Night & Day (2001–2003) User Reviews

A refreshing, intriguing, off-beat British soap.

[mark-252 · 27 November 2001]

The use of atmospheric popular music, cinematic camerawork and special effects distinguish this "soap", (actually soap belittles NIGHT AND DAY, perhaps serial drama is a better description). Having bored of repetitive plotlines and characters, I'd given up on British soaps, until this one arrived. Off-beat characters, regular and genuine cliff-hanger endings to episodes, even adult content in the omnibus repeats, all add up to a unique approach to a formerly hackneyed genre. The opening intrigue of the series alludes to TWIN PEAKS in that the femme fatale of the neighbourhood is a blonde schoolgirl who touches many lives before shuffling off...

All of which is good enough to keep this viewer hooked.

a unique MASTERPIECE, maybe too good for mainstream TV

[ivana2804 · 10/10 · 27 November 2004]

Night & Day is a BRILLIANT, ORIGINAL, GROUNDBREAKING TV series, which has mostly been badly treated by TV executives and it never reached high ratings, but has gained a cult following. It certainly isn't for those who only look for some lighthearted fun, who don't like to use their brain and imagination too much while watching TV, or for those who only like documentary style realism, or cannot take anything that is different from the things they are used to see. But I find it incredible that anyone can call the series bad or complain about the acting. NAD's trademark use of fantasy scenes, visions, flashbacks, great background music, weird camera angles and cinematography, its occasional weird humour and campiness, and literary and religious allusions, are very daring, but brilliant. But IMO everyone should be able to appreciate the great writing, strong story lines, complex and dynamic characters (in the sense that they all show different sides to them and undergo big transformations which are however always psychologically true) and fantastic acting, especially by (in no particular order) Georgina Walker (Jane), Stephanie Leonidas (Della), Seb Castang (Josh) and Nick Schofield (Ryan) out of the young cast, and Sally Dexter (Natalie), Cathy Tyson (Steph), Joe McGann (Alex) and the hilariously funny Lesley Joseph (Rachel) out of the older cast. The series kept getting better and better, and the ending was so strong and moving that it left me thinking about it for months and months afterwards.

RATING: 11/10

on the hunt for night and day

[rat_little-red · 10/10 · 21 February 2008]

i loved night and day, i don't even think i made it to the end when it was on TV, moved around and axed from its daytime slot - itv wont even release a DVD because of royaties.

so anyone please tell me how i can watch it again. is it in an online archive? what is the point of having a show and then it not being accessible?

night and day is like the younger sibling drama series of twin peaks, and follows in the footsteps of difficult distribution. but when it was shown its cult following speaks for itself. a soap bordering on drama, crime and ghosty horror. there was nothing like this then, the performances were great, and there is no way to watch it... seems dumb to me.

Mysterious, Intriguing and Beautiful

[clairethompson18 · 7 June 2003]

*** MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS ***

I just finished watching the last Episode of "Night and Day" and felt compelled to write and urge EVERYONE to watch it,Even if you hate the programme you have to see this episode. It was so brillant I - embaressed to say - found myself shouting at the T.V trying to persuade the programme not to end. When it eventually did - even sadder to say - I actually didn't speak for about twenty minuites afterwards. It truly was a haunting experience and of course it would'nt be "Night and Day" if it was't also a crazy, slightly whacky, slightly funny experience .You can imagine that if all this has happened in one year what would have changed when they showed everyone four years later.It did wrap everything up perfectly (I especially loved the fact that ryan ended up as a transvestite (GENIUS !) ) I sort of guessed what happened to Jane in the end but when I actually heard it I got goosebumps. I suppose the down side of Jane being made this idolisied,amazing mysterious thing is that you could'nt really then expect her to live in the real world, getting married having kids. This way she is remembered forever as this enchanting creature. I must say that the very last scenes were breathtaking, the haunting music and the ghostly image of jane with the little knowing nod to the camera (beautifully done). The final image we are left with is of jane -as she should always be remembered -in her femme fatale days giving a last little wink and a Sssshh to the camera .Truly an episode which will stay with you for a long time.

Simply the best

[rainbow-13 · 11 June 2003]

This soap was simply the best, but unconventional. Those who watched became devoted loyal fans. But ITV did their best to kill off interest. The late night episodes got later and later until they hovered around midnight and would be skipped at the drop of a hat. I simply do not understand why they should put in the resources to produce 18 months of programmes and then do their best to kill off the show. In addition to excellent scripts and production, the acting talent was exceptional. Many were new faces to TV and the best (Kevin Sacre, Seb Castang, Stephanie Leonides, Adam Paul Harvey, etc) have gone on to better things. The only one who hasn't has been Stuart Manning - he publicly criticised the transmission hour at an awards ceremony (Best Newcomer) and has seemingly been black listed as a result - true shame. This may well turn out to be one of those programmes like Fawty Towers or The Monkees - cancelled after a short run only to become long-running cult favourites. It was quite clear from the 'catch up' in the last episode (when the story line had moved on 5 years) that there had been enough material planned to keep it going for 5 years - very short-sighted, I say!

terrific but under rated

[oego · 4 May 2003]

Night and day is a terrific, insightful, whimsical and an altogether unique television viewing experience! It is completely different to your m-o-r Home and away type soaps. NaD Centres around the lives of the residents of Thornton Street, and in particular the dissapearance of Jane Harper and how it affects those around her.

There is some terrific, hilarious and VERY camp acting to be found here, particularly in the characters of Jane, Rachel Culgrin and Ryan Harper. This show was never really given the opportunity to develop a real fan base, which is an absolute shame, as now it has been axed by its british developers, ITV. It will be ending in the UK in a few weeks time, so if you can, catch an episode, it would be time well spent! In Australia the show has about 6 months left in its run, so catch it while you are still lucky enough!

