Bulletproof: South Africa (Sky One) is only a three-part series, but does not skimp on the action. There have been shoot-outs, violent chases, huge car explosions and a stint in prison for its two leads, Pike and Bishop (Ashley Walters and Noel Clarke), that was only marginally more ridiculous than Bridget Jones ending up on the wrong side of the law in Thailand. And that was just the first two episodes. After expending all that energy in such a short period of time, it was hard to see where the finale would take them next. Out to sea? Into space?
Perhaps mercifully, Bulletproof seems to have burned itself out, at least until the last 15 minutes or so, when it all goes happily gaga again. After two enjoyable series, this likable action show deserved a holiday: Pike and his wife Arjana head to Cape Town to laze on the beach. But it wouldn’t be a buddy show if the buddies were divided – so Bishop tags along as a third wheel. It takes all of five minutes until there’s some crime-fighting on the mean streets of Cape Town and the pair get caught up in a child kidnapping that is tacked on to a plot to steal rubies, which leads them on a wild goose chase through the city and beyond.
By this third and final episode, most of the mystery has been solved, or so it seems, which suggests that the finale has little more to do than tidy up any loose ends. The child Kayla has been rescued and the bent copper Dewald has taken credit for solving the case, with a nod to Pike and Bishop, who should, rightfully, get the chance to enjoy their holiday at last.
If that were the case, though, it would be a dud of a finale and despite starting out a little slowly, it soon ramps up to more high-octane thrills, as they try to take down Dewald. Kayla is back with her mother and father, though Arjana suspects that the family dynamic leaves a lot to be desired. Kayla, meanwhile, is traumatised, as you might imagine, from being blindfolded and watched by armed guards. Soon, suspicion falls on Dewald, mostly because of his fondness for apple-flavoured vapes. It’s an indication of the kind of plot points that this show can turn on, which is no bad thing: huge clouds of apple-scented vapour are a criminal offence to my mind.
This is a glossy spectacle of a show that is indebted to Hollywood. It barely bothers to dip below the surface, though it handles a domestic abuse storyline with sensitivity, and there is a brief discussion about parental responsibilities that adds a touch of depth. But that is not really what Bulletproof is here for. It’s a triumph of small-screen action, popcorn-worthy and overblown. It drags you along for the ride, even if you are best advised not to look too closely for the cracks.
It’s also largely funny, due to the chemistry between Walters and Clarke, who riff off each other with companionable ease and are worth the price of the ticket alone. They rock-paper-scissors their way through who is going to take which role in a violent confrontation. They talk about their lives. They tease each other relentlessly, but always have each other’s backs. It is a lovely bromance, and a treat to watch. It is also worth pointing out that when the duo becomes a trio, thanks to Tanner (Lindsey Coulson) turning up to get them out of jail, they are a triple act to reckon with.
When the action hits, it does so with as much dedication to spectacle as you would expect. There are kidnappings, double-crosses and a massive, expensive-looking car chase through the South African countryside that wouldn’t be out of place on the big screen. It is all brazenly designed to elicit an adrenaline rush, but it does so pretty effectively, and there are enough twists and turns so you don’t feel short-changed.
“What did I tell you? Distraction,” says Bishop, when a potentially fatal situation is defused by an unlikely object, one even more ridiculous than a vape, when it comes to thwarting dastardly plots. You could say the same about Bulletproof. It’s a big, daft, bombastic distraction, but it is certainly up to the job.
