This is one part brilliant drama and one part melodrama but being only four episodes, let it take you on its journey.
The writing is very good; not perfect, but very good. But it wouldn't be enough without good acting and I must say, David Tennant excels at portraying grief. Never have I held my husband's hand so tightly! Having experienced loss through sudden accident, the character of Dave certainly echoed my experience - an experience that led to PTSD rather than love but my life wasn't TV. Perhaps it is because we cry 'in the same way' but Tennant's portrayal of stiff upper lip and hidden, catastrophic grief did it for me. My husband was wary of watching the second episode because he was feeling fairly traumatised by the first!
The child actors are great, the character of Robin is portrayed by Mr. Heap in a suitably dithery manner that makes one love him, and the visceral hurt felt by the satellite of supporting characters rings true.
The ending was fairly convenient and a diminution of what had gone before but, well, it was hard to imagine any other outcome after some subtle twists and turns.
All in all - time well spent.
The writing is very good; not perfect, but very good. But it wouldn't be enough without good acting and I must say, David Tennant excels at portraying grief. Never have I held my husband's hand so tightly! Having experienced loss through sudden accident, the character of Dave certainly echoed my experience - an experience that led to PTSD rather than love but my life wasn't TV. Perhaps it is because we cry 'in the same way' but Tennant's portrayal of stiff upper lip and hidden, catastrophic grief did it for me. My husband was wary of watching the second episode because he was feeling fairly traumatised by the first!
The child actors are great, the character of Robin is portrayed by Mr. Heap in a suitably dithery manner that makes one love him, and the visceral hurt felt by the satellite of supporting characters rings true.
The ending was fairly convenient and a diminution of what had gone before but, well, it was hard to imagine any other outcome after some subtle twists and turns.
All in all - time well spent.