While the opinions and views of both Bacchus and Gently might seem a little dated or old fashioned to today's viewers, and the object of some derision among those they end up dealing with in their cases, they are consistent with people in their line of work and background for the time period.
In the first episode their investigation takes them into the strange world of teenage girls on the verge of becoming women. Unlike earlier generations whose rebellion might have taken the form of illicit cigarettes, these girls are demanding independence and dreaming of being more than just dutiful wives and mothers. While this serves to muddy the waters of the circumstances surrounding the case of the girl who was murdered by introducing a number of potential suspects, including the host of a pop music show and one of the girl's teachers, it also shows the strength of the series' writing.
Some might look upon this type of setting as an opportunity to make some sort of statement or comment on society. However, in this series, they content themselves with depicting as accurately as possible what was happening during the time period and let the police get on with trying to solve the murder.
Although the plot does hinge on the overheated fantasy of a teenage girl, social conditions at the time have little or no bearing on who the guilty party is. Watching the two officers squirm,, especially Bacchus as they deal with a teenage girl's burgeoning sexuality is both funny and consistent with what we've seen of the characters previously. It also makes perfect sense considering the time period. Sex was not something talked about easily by most people during this time, and discussing it in terms of young girls was just not done.
In episode two we are given an even clearer picture of Gently's strict adherence to his own moral code. An informer Gently had used for many years both in London and in his new location turns up dead under mysterious circumstances. With the death occurring outside his jurisdiction he has to rely on another areas police force for information about the death. When he discovers an old colleague from his days in London is in charge he is initially hopeful, but he soon discovers discrepancies in the reports about the death that make him suspect something is being covered up. In spite of attempts to stonewall him, Gently eventually does end up solving the case.
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