Had this great show been allowed to go on a little longer i really believe it would have become classic must-see-tv. As it is, it will remain as cult must-see-tv!

THE BEST SHOW ON TV

[momtazbh · 27 January 2003]

It's really upset me how many negative comments N&D has received - I think it's the most imaginative, exciting, fresh, gripping drama/soap i've ever watched on British TV. Everything about N&D is fantastic, the acting is great and the script faultless. I love the dream sequences, the fact anything can happen, it disregards conventions and looks like alot of fun to make. The backgroud music is perfect, infact, stylistically it's very impressive.

The plot is addictive, intriguing and very unpredictable.

I feel so strongly about this show and will be really sad when it's over . My Thursdays, in fact my life, will never be the same again. What makes me sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo mad is the way it's been treated by ITV. Fair enough they cut it to once a week, but the scheduling has been appauling. It seems to change every week which makes it difficult for people to get into it. (Of course I stay up and watch it or record it every week!)

If you've never seen N&D, catch an episode before it reaches it's not to distant end. It's incredible and well worth it. This is what TV should be about - true creativity.

Ambient Soap

[JekyllBoote-1 · 24 December 2002]

Strange how this oddly understated show divides opinion so violently. I watched the first 20 or so episodes when it was airing several times a week, without quite being drawn into the curiously un-insistent plotlines. The disappearance of the beautiful but unlikeable Jane Harper (Georgina Walker) ought to be an event of considerable drama, but such is the gentle, ambient quality of the show, that even this fails to move the viewer very much. Is this a failing? I'm inclined to give "Night & Day" the benefit of the doubt. When I first saw it I wasn't sure whether it was experimental or just incompetent. I don't think it really matters.

People who like quick development of plotlines are urged to stay away! "Night & Day" unfolds at a glacial pace. It was probably inevitable, in the light of this, that it would be reduced to one episode a week. This seems less an ignominious concession, and more a realisation on the part of the programme's makers of its natural tempo.

Some viewers will also be irked by the difficulty of establishing who the central character is. Initially Della, Jane's shy friend, seemed to occupy this role, but as the show has continued this would seem to be less the case.

On balance, I find the show likeable. Its lack of urgency, its ambient, dreamy quality, and its evocation of a quiet London (which still exists in pockets here and there) mark it out as unusual in a TV world where noise, incident and naturalism are the norm.

A New Era in Soap Opera

[bazyong · 27 November 2001]

Having watched every episode so far I think this is the greatest thing to hit the screen in ages. The directing is fantastic and im sure pioneering as far as soap operas come. This is also great because it is not just targeted at the usual predominant female target audience but at young and old viewers a like, both male and female. Personally I would compare it to Hollyoaks in its target audience but completely different in its style. I think this is a space which definately needs to be watched. The characters are so distinct, from the seductive Sharon Stone(Basic Instinct) esque Jane Harper, with her michievious ways and intelligent manipulation of the male mind to the old tv favourites such as Alex (Charlie in the upper hand) and Aunt Rachel (Dorean in Birds of a feather)whom we witness in new yet very fitting roles. This Soap/drama has something for almost everyone, the almost being not the older age bracket (50+ sorry).To sum this soap/drama up I would have to say it is a combination of the escapist american shooting to the gritty British realism which has made films such as Lock Stock' and Bridget Jones Diary so popular. The experience is a vicarious ride which to a film student like myself may seem odd in a soap, but incredibally fitting. Written by Sebastian James-Yong

Pretty good

[taiga_79 · 14 April 2005]

In Finland they are re-showing nowadays NightanDay series. When I first saw this series (beginning from Fiona Brake's and Dennis relationship and soon finding Jane from this spooky tea house (where all was so white and bright) I was amazed what is this. I checked it once more and then I started watching it regularly. Last Autumn in August they started to show NightanDay from the very beginning and because I didn't see those first episodes I started watching it. Unfortunately they show it in the morning time at 11am and I'm working that time. So thanks to good old VHS I'm able to record every episode beginning every week from Monday to Friday:)

Dull, boring and slow!

[Deeana · 6 June 2002]

I've seen at least 5 episodes of this show and everyone has been absolutely awful. The worst part are the terrible characters, none of whom are likeable. The stories drag on and it is certainly not a production that you cant wait to see. Maybe I am the wrong age to enjoy this show, my mother watches it, but she too finds it weird, creepy and too slow. There are far better British shows around then this rubbish. In short try and avoid - at all costs!

RATING: 1/10

Awful

[wellthatswhatithinkanyway · 24 January 2002]

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

The downward spiral of British soap operas continues with Night & Day,an atrocious effort that fails to hit a single right note.Even after seeing just three episodes,it was more than enough for this viewer.Terrible acting (Lesley Josepth and Joe McGann should know better),flat,uninteresting stories and a complete lack of structure are the domineering faults here.It's unfair to expect a viewer to be into every single one going,but for the ones I watch,soaps aren't the best sort of TV to watch at the moment.I don't watch Brookside or Emmerdale,but I know that EastEnders is easily the best out the lot of them.Gripping storylines,engaging characters and just really brilliant all round.That deserved to win Best Soap.I've never got into Home & Away since it came back on,Neighbours isn't great,and Coronation Street plummets newer depths with each unbearable new episode.But this is lamer than Crossroads,and if they're debating whether or not to axe that,I can only see this lasting until about,er,the end of February.*

Total Rubbish

[rossrobinson · 5 November 2003]

I first watch Night & Day when the first ever episode was on. I thought it was totally rubbish. I'm glad they have ended it after 2 years with the series. I doubt if they do bring it back on because i jst think that people won't watch it. There is better Soaps like this. Totally not my couple of tea this one. 0 out of 10.