The British Army's first female bomb disposal expert, Lucy Lewis, has criticised ITV drama Trigger Point for its unrealistic depiction of explosive devices, particularly the use of digital countdown clocks. Speaking about the show, which stars Vicky McClure as Metropolitan Police bomb squad officer Lana Washington, Lewis stated: 'None of us have ever seen a digital countdown clock. It is just not a thing.'
Trigger Point, from the makers of Line of Duty, has faced mounting criticism over its second series for perceived inaccuracies. Viewers have taken issue with Lana's habit of removing her protective helmet when approaching suspect devices, a practice McClure has defended, arguing that in certain real-life scenarios it can prevent knocking a device or obscuring vision.
Beyond technical details, the show's premise has been called into question. The terrorist group, The Wave, is described as an anti-capitalist cell aiming to bring down 'the system' by assassinating the Home Secretary, a plot that critics have labelled absurd. The subplot involving Lana's kidnapped parents and their marital difficulties has also been criticised as tonally inconsistent with the high-octane main storyline.
Ultimately, the repetitive nature of bomb disposal sequences has been highlighted as a fundamental flaw. While Line of Duty's interrogation scenes remained compelling, Trigger Point's focus on defusing devices—often hoaxes—has left some viewers feeling that once you have seen one detonator wire separated, you have seen them all.
