MovieChat Forums > No Offence (2018) Discussion > I like everything about this show but it...

I like everything about this show but its name.

posted 9 years ago by masticoret9
11 replies | jump to latest

Am I the only one who doesn't get the name's significance? I thought they were going to all be put in a unit that required constant Political Correctness. Since that is obviously not the case I'm at a loss as to how and why the name is what it is. I think if anything it's a bit edgy and offensive, in the best way possible. As boring police procedurals get bland quick. I can't stand CSI or NYPD Greenish Lavender or whatever new shows fills that old slot.

I feel this show has a realistic interpersonal communication to it, while the rest is outlandish and unrealistic, once again, in the best possible way. I know that in reality policing, even detective work, is just a lot of sitting and paper work. With very few minutes or hours spent chasing a bad guy furiously down the street in order to prevent him from setting off the bomb at the last second. All while you're having a heart to heart with your ex-girlfriend because you're taking too many risks and she wants to start a family. What's more important? Her or the job? The future or getting shot at? You have to decide which life you want to live! She's fed up with your *beep* I mean, in reality it would either not be that dramatic or if it was, you would be dead or fired.

So, I get the shows have to spice it up and cut to the chase, so to speak.

The greatest story ever told in six words. "For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn." - Ernest Hemingway

[–] fiendishgames 9 years ago

As in "not a criminal offence if it involves disregarded elements of society", perhaps?

I don't know, to be honest; maybe all will become clearer as the series progresses.

[–] Prismark10 9 years ago

It is a silly title and the way Channel 4 sold it in the trailers it came across as some broad comedy rather than an edgy police show.

Its that man again!!

[–] CleverTitania 9 years ago

How many episodes have you watched? WARNING SPOILERS COMING....

Let's see - we have a primary ongoing story line about a serial killer targeting girls with Down Syndrome. This requires some very raw conversation, about the sexual desires and activity of a special-needs community, and a lot of room for being insensitive pricks.

In the third episode, there's a dead Pakistani woman who may the victim of a hate crime, then she might have been the victim of an honor killing, THEN she might've been the victim of a jihad brought on by her husband's pharmacologically-induced psychosis, and finally the motive is just plain greed and narcissism masked with race bating. Oh and we've got a nice group of skinheads to deal with as well.

By episode four, we've got suicide by traffic and people who are living in the projects/slums/estates - and behind on PayDay Loan payments - being targeted by opportunistic organ harvesters.

And episode five is a real doozie. A man who was convicted of murder when he was 10 years old (himself the victim of extensive physical and sexual abuse), has his new reconstructed face broadcast on Twitter for all the world to see, after he confesses his past to his very pregnant wife. A literal angry mob attacks him, and his uncle puts a bounty on his head.

The title's meaning should be quite apparent - they spend half their time trying to do their job without offending someone. And I imagine, in our ever more diverse world, that's true of a lot of police forces. In that way, No Offense reminds me a lot of Major Crimes (and it's progenitor The Closer). They both deal heavily with different cultural issues amidst a lot of complicated criminal behavior.

Though the opening theme, to me, is very Rizzoli and Isles. I doubt it was intentional - even as procedurals they are very different shows - but the vaguely Irish theme tunes and close-ups of the precinct, are very similar.

[–] gorbals406 9 years ago

Are you DELIBERATELY trying to spoil the show for people who are only starting to watch the series? Please use the "spoiler" feature or at least put the word "Spoiler" in your subject line.

[–] CleverTitania 9 years ago

Fair enough. In my incredulity at the OPs statement, I didn't think about about the spoilers. It's rare these days that I'm watching a UK serialized show 'live' - usually I'm watching it months or years after it's aired - and as such that didn't occur to me.

Spoiler warning has been added to the text - since the fact that my subject line wasn't changed from the OPs means people are unlikely to read said subject line.

[–] gorbals406 9 years ago

Thanks for understanding. I myself am often watching shows that are anywhere from one to fifteen years old since I download everything. Because of that, I am particularly sensitive to having show outcomes spoiled. See you on the Message Boards. Thanks again!

[–] masticoret9 7 years ago

I had watched every episode when I posted originally. To me, everything you put in your reply is prevalent in almost every other show I've watched, that is in the same genre. Watch "The Wire" and you'll see a lot of similar situations, just like Law and Order, The Bridge, and others do. While they may or may not have exactly the same scenarios, the line of being racist, or dealing with issues that might lead you to being insensitive to people, is definitely crossed occasionally in those shows.

