An episode based around torture is never going to be a favourite of mine, but this one works thanks to the quality of the acting. Michelle Fairley in particular gives a frighteningly inhuman performance and turns out to be the true monster of the show, and it's a packed playing field too. The episode is extremely gory and unpleasant, but with strong writing and character work the viewer isn't quite overwhelmed. I hope we move on from this, though. Action violence is one thing, but this is a whole other level...
9 Reviews
1x06
formotog15 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Excellent episode, best so far in my opinion. There was a lot of character development in this one, most notably for Marian. What she did this episode was frankly demented, and we saw plainly that she has a lot more power in the Wallace family than we've been led to believe. An amazing performance made all her actions seem very believable and logical. All the character based writing this episode was just brilliant. It was also brilliantly shot and the composition is amazing. I've criticised the dialogue previously and there can still be one or two moments occasionally where it's a bit weak but it can also be very strong like in this episode. We were shown brilliantly the severe lengths the Wallace family will go to, and also how apparently resilient and determined this Danish militia is to take them down. I appreciated the lack of action in this episode, and I think that's precisely why it's been the best one so far. I think the only downside to this episode was the captive almost escaping. She must've cut loose her other hand while the others were preoccupied but I find it hard to believe that that blood loss wouldn't have killed her. She then also doesn't kill Sean, and I really don't see why she wouldn't. That was some pretty outlandish writing but as the season has progressed, I've been seeing it less and less. Hopefully it will be completely eliminated. The ending also saw reason for yet another power to turn on the Wallaces, and it's looking like their chances are getting slimmer and slimmer
High 8
High 8
The episode for character development
rstenstrom26 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The episode gives us some much needed character development for Sean, marian and billy. We find out that Sean is basically a bit of a coward and scared of his mother and we know that billy has known about his mums psychopathy for a while.
S2 is a fake show . Riding on perfection
stusaph27 April 2024
Every scene is a cliche.
Every sentence is bland.
Every note is a con.
Every line has nothing.
Every character is a cartoon / cartune.
Every writer is a hack.
Every set up is stupid .
Every pay off is staged.
Every episode is worst than the last.
Every word is delivered and forgotten.
Every thing is wrong.
Omg. More characters to write.
Holy crap . Why are you still reading this. I've made my point.
S1 was great. S2 is so shallow. There's no reality remaining. No hint of plot. No dusliugd . Dialing.dialogue. Yes. That's it.
Scenes happen just to fill space . Writers FIRE THEM!
Oh. Liked the fish market .
Every sentence is bland.
Every note is a con.
Every line has nothing.
Every character is a cartoon / cartune.
Every writer is a hack.
Every set up is stupid .
Every pay off is staged.
Every episode is worst than the last.
Every word is delivered and forgotten.
Every thing is wrong.
Omg. More characters to write.
Holy crap . Why are you still reading this. I've made my point.
S1 was great. S2 is so shallow. There's no reality remaining. No hint of plot. No dusliugd . Dialing.dialogue. Yes. That's it.
Scenes happen just to fill space . Writers FIRE THEM!
Oh. Liked the fish market .
Solid bottle episode, does well with the format
draculard11 November 2020
The show is good and the format worked for this episode, it's a true exemplar of what a bottle episode can be. However I have a personal pet peve, for anyone that has hung from a bar for minutes for workout purposes, the idea that someone could hang from their arms for hours then do anything at all with them is a bizarre falsehood.
Whatever It Takes
highmarksreviews9 May 2020
The Wallaces are at a rigid standstill trying to dig deeper into murders of all kind, past and attempted. While the tension is substantially more palpable in certain scenes and the story becoming more and more linear, episode six is a little weaker, both in terms of content and direction.
Fair warning, this episode has some very graphic torture scenes that often cross the line. The camera angles are tasteful enough, but there is copious blood and graphic detail. Overall, it is meant to heighten tension between the Wallace family and gauge answers, but the sequences prove to be just a little problematic with how far they go. Michelle Fairley, however, is the star of all these scenes and the episode as a whole. The widow/matriarch has truly come into her own and the actress's fierce performance helps sell the fact that Sean (Joe Cole) may not be in total control of the criminal empire. That's an interesting and strong new dynamic for both characters and those in contact with them.
Furthermore, the mystery of the Wallace murder is deepening, though again, this episode is a slow burn with little payoff at the end, so the revelations don't matter too much. This chapter in particular works when it spotlights how unhinged Marian Wallace's temper and iron-willed approach to cracking the case.
There is also a lack of action scenes, which isn't a huge problem, since they exist to push the story forward, but for a director-switch (this episode ushering in Xavier Gens, who will direct the next two outings before Corin Hardy steps in for the finale), it would be nice to see what they can accomplish. Director Gareth Evans is a master at gritty but stylish imagery, while Corin Hardy has a superb control of atmosphere and colours. Gens's colours feel a little more harshly contrasted and his composition less inventive in comparison with what came before. All in all, episode seven is a bit a speed-bump, but its character interplay proves itself as an outstanding component that could impact the rest of the show.
Fair warning, this episode has some very graphic torture scenes that often cross the line. The camera angles are tasteful enough, but there is copious blood and graphic detail. Overall, it is meant to heighten tension between the Wallace family and gauge answers, but the sequences prove to be just a little problematic with how far they go. Michelle Fairley, however, is the star of all these scenes and the episode as a whole. The widow/matriarch has truly come into her own and the actress's fierce performance helps sell the fact that Sean (Joe Cole) may not be in total control of the criminal empire. That's an interesting and strong new dynamic for both characters and those in contact with them.
Furthermore, the mystery of the Wallace murder is deepening, though again, this episode is a slow burn with little payoff at the end, so the revelations don't matter too much. This chapter in particular works when it spotlights how unhinged Marian Wallace's temper and iron-willed approach to cracking the case.
There is also a lack of action scenes, which isn't a huge problem, since they exist to push the story forward, but for a director-switch (this episode ushering in Xavier Gens, who will direct the next two outings before Corin Hardy steps in for the finale), it would be nice to see what they can accomplish. Director Gareth Evans is a master at gritty but stylish imagery, while Corin Hardy has a superb control of atmosphere and colours. Gens's colours feel a little more harshly contrasted and his composition less inventive in comparison with what came before. All in all, episode seven is a bit a speed-bump, but its character interplay proves itself as an outstanding component that could impact the rest of the show.
Slow, needles gore fest.
mrgroom28 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I love this show but this episode was just painful to watch. I have no problem with violence and r-rated stuff but this was just exploitation and torture for the sake of it.
Besides that this episode just slowly burns and nothing happens, you wait and wait for the big reveal in the end and then...credits.
Quite rough
Abdulxoxo9 December 2020
This episode seems to cross the line with the goriness. The torture scenes are too brutal and ran a bit too long, what makes them think we want to watch a person getting tortured extensively like that? nevertheless, I still enjoy this episode mostly because of the character development; we get see to a very dark and ruthless side of Marian, she's not messing around when it comes to her family. The acting by Michelle Flairley is powerful. This episode also flesh out Sean, Billy, and Alex.
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