Line Of Duty character Ryan Pilkington had viewers praising Jed Mercurio’s attention to detail as he popped up in episode two.
The first series of the cop drama is back on our screens for a rerun on BBC One, attracting long-time fans and newcomers alike.
For those revisiting Line Of Duty, the early episodes are proving just how intricate some of the show’s long-term plotting is.
What did Line Of Duty viewers say about Ryan?
In episode two, aired yesterday (Tuesday, August 4) evening, Ryan was reintroduced to viewers as a tearaway kid from the Borogrove Estate.
In one scene, he delivered a burner phone to drug dealer Wesley Duke as he plied his trade on a street corner.
As fans of the show will know, after series one, Ryan (played by actor Gregory Piper) comes into it again much later.
Read more: Line Of Duty series one rerun confuses BBC viewers
In series five, which aired last year, the youth reappears – this time as a member of the Organised Crime Syndicate.
At the end of the 2019 series, it revealed that Ryan was due to train to become a police officer.
Reacting on Twitter, some viewers admitted they had forgotten about Ryan being in the early episodes. Others said it proves the “genius” of creator Jed Mercurio’s work.
Ryan Pilkington’s return to Line Of Duty
One said: “Watching episode two of #LineofDuty, seeing young Ryan and soon-to-be-frozen Jackie and knowing where they both are in series five. Brilliant stuff. Shows the genius of Jed Mercurio’s long-term plotting.”
Another replied: “OMG! You’re right! I’d forgotten about that. Brilliant plot.”
A third said: “Really loving watching #lineofduty all over again, especially seeing how Ryan started out compared to where he was at end of S5…”
“I forgot Ryan was actually more terrifying as a sociopathic child #LineofDuty,” wrote a fourth.
OMG! You're right! I'd forgotten about that 😲 Brilliant plot.
— Catrin Johnson 🏴 (@CatrinPJ) August 4, 2020
Really loving watching #lineofduty – all over again, especially seeing how Ryan started out compared to where he was at end of S5…
The refresh of Jackie Laverty’s frosty ending and the intro of Tommy “best caddy I ever had” Hunter. Bloody love it— Sian Timmins 💙 (@sianroberts15) August 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/estellehart/status/1290753398237728772
Someone else tweeted: “Ryan looks so little. Still an evil little scrote. #LineofDuty.”
“Ryan looks so tiny! #LineofDuty,” said a sixth.
Read more: Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure looks very different in throwback picture
“It’s Ryan. But a baby. But still evil. #LineofDuty,” joked another.
“If Ryan had been arrested he probably wouldn’t be where he is at the end of S5 #LineofDuty,” observed one fan of the show.
Another wrote, ahead of the episode airing: “Anyone thinking Steve Arnott looks young, wait until you see Ryan! #LineofDuty.”
Ryan looks so little. Still an evil little scote. #LineofDuty
— Peta Kilbane 💙 (@PetaKilbane) August 4, 2020
Ryan looks so tiny! #LineofDuty
— not so ginger Elanor 🌈 (@GingerElanor) August 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/estellehart/status/1290749246300393472
If Ryan had been arrested he probably wouldn't be where he is at the end of S5 #LineofDuty
— Zoe Welch (@ZoeWelch1) August 4, 2020
Anyone thinking Steve Arnott looks young, wait until you see Ryan! #LineofDuty
— Felicity Taylor (@flistea) August 3, 2020
Line of Duty continues on Monday (August 10) at 9pm on BBC One
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