I've just watched the episode called Deathwatch and he had a epic shouting fit over nothing!
You stupid fuckers, you know who you are.

Oh dear, it doesn't sound like he gets much better
You stupid fuckers, you know who you are.

you are right!!!!
I am taking a break from the series, was in Season 5, but took a break when I was in Season 3 already, only way I may be able to watch the whole thing putting up with his attitude (and the general shouting matches!!!)….

I've just started watching this and can't say I'm a fan of that character either.
Mind you in the first few episodes all of the characters spent most of their time barking at one another. It seems to be calming down now and is becoming more enjoyable.
You stupid fuckers, you know who you are.

I know this thread is ancient, but I found the boards by googling how unlikable Peter Boyd's Waking the Dead character is….haven't read all the answers, but I remember already disliking the character when first watching isolated episodes on TV when it was first on….and now I'\m watching it on BBC (with all the money we pay for TV license, I guess I just want to get the most of it LOL) I don't think he is a bad actor, but I think he plays more or less the same attitude in Discovery of Witches….haven't seen him in many other shows, never seen him in interviews soo I can't extensibly comment, Will try make time to come back read a bit more of the thread, always interesting to hear people's thoughts I know this kind of thing is very subjective, but I'm with the opening poster : I really REALLY dislike the character.
It may have an effect on a TV series, but that much aggression wouldn't get many people to work under a boss who behaves that way…. my daughter keeps telling me "it is TV!!!" yeah, I know, but I still terribly dislike him LOL

Trevor Eve also was very good in "Heat of the Sun" a short lived period drama that took place in Kenya. He was a very sexy copper.
It was too bad the production company had prooblems a the time and they were never able to continue.
It was on US tv years ago and I saw it then.then realized it's now been posted on Netflix.
"Kidnap and Ransome" another post-WTD show, with Eve as producer, was also pretty good. They did two seasons I think.
Haven't heard any more about whether or not further series are being fimed in South Africa.
I haven't checked Netflix to see if it's on there. Saw it on ITV a coupla years ago.

Who else could pull off a line like "The filth killed my dad, but look at me now, I'm king of their poxy castle" but Trevor Eve.
I'm really trying to find ways to use that line in everyday conversation.

I wholeheartedly agree. I've just discovered the WTD series and like the story lines, but can't stand Boyd. He has no redeeming qualities. If he was at least good at his job, like so many other flawed characters (Cracker, Rebus), I'd not have this attitude, but he's not good at his job.
Another thing is that, as someone not familiar with any of the actors, I think the actor playing Boyd is totally cast wrong. If it had been a Ken Stott type actor, he'd be more believable, but I'd still wish for him to be not so stupid.
Also, I keep noticing that each time Eve wants to be 'natural' or 'relaxed' he takes a sip out of a mug. This 'studied' casualness is really distracting and annoying and in my opinion poor acting. Maybe if he wasn't mis-cast, I wouldn't notice those things.
Sorry for the rant. Grace is at least good at her job.
I've been watching the show for the story lines, pretty much IN SPITE OF the characters.

I agree completely! The character of Boyd is extraordinary. And as I wrote in an earlier post, his character like some of the best in tv is somewhat flawed which makes him all the more human. Have you seen Cracker, or Prime Suspect? Great characters with their own flaws. Boyd is a strong character and he needs to be, but he is also fragile in some instances, funny, cranky. . . .all things and more human. He is amazing. The actor is amazing! I love this show.

I think Boyd is a great character. Ive been watching WTD from series 1 again & have found him to be quite funny at times. I thinks his temper tantrums etc is just what the show needs & it's good to see his softer side come out too. Trevor Eve is simply awesome!
I am
NOT
a guy!!

Interestingly, I like Boyd most of the time. Exactly because his grumpiness is linked to a keen mind. And that often makes people impatient and irritable.
Interesting comparison with Frost and Morse. I particularly like Frost, with those cranky one-liners; rather like Lennie Briscoe in Law and Order. Morse was
often very demeaning to Lewis for no good reason.
But I'm surprised that no-one seems to mind that Grace. I find her intensely irritating; always trying to get into Boyd's head, "putting him right". And to some extent with the rest of the staff too. Her being a psychologist doesn't rob her colleagues of the right to keep certain things to themselves if they want to. She just seems like some nosy nagging housewife.

