History Series / Bluestone42

** Mac and Tower Block later have an argument over what is the best melee weapon, with Mac claiming that a combo of trident and net (like Retiarii from gladitorial combat) is the best while Tower Block claiming that bayonets fitted to their rifles are the best. They try to go head to head but Mac's side end up getting [[RealityEnsues their legs tangled in their nets and falling flat on their faces while charging]].

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Millsy doesn't appear in the Christmas special, which introduces new arrival Tower Block. No explanation is given, through [[FridgeHorror given that they're in the middle of a warzone...]]* {{Cliffhanger}}: The end of the second series. Also, the show ended after the third series with one major plot thread left hanging.

* TheFool: Rocket, who wasn't sure if Nick was short for Nicholas or not. [[{{Adorkable}} Bless.]]

* DullSurprise: The reaction of the troops when a character is killed in the first episode is fairly flat. Granted, they are immediately plunged into a firefight. Corporal Bird exhibits more emotion when the EOD robot is hit by a bullet. See also TooSoon, on the main page. Although this was deliberate, as Carter was meant to be [[AssholeVictim insufferable]] and they had repeatedly warned him to [[TooDumbToLive put his helmet back on]].

* TooSoon: Invoked when one of the team does an mocking impersonation of the annoying Colonel Carter who ''just got killed''.
** Invoked in Series 2 when Mac makes light of the death of a soldier in another bomb disposal team, killed by the same bomber they're dealing with.

--> '''Medhurst''': If I was, I'd be shagging you ''and'' Bird! And Millsy [[BiTheWay too]] probably, who I'm sure would be.. very accomodating?!

'''Bluestone 42''' (2013 - 2016) is a comedy drama about a British bomb disposal detachment in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick. It is a series about a bunch of soldiers who love being soldiers, and the camaraderie, bonds and banter they share, even though they are risking their lives defusing hidden bombs. The name of the show refers to the unit callsign, and as such, should be spoken "Bluestone Four-Two."

The show ended after three series both because real-life combat operation in Afghanistan had ended and Creator/BBCThree was shutdown as a broadcast channel, and moved to an online channel.

*** Rocket could be one of the army's top 100 soldiers.

-->'''Smith''': Oh, thank you very much.* SitcomArchnemesis: In the second episode, an Afghan Tiger Gecko, aka "The distracting lizard".

'''Bluestone 42''' (2013-) is a comedy drama about a British bomb disposal detachment in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick. It is a series about a bunch of soldiers who love being soldiers, and the camaraderie, bonds and banter they share, even though they are risking their lives defusing hidden bombs. The name of the show refers to the unit callsign, and as such, should be spoken "Bluestone Four-Two."

The show ended after three series both because real-life combat operation in Afghanistan ended and Creator/BBCThree will shutdown as a broadcast channel.

* ArmedFarces: It's essentially a comedy about a military unit that's managed more like [[TheOffice Whernham Hogg]] than an army unit, with pranks Tim would have been proud of being played on a regular basis, and a CO who's basically a female David Brent.

* SitcomArchnemesis: In the second episode, an Afghan Tiger Gecko, aka "The distracting lizard".
** Mac and Lansley.

-->'''Smith''': Oh, thank you very much.
* TheReliableOne: Bird and Millsy, almost in competition with one another.
* TheScrounger: Farooq.

* {{Cliffhanger}}: The end of the second series. Also, the show ended after the third series with one major plot thread left hanging.
* ClusterFBomb: The characters curse so often that "Fuck" loses its shock value and only serves as an emphasis to whatever point someone is trying to make. Very much TruthInTelevision for some units.
* CrazyPrepared: Mac, in his own way. He's memorized the age of consent in every country in the world.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Simon is the squad's designated whipping boy as well as a capable combat soldier who won't hesitate to fix bayonets and close with the enemy.
* ChekhovsSkill: Tower Block and his skill with the gantry.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Millsy doesn't appear in the Christmas special, which introduces new arrival Tower Block. No explanation is given, through [[FridgeHorror given that they're in the middle of a warzone...]]

* HilariousInHindsight: Towerblock quips about how much Nick looks like Prince William...only for actor Oliver Chris to go on to play the Prince in [[KingCharlesIII King Charles III]] due to the striking resemblance.

* BritsWithBattleships: It ''is'' about a group of British Army soldiers.

* LeFilmArtistique: [[MenAreUncultured Mac, Rocket, Nick and the Colonel]] think this about films like ''Film/TheThinRedLine'' and ''Film/{{Atonement}}'', much to the great annoyance of Simon and Mary.

* BackstoryOfTheDay / CompressedVice: Mary, [[spoiler: having been persuaded into a card game, turns out to be not just a CardSharp but a former [[TheGamblingAddict Gambling Addict]] to boot]].

* CaliforniaDoubling: The series is shot in South Africa, which, while a little greener than Afganistan, does at least have the right mountainous grandeur.

-->'''Lt Col Smith''': [[{{Casablanca}} I am shocked, SHOCKED,]] to find that crab racing is going on in here!

*** Tower Block has the makings of an operator.

** The Lieutenant Colonel's "RuleNumberOne first rule", which changes each episode - occasionally, even ''within'' an episode.

-->'''LTC Smith''': [[{{Casablanca}} I am shocked, SHOCKED,]] to find that crab racing is going on in here!

* ClusterFBomb: The characters curse so often that "Fuck" loses its shock value and only serves as an emphasis to whatever point someone is trying to make.

A second season began airing on 27th February 2014, and a third started airing on 9th March 2015.

* {{Cliffhanger}}: The end of the second season.

--> '''Medhurst''': If I was, I'd be shagging you ''and'' Bird! And Millsy [[BiTheWay too]] probably, he seems like he'd be up for it?!