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kvalidir, thanks for the link to the VHS guy. "Strangely fascinating" nicely sums up the whole series. I remember finding it confusing, but compelling. And after that (literally) killer opening, I wanted to find out what the hell was going on. If I ever did, I've got no memory of it! Other things I do recall: Stratford Johns cut a sinister figure as the mysterious Brond - avuncular and with a trademark wink, yet obviously prone to shoving young boys off high bridges. In another scene, a repulsed Robert (the Hannah character) is watching through a 2-way mirror in a brothel as Brond is being zapped by a madam wielding a cattle prod. Brond then seems to sense he's being watched, "looks" at Robert and winks again. He was certainly far removed from Barlow of Z Cars and Softly Softly.
It also had a party scene in which Robert is either drunk or drugged, it was the first time I'd seen that effect you get when the camera is strapped to the actor so as he staggered around and eventually collapsed, he seemed static but with the room tilting and swaying around him - visually really effective.
I think that maybe the child-killing at the start signals Robert's entry to the 'adult' world, or something like that. Though apparently as the story develops it takes in stuff relating to the N Ireland Troubles - I don't recall that element at all.