He is not meant to be liked. He is a GREAT CHARACTER. OK, he is grumpier than Victor Meldrew. However, that is just one of the reasons why Waking the Dead is such a good series. Morse and Frost were grumpy as well. It makes for good, and interesting, although complex, characters. It makes you WANT to hate them.

Peter Boyd speaks very highly of
you.

He was always borderline up until the death of his son last season but I agree he's now gone over the line way too much.
Having said that though,
I reckon the internal investigation into the unit is going to see the end of the show.
Spence hasn't been happy for a long time with Boyd's behaviour and I reckon it was him who blew the whistle on him. I also wouldn't be surprised if the new girl was put there as an "inside" woman to keep an eye on him and collect evidence.
Of course if all this was going on then no doubt Grace would be in on it. So why is she going along with it?. Simple she'd rather see Boyd booted off the force than see him in a prison cell and with his current behaviour that does seem like a real risk.
This is just guess work btw. I can't say I'm privvy to any spoiler info. But I wouldn't be surprised if this is the end of Waking The Dead.

This message has been deleted.

Of course!
Follow any interviews with him, he regrets the fact that he was persuaded not to do more "Shoestring".
"Waking the Dead" is not as good as "Shoestring" but then few things are, it was an absolutely classic show. However, you would need a time machine to make more "Shoestring" now, the winning creators and cast are all a lot older now (or dead?). And who knows, it might have got really dull after the second series. I don't think "Bergerac" got better over time (made by the same people).
So I think you're comparing apples with oranges.

What I can't understand is why Trevor Eve refused to do more than one series of Shoestring and then appear in endless series of this repellant nonsense. At least Shoestring had moments of charm between his rages. Maybe the words "the cheque is in the mail" finally had more resonance than "typecasting."

I have to admit feeling somewhat vindicated in my initial remarks after having seen the season eight premiere. The way that Boyd treated Stella reinforced what a sociopathic assh*ole he is.

Haha I understand your remark and agree that it would be impossible to work with such a character in real life. However, it's an absolute joy to watch on TV. Have you ever watched Cracker? If anyone's an annoying person, Fitz is.. My ABSOLUTE number 1 series, followed directly by Waking the Dead.

"So I go back and watch the old eps a lot. ;-)"
Watch em from where? I used to love the show, but Boyed just got so annoying that I stopped watching it. Now I make sure i catch the ones i missed. For some reason, I'm starting to like Boyed again :S
I know doesn't make any sense, hes gotten worse!

I, too, have enjoyed WTD immensely over the years and absolutely adore Trevor Eve, but have disliked the direction of the character of Peter Boyd for some time. Other than his insatiable desire for justice, esp. for those unable to defend or speak for themselves, he is a grumpy, angry, overbearing, childish, out of control jerk. In real life no one would be able to work for this man and there would be serious complaints against him, and/or transfers out of his unit. He shouts at people for no reason, belittles people for making the slightest comment he doesn't agree with or understand, and completely (and usually publicly) berates any one who dare make a mistake or an oversight. I am finding him harder and harder to take myself. I want to drool over Peter like I used to, and I just can't anymore because I would hate him in RL. So I go back and watch the old eps a lot.

Boyd seems OK to me. Just a strong personality, that's all. Don't forget this is a drama, not real life.

Peter Boyd is one of the greatest characters on tv, ever! He is such a multi-layered, "real" character. Boyd & Grace are my favourite characters, their acting is simply superb.

I think it's refreshing to find a character on television who is as multi-layered and abrasive as Boyd. Not everyone on the face of the planet is lovable and cuddily. And those shouldn't be requirements for his job.
And if you're looking for a redeeming quality in Boyd, what about his sense of justice? Even when he's skirting the rules it's because he wants to get the bad guy and give the families and end to their questions.
Look at his reaction to the father who wants to know if the body in the church is his missing son in "A Blind Beggar" and to the young woman in "Burn Out".
And I get the feeling he was like this before his son went missing - that just made it even MORE important to him. And that's when he starts going over the lines.
(And please, please, please [spoiler][/spoiler} any talk of the Season 7 finale here, please? Some of us are still trying to get Season 4.

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