revenga

So this is what happens when a bunch of actors from cheesy soaps put on a pantomime. Oh no it isn't! Oh yes it is! Obviously the premise is sort of taking a Sondheim / Into the woods type thing but without the singing. I get that it's not going to be the wire or breaking bad etc. But for me the challenge with sitting through this is the truly excruciating acting. Even Robert Carlyle, the strongest cast member hams it up like he's doing an impression of a cross between Jim Carey as the mask and something out of the dark crystal. I'd say avoid but I'm sure I'm clearly not the target audience and I'm sure this will have an appeal to some.

I too had seen the many trailers the BBC had put out for this drama and being a fan of Robert Lindsay and Damien Lewis (and Jodhi May in Last of the Mohicans) i was expecting something quite special from auntie.

What i got was a story that lacked substance (and much of a plot) and was told using huge jumps into the future followed by or preceded by lines like "i haven't spoken to Paul in 6 years..." and a deep and meaningful look.

There was no real character development and i was confused as to how Poliakoff, Jodhi May and Damian Lewis had managed to make the leads so successfully unlikeable.

As I mentioned above I like both of them in other projects but in this I thought they were unforgivable. Even the normally sublime Robert Lindsay shuffled about looking out of place - which just emphasises how badly written his part was.

I really wanted to like this and had been quite excited - planning an evening in with a friend to enjoy the rarity of drama in a world of Big Brother and Strictly Dance on Ice (or whatever). The sad thing is that Big Brother might have been better entertainment...

Verdict: Easily missable - I should have gone to the pub instead.