods! Ted is innocent, poor bloke. For the love of God (as he would say) he’s being framed. Jed Mercurio, you are a brilliant writer though and it’s great that we can watch something and nothing gets leaked. Love it.”
A fourth joked: “Mother of God. Ted is pure as they come and I will not believe otherwise.”
Free Ted – now ! the fella is not a bent copper 😂 #LineOfDuty #freetedhastings
— LadyFizzyWizzy (@LadyFizzyWizzy) April 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/MissLizAmonoo/status/1122804926403497984
#LineOfDuty You sods! Ted is innocent, poor bloke. For the love of God (as he would say) he's being framed. Jed Mercurio, you are a brilliant writer though and it's great that we can watch something and nothing gets leaked. Love it
— michelle storey (@michele344) April 29, 2019
Mother of God. Ted is pure as they come and I will not believe otherwise. #LineOfDuty
— diagwynnie (@welshscot65) April 29, 2019
Others rushed to offer their theories on who’s really pulling the strings.
One fan wrote: “It can’t be Ted, it’s that snake Gill! She never got over Ted’s rejection so she is scorned and hell bent on bringing him down.”
Someone else commented: “I bet DI Kate Fleming is H #LineOfDuty.”
Echoing that line, another said: “After last night’s #LineOfDuty I’m even more convinced Kate is H. She’s seen how a number of innocent incidents could make it look like Hastings and personally took it further up the chain to ensure he’s investigated.”
Read more: Line of Duty: Who is Detective Chief Superintendent Patricia Carmichael?
It can’t be Ted it’s that snake Gill! She never got over Ted’s rejection so she is scorned and hell bent on bringing him down. #LineofDuty
— lizonthebox (@MissLizAmonoo) April 29, 2019
I bet DI Kate Fleming is H #LineOfDuty
— Úna Palliser (@unapalliser) April 29, 2019
After last nights #lineofduty I’m even more convinced Kate is H. She’s seen how a number of innocent incidents could make it look like Hastings and personally took it further up the chain to ensure he’s investigated. #LineOfDutytheories
— Sheryl (@_SherylJ_) April 29, 2019
The final episode of Line of Duty airs next Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.
Do you think Ted’s being set up? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.