"Ultimate Force" (2002) TV series 2002-2006

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Creators:

Rob Heyland
Chris Ryan

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

16 September 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Action | War

Plot:

This action adventure series follows the exploits of Sergeant Henno Garvie and his colleagues who make up Red Troop...

Plot Keywords:

SAS | SAS Drama | Soldier | Counter Terrorism | Army

Cast

Ross Kemp	...	SSgt. Henry 'Henno' Garvie / ... (21 episodes, 2002-2006)
Miles Anderson	...	Col. Aidan Dempsey / ... (10 episodes, 2002-2006)
Jamie Draven	...	Cpl. Jamie Dow (10 episodes, 2002-2003)
Christopher Fox	...	Cpl. Louis Hoffman / ... (9 episodes, 2003-2006)

Runtime:

49 min (11 episodes) (seasons 1-2) | 70 min (4 episodes) (season 3) | 74 min (pilot episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:MA | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK

Company:

Bentley Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: In the last episode of the second season, where the team have to go into a former Russian Republic to rescue Colonel Dempsey and a minister, Caroline tells the boys to load up the Land Rover and they are shown putting their gear into a Land Rover Discovery. Later when she and Jamie are driving into the country, they are driving a Chrysler Jeep Cherokee.

Quotes:

[after gunning down his own CO Captain McElwaine]
SSgt. Henry 'Henno' Garvie: Man down. Man down.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Extras: Ross Kemp (#1.2)" (2005)

The above was a bit cruel

The series was actually based on the books by Chris Ryan, who has acted as a story consultant for the whole series, and has actually appeared in a few episodes. Truth be told we don't really know what the SAS do or where they are, but I would guess that Chris Ryan has a pretty good idea!

The first episode was tricky, trying to establish new characters in a series is never easy. But I felt that as the series progressed it settled down into a good solid drama, and I'm very pleased to hear that a second series has been commissioned.

Jamie Draven especially has been one to watch - he is consistently excellent and certainly tones down the 'Kemp Effect' considerably. Actually, far from being a star vehicle for Kemp, the original screenplays were written from the persepctive of Jamie Draven's character, Kemp was shoehorned in as a later addition.

On the whole I think it is an excellent ensemble cast, Tony Curran brings a hard, gritty edge to his character, whilst Elliot Cowan provides a lot of the laughs. I'm certainly looking forward to series 2 with some relish!