After what has been one of the most divisive season finales in a long time, Line of Duty fans are pretty frustrated, wondering whether the show will come back again for a seventh season. For those who do not know, Line of Duty, the British police procedural show, followed Detective Sergeant Steven Arnott, who is a former authorized firearms officer. When he refuses to agree to a coverup of a shooting by his own team, he transfers to the Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12). There, he is partnered with DC Kate Fleming, who joined the team after undertaking special firearms training, but did at one point move away from AC-12 for a short time after letting her feelings get in the way of the investigation on Superintendent Ted Hastings. Later, knowing her colleagues needed her in the complicated search for H, she reappeared in season six.

Hastings, who Arnott also works alongside, truly believed in and supported his team, was a very ethical and upstanding investigator, and actually recruited Arnott himself. As they worked as a team to uncover some of the Unit’s most secretive and corrupt organized crime, you could see how their relationships developed. In a long, gob-smacking narrative with major plot twists like few on television, we follow them on one of the biggest and challenging cases of their lives, leading them to the discovery and identity of “H,” and it became a show everyone should be watching. At the end of its sixth season (or ‘series,’ as they’re called in the UK), the shocking finale revealed the identity of ‘H,’ splitting the fans’ reaction in half, there have now been rumors of a seventh season to resolve the storylines once and for all.

The Mysterious H Reveal in Line of Duty

The very mysterious H was indeed revealed, though not at all how we thought it would be. We learned of a discovery about Hastings’ personal life, as well as a shocking account of how the OCG actually runs. As we watched the ramifications of the past six seasons unfold in one episode and loose ends attempt to be wrapped up (which made us gasp harder than we ever thought we could), many fans were left with unanswered questions and plenty left for the imagination. For years, we have waited for H, otherwise known as The Fourth Man, to finally be unveiled, and not many of us could have guessed that it was useless idiot Ian Buckells. Out of everyone that could possibly be one of the largest criminals that AC-12 had to deal with, we were truly shocked that it was him. This left many viewers wondering if there could be someone else behind these crimes, seeing as Buckells didn’t seem like the kind of guy that would make a very convincing H, and we can’t forget that he only confessed to passing on orders.

What is Next for AC-12?

Fans registered their disappointment that they’d waited with bated breath for 10 years to snare the mysterious H, only to find out it was the hopelessly failed former DCI. As this did seem like a bit of an underwhelming reveal, many fans are absolutely convinced that this can’t be the end, and someone bigger, better, and more shocking is behind the six seasons of drama. DI Fleming even described Buckells as someone with ‘dad cars and crap suits,’ so it is understandable that the revelation that he’s been leading a double life came as a shock; he still doesn’t really sound like much of a criminal. Not to mention that, just as the episode was ending, Buckells gave us a nasty little smirk — is this possibly hinting to us that it isn’t really over, that he got away with something else? Who knows. There may also be an opportunity to enhance some story lines, especially the complex relationship between Fleming and Jo Davidson who we remember was left living a happy life after being placed in witness protection. And we can’t forget about DS Chloe Bishop who started off covering low level cases but developed both her career and character and seemed to be the glue that held them altogether but never really seemed to get the recognition for all her hard work.

Line of Duty actors

However, despite creator Jed Mercurio still not giving too much away, fans shouldn’t be too disappointed just yet as, in an interview, the stars said that, “we always have a long break in between series so it’s not really too abnormal to what we normally do.” Fans are really holding on to that and begging they haven’t just received false hope. When the finale was released, fans took to social media to voice their disappointing feelings; one viewer said, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey. I did not wait 10 YEARS FOR THAT ENDING”, and another said, “I love Line of Duty but that was such a disappointing final episode. My favorite part was Jo’s dog at the end.” In fact, viewers might be interested to know that in a poll, 14,000 fans (a whopping 83% percent) said that they found the season finale unsatisfying, leaving just 17% of people saying they were happy with it. Surely, Line of Duty producers, writers, actors, anyone, will want to create something more and go out with a bang to satisfy their viewers. It would be disappointing for the incredibly intrigued viewers if they were left with so many questions running round their heads, and a far from satisfying ending. Nevertheless, Line of Duty, to this day, still remains one of the most popular British crime dramas.