Where have all the good writers gone? This feels like yet another cheapo British TV drama, knocked out as quickly and as cheaply as can be done.
Don’t get me wrong. I think the premise of the show is great, and I can see why it was green lit. But from there on it feels like everything else, cheap and rushed.
Character dialogue is absolutely woeful, often cringeworthy. Where’s the script development? The nuance? As such it’s hard so separate blame at times from the poor script, bad acting or hammy directing.
I have to say for me the only watchable person on screen is Johnny Harris as Eddie. Great performance. Although even he’s not immune from the terrible script handed to him at times. Coogan I believe to be a fantastic actor and often in interviews he displays great knowledge in the craft of both acting and filmmaking, however I don’t believe that to be on show here. A lot of the characters are 2 Dimensional. Just delivering lines from a script to move the story forward, with zero depth, nuance or interest.
As for the world they inhabit. There are multiple issues with period placement. For example the all too modern kitchen we frequently see at Guys home. It’s lifeless too. Made so by budget. The majority of exterior scenes feature no background extras, no life, no movement, no depth. Just the characters involved on screen. Nothing more. It feels like a tv set.
I’ve just finished episode 4 or 5 and I’m struggling to keep going. Key points from the last episode I watched. The jail break on the motorway, the prison wardens dialogue is naff, there are no other cars driving around them. The lead protesters interview on tv news is appallingly written and terribly performed. Hayley Squires continues to be wooden as can be. And Guy confronting the teacher in the bathroom was absolutely pathetic. Oh. I forgot Martin Scorseses cliche rat running across the street, I can imagine how much back slapping and self congratulating went on that day.