Maybe that's why I don't, or at least didn't until the most resent reply from TwittingOnTrender, find the title of the show "quite apparent". It's not really breaking new ground, not enough as to require a disclaimer in the form of a title, at the beginning of each episode. I would even say that the vast majority of the show's situations have almost nothing that would be related to the title. Like I said originally, "I thought they were going to all be put in a unit that required constant Political Correctness." So, you see, I said what you're saying but the show's title, to me, implies it would be more of a focus than it is. They also, no where in the show, address anything that would explain it, nor do they say the phrase or sit in situations where the phrase would be appropriate at any time. At least not that I remember, though it has been a while since I watched it.

I get that a show can have a title that doesn't get explained inside the show. Like Game of Thrones had a character say the name of the show in a way that explained it. Though, I think the meaning would have been obvious without that "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." line. Seeing as how I had figured it out upon hearing it and the line was uttered until like episode 6 or so. I get what a game of thrones is, it is quite apparent why the show, and the book before it, had been named that; I have to disagree that "No Offence" is like that though. It could mean things that are said by people, sure. Like TwittingOnTrender said, "No Offence" is also what a police officer would say over his or her radio having attended an incident. As in - sent to an assault, gets there and finds that no assault has actually taken place. He would tell his dispatcher - "I have a result for the reported assault - no offence".

That fits and makes sense, but to say that's obviously what caused the show to be named that, I can't agree. I still, even after your "incredulity" fueled reply, disagree. I disagree that it is a title that most people would hear then expect the show they get, that they would understand what was being alluding to. I guess I'm just not as smart as you are. Since I require reason and logic to make my conclusions. You obviously have the intelligence and wisdom of many people, as the connections you're making are just completely hidden to me and other people.

The greatest story ever told in six words. "For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn." - Ernest Hemingway

[–] TwittingOnTrender 7 years ago

It's a double-edged pun - maybe triple-edged. "No Offence", obviously, is what one says when one has said something near the knuckle and you want to point out it wasn't your intention to offend. It is often said disingenuously, often ironically.

"No Offence" is also what a police officer would say over his or her radio having attended an incident. As in - sent to an assault, gets there and finds that no assault has actually taken place. He would tell his dispatcher - "I have a result for the reported assault - no offence".

What the writers have done is to use a piece of police jargon but also included the irony of the insincere "No offence!" when the show actually tries to be edgy and non-PC.

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher.

[–] masticoret9 7 years ago

See, that makes sense, but I still find it a thin reason for the show's name. Basically, a title of a show should tell you what you're about to watch. You should basically hear it and basically picture a basic outline of your expectations...basic. (that was accident but I decided to leave the basics, because I'm a basic bitch.) I know, shows often times don't follow this rule. Take shows like "Twelve Monkeys" where you would never hear that show's name and think, "I know what that's about!" and be right. Though, once the show explains its reasoning for the name, it makes perfect sense, (Which is that the 12 represents a clock's numbers and the monkey part is supposed to make you think of playfulness. In that time is being wonky or being used as a game without consideration for the consequences.)

No Offence wasn't like that for me. I saw the name with a very basic blurb indicating it was a cop show and then gave it a chance. I honestly expected a cop comedy. Where they were a bunch of jackasses that ran around like the cops in Reno 911 but set in a British city. Maybe that's just me but I can't imagine that's the case, that I'm the only one who was mislead by the title. It just has so little to do with the events, the interactions that take place inside the show, that I just don't see it. It's like the whole tone is off from the name. I don't get it and even though I'm being told why it makes sense, I still don't see the connections between the explanation and the show I watched.

Like I said, I liked the show, everything about it, just not the name. I thought that they could have came up with something that worked better for what the show is. Maybe it's because the show is British and I'm from the U.S. that I am unable to see it clearly. I'm not saying I'm in the right or the majority. I just don't get it. Sorry.

The greatest story ever told in six words. "For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn." - Ernest Hemingway

[–] huwdj (4562) 7 years ago

I think you're right, it's a British vs American use and understanding of the phrase. As a Brit I think it's a good title for a great series that is unlike any other cop show out there. It will be interesting to see if it can be transplanted to America in the same way Shameless was.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

hmm , all of the above suggested reasons for the title are bullshit.
You are correct - its an odd title.