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Survivors: Difference between revisions
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''Survivors'' is a drama shown on BBC One and on the BBC iPlayer service split into 2 series and 12 parts. A third series is expected. It follows the survivors of a flu-like virus which kills approximately 99.9% of the world's population. (Think ''[[28 Days Later]]'' but without zombies.) Despite the action following the small pocket of survivors living in Great Britain, | ''Survivors'' is a drama shown on BBC One and on the BBC iPlayer service split into 2 series and 12 parts. A third series is expected. It follows the survivors of a flu-like virus which kills approximately 99.9% of the world's population. (Think ''[[28 Days Later]]'' but without zombies.) Despite the action following the small pocket of survivors living in Great Britain, handguns are commonly seen in the series. Only certain licensed people such as vets can carry a handgun in the UK unless that handgun has a long barrel and stock. Surprisingly, bolt action rifles, under lever rifles, and air weapons are not seen, despite being perfectly legal and readily available. Shotguns are also readily available in the UK and commonly seen, most likely looted from gun/sport shops. As the only semi and fully automatic weapons in the UK for public use have to be chambered in .22 rimfire, it is safe to say that weapons not fitting that group are, or were originally in government, police, military, or private contractors hands. | ||
[[Image:SurvivorsCover.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Survivors Mini-Series - BBC One (2008)]]__TOC__<br clear="all"> | [[Image:SurvivorsCover.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Survivors Mini-Series - BBC One (2008)]]__TOC__<br clear="all"> | ||
Revision as of 19:51, 17 February 2010
Survivors is a drama shown on BBC One and on the BBC iPlayer service split into 2 series and 12 parts. A third series is expected. It follows the survivors of a flu-like virus which kills approximately 99.9% of the world's population. (Think 28 Days Later but without zombies.) Despite the action following the small pocket of survivors living in Great Britain, handguns are commonly seen in the series. Only certain licensed people such as vets can carry a handgun in the UK unless that handgun has a long barrel and stock. Surprisingly, bolt action rifles, under lever rifles, and air weapons are not seen, despite being perfectly legal and readily available. Shotguns are also readily available in the UK and commonly seen, most likely looted from gun/sport shops. As the only semi and fully automatic weapons in the UK for public use have to be chambered in .22 rimfire, it is safe to say that weapons not fitting that group are, or were originally in government, police, military, or private contractors hands.
Browning Hi-Power
A Browning Hi-Power is the first gun seen in the series. It is seen in the hands of escaped criminal, Tom Price (Max Beesley), who loads the thirteen rounds into the magazine and fires the gun at a near-by tree. The gun was previously encased in a waterproof bin-liner and submerged in a rainwater collection barrel.
The ownership of handguns is highly restricted and they are essentially banned for private ownership. The Browning Hi-Power was used by the UK military and remains popular amongst criminals (such as Tom Price)
Beretta 92FS
In a later episode, the main protagonist ends up in a sustainable community, headed by the lone surviving member of the British political system, Samantha Willis (Nikki Amuka-Bird). When they capture two 'raiders', they decide to to exercise some justice, by (in a very 'British' manner) shooting one of them squarely in the head with a Beretta 92FS pistol, a firearm that is nearly impossible to acquire through legal channels (even for the police). What's more, the shooter ,Samantha Willis, is almost knocked down by the recoil of the gun. Coupled with that, 1) It's safe to say she's never fired a gun before. 2) She is portrayed as being very weak, especially when holding a gun. 3) Where the hell did she get the gun from (British police officers are not regularly armed with any firearm, and even then they use Glocks). 4) She's remarkably accurate. It's safe to say that the program focuses more on the plot than on realism.
Possibly nicked from one of the USAF bases in Britain. The Wired It
Remington 870 w/ extended magazine tube and rifle sights
Another firearms that is essentially banned in Great Britain, this Remington 870 pump action shotgun holds far more than the current legal limit of two 12 shells (in the U.K.). In the course of the third episode, the gun is fired twice, with the traditional clunk-click sound of the pump action being preformed. It is a standard extended barrel 870 with deer gun (slug) sights on the barrel.
In the UK, you are allowed to hold a shotgun if you have a shotgun certificate but it has to be limited to a 3 cartridge capacity (typically a semi-auto). There are a significant number of shotgun certificate holders and so getting your hands on a three shot semi-auto wouldn't be too hard in a post-flu environment.
In order to own a shotgun with a capacity of more than three cartridges (or one modified to fire slugs), it needs to be held on a firearms certificate. These are much more tightly regulated as you need to provide the police with a good reason for owning one. Given that there is rarely a reason to have more than a three shot capacity, they would be far less available. They are also to large to be bothered smuggling on the black market.
12 gauge double barreled shotgun
The double barreled shotgun is in the hands of a 'raider' named Dexter. It is featured prominently throughout the second episode, where it is used in a threatening manner many times and is also used for shooting down some wild champagne bottles in a car park. It appears to be a higher end British manufactured shotgun, noting the stock style and the possibly engraved 'silver' receiver - maybe a Purdey's or Holland & Holland or Churchill or Greener.
Heckler & Koch MP5
In series 2, the MP5 is commonly seen used by unknown British military/government/private contractors who guard key surviving installations. It is also seen in the hands of guards at Samantha Willis's colony and in episode 6 of series 2, in the hands of the survivors. The weapon would be regularly available in the UK, as it is a firm favourite with the British regular Police, CO19 (SWAT style unit) and with special forces/government agencies inside the UK. Why no standard British army weapons are seen is unknown, as many hundreds of thousands of L85A2's and other weapons would be available, and possibly the soldiers to use them.
Unknown Revolver
In episode 5 of series 2, a survivor commits suicide with a revolver.