The WORST episodes of Line of Duty

Every episode of Line of Duty ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Line of Duty!

A drama about the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anticorruption unit.

Last Updated: 4/29/2024Network: BBC OneStatus: Ended
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Episode 1
star
7.60
1951 votes

#1 - Episode 1

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/26/2012

When Steve Arnott is transferred to a police anti-corruption unit, he finds his target is the city's top detective, Tony Gates. Can Gates really be as good as he appears? Arnott must engage in a cat-and-mouse struggle to uncover Gates' secret.

Directors: David Caffrey
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 1
star
7.65
665 votes

#2 - Episode 1

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/21/2021

DCI Jo Davidson receives new information about the whereabouts of a suspect in the unsolved murder of investigative journalist Gail Vella. En route to raid the property, she spots an armed robbery in progress and stops the convoy. Suspicious of her motives, AC-12 launch an investigation. Still dealing with the fallout from their explosive investigation into undercover officer John Corbett, AC-12 soon realise they are facing their most enigmatic adversary yet.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 7
star
7.67
613 votes

#3 - Episode 7

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/2/2021

With time running out, AC-12 attempt to unmask 'H', the Fourth Man (or Woman) commanding the network of corrupt officers behind the murder of Gail Vella. But sinister and powerful forces appear intent on orchestrating a cover-up.

Directors: Jennie Darnell
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 3
star
7.67
1604 votes

#4 - Episode 3

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/10/2012

Arnott is convinced Gates played a part in Jackie's disappearance. With Fleming's help, the anti-corruption team tries to trap Gates into revealing his involvement in covering up Jackie's crimes.

Directors: David Caffrey
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
7.80
1710 votes

#5 - Episode 2

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/3/2012

Having been duped into covering up Jackie's crime, Gates is desperate to sever ties with her. But, as Arnott and Fleming close in on his secret, Gates is plunged into an even more dangerous situation than he first thought.

Directors: David Caffrey
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
7.82
1430 votes

#6 - Episode 2

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/31/2016

After the shooting at the drugs house, DC Kate Fleming uses her undercover role to increase the pressure on Danny Waldron's armed response unit. Meanwhile, a previous AC12 investigation comes under legal scrutiny.

Directors: Michael Keillor
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
7.85
1425 votes

#7 - Episode 2

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/19/2014

Following the tragedy at the hospital, AC12's Kate Fleming is planted undercover in Lindsay Denton's Missing Persons Unit. But Lindsay in turn gathers compromising evidence against the anti-corruption team.

Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 4
star
7.88
1547 votes

#8 - Episode 4

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/17/2012

Desperate for proof of Gates's corruption, Fleming pushes her relationship with him to the limit. But her behaviour causes Morton to question if she might not be such a loyal colleague after all.

Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
7.88
1325 votes

#9 - Episode 2

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/2/2017

A dismembered body is discovered, and worries grow when DCI Roz Huntley fails to report for duty. AC-12 crank up their investigation into Operation Trapdoor, concerned that Michael Farmer will go to jail for crimes he didn't commit. With suspicions that Roz may have withheld crucial evidence, a new DCI is drafted in to run Operation Trapdoor. Kate makes progress in her undercover role, but AC-12's investigation falters when they realise that their main informant, forensic investigator Tim Ifield, has also gone missing.

Directors: Jed Mercurio
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
7.88
633 votes

#10 - Episode 2

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/28/2021

Having opened an official inquiry into DCI Jo Davidson and Operation Lighthouse, AC-12 begin to suspect a cover up. Steve and Chloe dig into Gail Vella’s controversial reporting for clues to her murder, and find links to previous AC-12 cases. Their investigation takes a shocking turn when they begin to scrutinise Jo's personal life.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 3
star
7.89
1327 votes

#11 - Episode 3

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/26/2014

Lindsay is denied bail and finds herself targeted in prison. Growing increasingly desperate, she tells Kate about a relationship with an executive police officer and her theory of why she is being framed.

Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 3
star
7.91
1369 votes

#12 - Episode 3

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/7/2016

DS Steve Arnott believes there is a dark secret in Danny Waldron's past. But while DI Cottan is commended for cracking the Waldron case, the spotlight falls on Arnott's questionable conduct in a previous enquiry.

