I just finished this 6 episode British mini-series. I have mixed feelings.
It's another example of when I think they take a story and need to do tighter editing. 6 episodes of an hour each...could have been done in 5. This seems very common nowadays.
Another problem is flashbacks and flashforwards. I'm often not a fan of them, but in this particular story, you have to have them. Usually I feel there are way too many in some productions. Here they were too incomplete. It would have been better to have more complete flashbacks and flashforwards, even if it gave the ending away sooner. I felt that I was left too much in the dark.
But then, feeling a bit let down, the final episode was a humdinger! Once it all came together...fascinating story.
The acting...mixed. Nikesh Patel, playing a police detective, is fantastic; he is a fine actor in everything he does. Jessica Raine, the female lead...I can't tell if I just dislike her character here, or if I dislike her as an actress. It's the first thing I've seen her in. Peter Capaldi is creepy...as he should be for the story...creepy while ultimately being a tad bit of a sympathetic character. Benjamin Chivers as the little boy...appropriately weird. Phil Dunster...again...am I disliking the character (for sure) or the actor? Dunster's character is wholly unlikable. Barbara Marten and Alex Fern...did well.
So the question is: do I recommend this? Yes, with reservations that you've got to be quite patient for the big payoff.
It's another example of when I think they take a story and need to do tighter editing. 6 episodes of an hour each...could have been done in 5. This seems very common nowadays.
Another problem is flashbacks and flashforwards. I'm often not a fan of them, but in this particular story, you have to have them. Usually I feel there are way too many in some productions. Here they were too incomplete. It would have been better to have more complete flashbacks and flashforwards, even if it gave the ending away sooner. I felt that I was left too much in the dark.
But then, feeling a bit let down, the final episode was a humdinger! Once it all came together...fascinating story.
The acting...mixed. Nikesh Patel, playing a police detective, is fantastic; he is a fine actor in everything he does. Jessica Raine, the female lead...I can't tell if I just dislike her character here, or if I dislike her as an actress. It's the first thing I've seen her in. Peter Capaldi is creepy...as he should be for the story...creepy while ultimately being a tad bit of a sympathetic character. Benjamin Chivers as the little boy...appropriately weird. Phil Dunster...again...am I disliking the character (for sure) or the actor? Dunster's character is wholly unlikable. Barbara Marten and Alex Fern...did well.
So the question is: do I recommend this? Yes, with reservations that you've got to be quite patient for the big payoff.