The ITV series "Trigger Point" has been lauded for its feverishly dramatic opening episodes, characterized by non-stop action and escalating peril for its protagonists. The show, which focuses on explosives officers, plunges viewers into intense scenarios from the outset, with one review noting that the pace is so rapid it leaves little time for questioning plot inconsistencies.
In the opening episodes, explosives officer Lana Washington, portrayed by Vicky McClure, and her squad engage in high-octane sequences, including ram-raiding through gates and defusing bombs in fast-moving vehicles. One particularly harrowing scene involved Washington having to cut a hole in a hostage's face with a scalpel to remove a bomb.
The sheer velocity of the plotting has made the series impossible to look away from, according to the review. However, the source points out several improbabilities, such as a bomb disposal expert opening a door without checking for booby traps, roads remaining gridlocked after major explosions, and a sensitive tilt switch on a bomb belt not being triggered during movement. The use of RDX military-grade explosives packed in shrink wrap and polystyrene also raised questions due to their poor shrapnel capabilities.
Beyond the action, "Trigger Point" explores the psychological toll on explosives officers. Lana's colleague, DS Helen Morgan (Natalie Simpson), is depicted as a nervous wreck, and Washington herself is undergoing therapy. These therapy sessions, presented in flash-forward scenes, are noted as slightly diminishing the tension by implying Washington's survival.
The review suggests that writer Chris Brandon faces the challenge of maintaining this intense pace across the series' six episodes while managing the inherent narrative challenges that arise from such high-stakes plotting.