Ep 1. Gently Between the Lines

George Gently is a detective drama set in the 1960s in northeast England. The show follows the investigations of Detective Inspector George Gently, played by Martin Shaw, and his partner Detective Sergeant John Bacchus, played by Lee Ingleby. Season 6 episode 1, titled "Gently Between the Lines", finds Gently and Bacchus investigating the murder of a young woman.

The episode begins with the discovery of the body of a teenage girl in a country lane. Gently and Bacchus are immediately called to the scene and begin their investigation. The girl, named Lisa, was last seen leaving a local dance hall with her boyfriend, Ricky Deeming. The detectives hope to find Deeming and question him about Lisa's death, but he is nowhere to be found.

Gently and Bacchus quickly learn that Lisa was part of a group of teenage girls who spent their weekends dancing at local clubs. They begin to question Lisa's friends and acquaintances, hoping to find any leads on Deeming's whereabouts and information about Lisa's murder.

As the investigation continues, Gently and Bacchus become increasingly frustrated with the lack of information and cooperation from the teenagers. They suspect that the group is hiding something and decide to split up to try and get more information. Bacchus goes undercover and attends the dance hall where Lisa was last seen, hoping to gather more information from the teenagers directly.

Meanwhile, Gently looks into Lisa's family life and begins to suspect that her father, a local politician, may have had something to do with her murder. He also becomes increasingly concerned with his partner Bacchus and the risks he is taking by going undercover.

As the investigation progresses, Gently Between the Lines explores themes of youth culture, corruption, and the impact of crime on families and communities. The show also delves into the personal lives of its characters, including Gently's strained relationship with his wife and Bacchus's struggles with alcoholism.

Overall, Gently Between the Lines is a gripping and thought-provoking episode that continues to showcase the strong writing and performances that have made George Gently a beloved series. Fans of the show will not be disappointed by this latest installment, and newcomers to the series will find it to be a compelling introduction to the world of George Gently.