Cuffs Practise Questions

Why was the pre-watershed scheduling of 8pm significant in terms of the representations they could offer? (3 marks)

It was significant as it meant that they could use themes such as homosexuality, racism, and sexism. These reasons mean that parents may not want their children watching an episode with these themes. For example, parents might not want their kids to be seeing a same sex relationship, such as the one with Jake Vickers and the enemy lawyer. As wrong as it is doing this, they might do this to deter their kids from being gay.





How were the following areas represented in the episode:

• Ethnicity 
• Gender
• Sexuality 

(10 marks)          

Cuffs was written and distributed in 2015 and therefore provides a snapshot of the cultural, politcal and social issues of the UK population at this point in history. 

In this episode, ethnicity is presented in a positive way through the main character, PC Ryan Draper. With him being an alpha male and a caring parent, it shows how much times have changed and show's people that black people aren't the stereotypical 'gangster/thug' as they would've been represented through film a couple years ago. We also see a female, PC Misha Baig, attempting to break up a fight. With her being a female, it is showing women represented in a positive way. This shows how far the UK has come since the 1920s when women were allowed to vote, and are now being presented as equal to men. She also represents ethnicity in a positive way. Since the terrorist attacks, muslims have been portrayed in the media negatively. Baig shows the audience that muslims are not stereotypically the 'villain'.

       Sexuality in this episode is also portrayed in a positive way, with Jake Vickers and the lawyer.  

How did the changing practices of institution and audiences cause Cuffs to be such a failure? 

Cuffs

Narrative

• Opens with Ryan battling a group of people antagonising nudists at a beach.
• Parallel editing, Jake becoming a police officer by his dad.
• Jake and Ryan get paired up, Ryan is the tutor.
• Jake is immediately open, says he's gay.
• First call, help a mentally ill suicidal drug addict. Jake does bad, shouts at the man. Ryan does good.
• Leave the addict at hospital alone, first mistake made by Ryan
• Racist is let out of prison and attacks an indian man.
• Father abducts his child due to family dispute.
• Ryan lectures vJake for saying "chill."
• Ryan shouts at a kid, we learn he's a father.
• Crazy shoplifter woman, Jake handles it poorly.
• Hint at gay storyline between Jake and evil solicitor.
• Jo asks police commissioner, Jake's father, out for dinner, they've had an affair, he's cheated on dying wife.
• Newsagents gets destroyed. Thieves take off with important goods.
• Jake is incapable shows vulnerability again can't communicate effectively.
• Messes up A27 and B27, Ryan and Jake argue a lot.
• Accidentally capture the father abducting the child.
• Father gets away.
• Racist is named, they go find him. Big raid only 4 officers.
• Jake is a flop throughout but finds Ryan with the racist and punches racist.
• Moans about hurting hand after punch for hours.
• The detective located the father. Prevented him from committing suicide.
• Jake gets solicitors number working out with squad.
• Plot twist detective goes to a brothel. Girl in leather mirrors Town Of No Return.
• Suicide under pier, Ryan and Jake investigate.
• Police Commissioner speaks to Ryan, "I will never forget this" very impactful on his career ever succeeding further.

Characters

• Jake Vickers- The gay rookie.
• PC Ryan Draper- Widower husband, Jake's partner and tutor.
• Jo Moffat- An investigator. Lonely with a dog. Having an affair with the Police Commissioner.
• Robert Vickers- Police Commissioner, wife dying from cancer.
• Felix Kane- Police investigator with a troubling personal life.

Setting:

• Story is set in Brighton.
• Known for gay culture.
• police chases around Brighton and highways.

Tone:

• Humorous tone during joke crimes such as beach scene.
• Tension increases during police chases.
• Tone gets sexual when solicitor flirts with Jake.

Television in the 2010s

L/O - research the 2010s (UK) in terms of social, cultural and political climate of the decade; research TV usage in 2015

• Cuffs was released in October 2015 
• What were the key events, in the UK and globally that happened in 2015 that might influence a TV series set in present day UK

Politics

• After the 2015 election, parliament was primarily conservative with 331/650 seats, labour suffered their worst loss ever at this time since 1987
• David Cameron was prime minister
• Calais migrant crisis 
• Cameron re-elected in 2015
• Obama was president 

Sports

• Golf Masters
• Premier League
• FA Cup
• Wimbledon Tennis
• Tour de France
• Rugby Union 6 Nations starts
• Athletics World Cup

Events

• Terrorist Attacks in Paris
• Fuel prices drop
• Caitlin Jenner comes out as trans 
• Brexit
• Ireland legalised gay marriage

Youth Groups

• The youth stereotypes were 'chavs' and 'roadman' 
• Social Media and Phones
• Knife crime
• Music
• Crime

In 2015, the conservatives won the vote with just over half of the entire votes. The conservatives were therefore in power, with help from the Liberal Democrats. Ever since this election, the conservatives have been in power. There were also terrorist attacks, these were done by some muslims and the media gave all muslims a bad name. People around the world were protesting global warming, and in the UK, protests about student tuition fees.

In what ways have the events shaped the era
The 10 years following 2010 was very confusing and eruptive. For example, the terror attacks throughout the years caused a lot of disruption in society.