"If..."
If... Drugs Were Legal (2005)

Director:

Nick Copus

Writers:

Nick Copus (writer)
J.C. Wilsher (writer)

TV Series:

"If..." (2004)

Original Air Date:

12 January 2005 (Season 2, Episode 3)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Obesity

Cast

Nila Aalia	...	Dr. Sternberg
Bronwen Davies	...	Carrie Lucas
Juliet Ellis	...	Emma Parker
Sasha Finn	...	Josie
Tim Frances	...	The Commisioner
Christopher Fulford	...	Jack Rydal
Kevin Howarth	...	Daniel Kandinski
Togo Igawa	...	Dr. Kajiya
Emmanuel Ighodaro	...	Jason
Richard Leaf	...	Marc Pavel
Simon Lowe	...	Carl
Anna Southgate	...	Cloe
Mark Thomas	...	Dr. Harry Stephens

Series Cast

These people are regular cast members. Were they in this episode?

Paul Albertson	...	Rob McVeigh
Steve Benham	...	Patient
Duncan Duff	...	George Rowling Q.C.
Eric Loren	...	FBI Agent
Damian O'Hare	...	Andrew Holland
Nadim Sawalha	...	Golam Yama
Julia Deakin	...	Justice Snowdon
Claire Driver	...	Maureen (uncredited)
Caroline Lee-Johnson	...	Chloe Adayemi Q.C.
Jarka Rudavska	...	Hadijat Tataev
Jane Slavin	...	Holly Smith
Sue Vincent	...	Liz Downe

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

BBC Drama Group

Thoroughly engaging drama of an extremely popular modern media talking point

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

London,2015.All drugs,with the exception of cocaine and heroin,are now legal.With the prohibition on such substances as cannabis and Ecstasy now lifted,the modern social scene is flowing along nicely-that is,until a girl suffers a fatal black-out during a night out with her mates.The pharmacutical company behind the manufacture of the pill that caused the girl's death falls under heavy scrutiny,but,as two detectives,one a disgraced cop with a shady past,the other an eager young rookie probe deeper into the case,they discover all is most definitely not as it seems.Whilst all this is going on,a number of experts on the subject offer some highly cogent arguments for and against drugs and their potential legalization...

Few subjects seem to be getting more media attention these days than the subject of drugs.It seems not a day goes by where you can't pick up a national tabloid and see at least one column inch devoted to it.It says it all that this film was shown after BBC 2 was showing a series entitled Drugland where the effects of different drugs were explored on different parts of society and that immediately after it's broadcast there was a Newsnight debate that continued the subject past it's barrier.So it helps a lot that this manages to be a balanced,informed debate on the subject...

What makes it work so well is how it cleverly manages to juxtapose the commentary,documentary-style scenes in between shots of the actual story unfolding,which in turn involves you more and makes it a lot more interesting.It also helps that those who provide opinions have their cards layed firmly on the table either way-they're either deadly for the legalization of drugs or dead-set against it,there is no in-between.The opinions provided are very informed and offer serious food-for-thought.

As for the story itself,it's interesting,but it can't help but be somewhat depressing.It's shot in a typically bleak,grey camera style of a futuristic London,and there isn't much light relief offered in the proceedings,where it would have been much needed.It's very much shot in the dark,and it kind of puts you off because of it,although it does succeed in presenting a chilling premonition of things to come...

Still,it certainly brings a topic a lot of people have been talking about lately into tight perspective,and,if you're not quite sure yet which side of the coin your opinions fall on in relation to the topic of drugs and their legalization,it may well make you want to slap your thinking cap on.****