Directors: Michael Keillor
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 3
star
7.92
635 votes

#13 - Episode 3

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/4/2021

On the strength of evidence from a new witness, DCI Jo Davidson brings Terry Boyle back in for questioning about Gail Vella's murder. Kate is torn between loyalty to Jo and wanting to assist AC-12's investigation, and tensions increase when Kate encounters a face from the past with links to organised crime.

Directors: Gareth Bryn
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 1
star
7.94
1486 votes

#14 - Episode 1

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/24/2016

Police anti-corruption unit AC12 return for another investigation. Sergeant Danny Waldron and his armed response team shoot dead a hardened criminal, but cracks soon appear in their story. Are they hiding a cold-blooded murder?

Directors: Michael Keillor
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 1
star
7.94
1453 votes

#15 - Episode 1

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/26/2017

DCI Roz Huntley is under intense pressure from her superiors to apprehend a serial murderer after months of fruitless investigation. When another young woman is abducted, Roz is on the scene to track down and charge a 24-year-old man. But doubts around the young man's guilt lead the chief forensic investigator to ask AC-12 to investigate. Is Roz ignoring forensic evidence that might prove the young man's innocence? AC-12's Supt Hastings places DS Kate Fleming undercover inside Roz's team to dig deeper into the case. With DS Steve Arnott piling on pressure from the outside, Roz is forced to act decisively. A mother of two and wife to Nick, Roz will do anything to stop her life from unravelling.

Directors: Jed Mercurio
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 6
star
7.95
1220 votes

#16 - Episode 6

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/19/2014

AC12's investigation finally exposes a vicious criminal gang run from within the police. But while Steve now appears convinced of Lindsay's innocence, Kate remains determined to prove she had a role in the ambush.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 5
star
7.95
1535 votes

#17 - Episode 5

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/24/2012

With Gates on the run, the anti-corruption team come under pressure to close the case once and for all. Arnott is forced to make some tough decisions about where his loyalties lie. Fleming and Hastings go all out to catch Gates, leading to a shattering conclusion.

Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 1
star
7.96
887 votes

#18 - Episode 1

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/31/2019

Following the deadly hijack of a police convoy, AC-12 target a ruthless organised crime group known to have links with corrupt officers.

Directors: John Strickland
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 4
star
7.97
1415 votes

#19 - Episode 4

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/14/2016

Fresh testimony launches AC-12 back on the trail of the Caddy, a corrupt officer with links to organised crime. But new disturbing evidence suggests the Caddy may reside within AC-12.

Directors: John Strickland
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 1
star
7.97
1453 votes

#20 - Episode 1

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/12/2014

A brutal ambush on a police convoy leaves three officers dead and a protected witness fighting for his life. AC-12 turn their spotlight on Lindsay Denton, the officer who led the convoy but escaped unscathed.

Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 3
star
7.97
868 votes

#21 - Episode 3

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/14/2019

Corbett’s most daring plan yet requires McQueen to exploit links with corrupt police officers. AC-12 make a shocking discovery.

Directors: John Strickland
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 4
star
8.01
1317 votes

#22 - Episode 4

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/16/2017

Roz's husband Nick is brought in for questioning by AC-12. But while Nick denies any involvement in Steve's attack, his suspicions about Roz mount. Meanwhile, AC-12 discover new anomalies in the forensic evidence and issue DCI Roz Huntley with a second Reg 15 notice. AC-12's case appears watertight until Roz starts dismantling their evidence with inside information of her own.

Directors: John Strickland
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 4
star
8.02
1260 votes

#23 - Episode 4

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/5/2014

Following the violent attack she suffered in prison, Lindsay is granted special dispensation to visit her dying mother. Meanwhile, deputy chief constable Dryden shrugs off allegations about his relationship with Lindsay and possible links to the ambush.

Directors: Daniel Nettheim
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
8.02
856 votes

#24 - Episode 2

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/7/2019

Kate and Steve attempt to track down a lead. A fresh police leak enables another audacious raid. Steve’s attempts to gather information put him in a dangerous situation.

Directors: John Strickland
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 5
star
8.04
1262 votes

#25 - Episode 5

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/23/2017

DCI Roz Huntley struggles to allay her husband's suspicions. AC-12 find a new angle to pursue their case against her.

Directors: John Strickland
Writer: Jed Mercurio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV