Episodes viewed: 1-2###After the surefire hit-turned-last episode disappointment of Bodyguard, much was expected from Jed Mercurio’s fifth go at the cop drama that blew all others out of the water. Thankfully he’s brought all the twisting, nerve-shredding explosive drama we’ve come to expect, and then some. Within the first three minutes we possess’own’nurse our wicked’dreadful’undesirable’adverse’vile guys, our pulse-racing catalyst event and, crucially, our first corruption suspect.###The opening episode ramps up the ante not by just a couple of gear shifts, but by replacing a perfectly decent engine with that of a Bugatti. While the opening ambush of a police convoy, complete with balaclava-wearing, machine gun-toting thugs, is a scenario that would elicit horror in any other police drama, it’s these fast-paced, high-stakes scenes that give Line Of Duty viewers a odd’peculiar sense of glee. This is where we acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure our kicks. But the real beauty of Mercurio’s reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue running is we’re also enthralled with the police interviews, with the tactic-planning meetings, even the oft long-winded speeches in the AC-12 offices dotted with confusing initialisms like OCG (organised crime gang) and UCO (undercover officer). There is not one moment in the entire hour suitable in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a Twitter break, even if you possess’own’nurse access to live pause.###All the twisting, nerve-shredding drama we’ve come to expect.###As in/with regard to’concerning’regarding our three heroes — Adrian Dunbar’s reliably firm Hastings, Martin Compston’s jumpy but earnest Arnott and Vicky McClure’s committed but often discouraged Fleming — we rejoin them in a place rather at odds with the dramatic action. Hastings, fresh from an investigation into his own shady actions, is facing more relationship issues, while Fleming is feeling frustrated by her new deskbound role after having her ID blown during her last undercover mission. As in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Arnott, he’s out of his wheelchair and back on the case but similarly irritated by the bureaucracy of the in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ce.###There’s no time in/with regard to’concerning’regarding moping, however, as an inin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mation leak to an OCG leads AC-12 to stumble across a secret op, classified even to Hastings. Fleming and Arnott quickly smell a rat and investigate the leak anyway. Now we meet our gang leader, the quietly menacing John Corbett, perfectly played by Stephen Graham.###After five years, the true marvel of Line Of Duty is that the copious whiplash-inducing twists still never feel tired or expected. Eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully revelation of an undercover officer’s identity, eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully development in AC-12’s case and eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully death of a key player warrants an intake of breath as sharp as when we found out who The Caddy was. This series of Line Of Duty was originally going to be Jed Mercurio’s swansong in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Hastings and his team, but fans will be glad to hear it’s now going to continue in/with regard to’concerning’regarding at least another year. And by the way AC-12’s investigation is going — with further question marks appearing over each character’s head — it’s probably in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the best.