I was very much looking forward to watching this, as 2016's "my father killed me" was pure drama and the cast in The Boy with the Topknot made it even more appealing.
However it was the story or the screenplay that made it confusing to what message Sathnam Sanghera was trying to deliver. At times it felt that it was too jumbled together, he was dealing with a multi racial relationship and then it went in very dark into his fathers mental health which he claimed to not knowing about it then connecting his sister suffering from the same mental health issues. However the best part was when his mother told her story through her friends, this delivered perfect writing.
Also it raised my knowledge and appreciation of how families deal with mental health issues.
It may have been due to the length of the one off drama it just could not include so much in such short length of time, maybe it should have been a two or three part drama.
But also it maybe "My Father Killed Me" rose the bar so high, that I was just expecting much more.
Its watchable but it didnt leave me wanting to recommend this as a much watch like "My Father Killed Me"
Reviews
3 Reviews
The Boy with the Topknot
(2017 TV Movie)
Not sure if the screenplay didnt transfer over to the TV right
9 January 2018
Our Girl
(2013–2020)
If you love the pilot and the first full series ... you will be disappointed
5 May 2017
This is not a bad sequel, but it is not the excellent drama that was produced in the pilot and the first full length series. It contained far too many crowd pleasers to try and keep the die hard fans of those such as Ben Aldridge.
The story line was too focused in the romance rather than the elements of army and how it effected the lives of those in a army family. Too much flashbacks and reminders, so much that they had to release special interviews to explain the disappearance of Molly Dawes, who in fact was now Molly James. For the leader that Captain James was portrayed, the writer almost forced the existence of the character because so many fans was desperate to see him in it. Also the fact that he has a son also from the first series, you would have thought that there would be a mention or something. I think it would have been even better the fact that Molly's character wasn't returning that they added how a active soldier copes with balancing to be home to see his own child.
Also Captain James seems to be the most linked guy ever, he is linked with every situation in the army and in other colleagues relationships. I enjoy watching Ben Aldridge as an actor, he is a highly trained actor and a highly accomplished actor, but unlike the first full series, it seems that there is a lot of forced acting, which maybe it is because the writer had written the poor guy into almost every scene, but the natural flow was not there.
The addition of Michelle Keegan's character Georgie Lane was not surprising when Lacey Turner turned down to reprise her role as she had commitments at Eastenders and in the middle of a leading story line. But Michelle Keegan is not yet in the league to be heading the drama. She is not a bad actress but she is not a great one to be a leading role.
A new series is being filmed as i write this review and it looks like the BBC are banking on this as a end of the year winner, as they have extended the 5 part to a 10 part, which means longer filming time. Lets hope the crowd pleasing story lines disappear and get back to basics and stay true to the pilot and the first series. Also a little less of Captain James, as i think him being in almost every scene in the second series just didn't do the drama any justice and even to the extent the actor any justice. Its great the writer has a twitter following from the aldridge army and he does communicate with them, so maybe that's where he is getting his inspiration from.
But i think if this 3rd series fails to bring back the original elements of the drama, then surely the BBC need to move on, they axed or do not recommission some fantastic dramas in the past and I do not think Our Girl is quite in that league. Don't get me wrong, I am still a big fan of the original pilot and the first series, but the second series was no where near worth tuning in for.
The story line was too focused in the romance rather than the elements of army and how it effected the lives of those in a army family. Too much flashbacks and reminders, so much that they had to release special interviews to explain the disappearance of Molly Dawes, who in fact was now Molly James. For the leader that Captain James was portrayed, the writer almost forced the existence of the character because so many fans was desperate to see him in it. Also the fact that he has a son also from the first series, you would have thought that there would be a mention or something. I think it would have been even better the fact that Molly's character wasn't returning that they added how a active soldier copes with balancing to be home to see his own child.
Also Captain James seems to be the most linked guy ever, he is linked with every situation in the army and in other colleagues relationships. I enjoy watching Ben Aldridge as an actor, he is a highly trained actor and a highly accomplished actor, but unlike the first full series, it seems that there is a lot of forced acting, which maybe it is because the writer had written the poor guy into almost every scene, but the natural flow was not there.
The addition of Michelle Keegan's character Georgie Lane was not surprising when Lacey Turner turned down to reprise her role as she had commitments at Eastenders and in the middle of a leading story line. But Michelle Keegan is not yet in the league to be heading the drama. She is not a bad actress but she is not a great one to be a leading role.
A new series is being filmed as i write this review and it looks like the BBC are banking on this as a end of the year winner, as they have extended the 5 part to a 10 part, which means longer filming time. Lets hope the crowd pleasing story lines disappear and get back to basics and stay true to the pilot and the first series. Also a little less of Captain James, as i think him being in almost every scene in the second series just didn't do the drama any justice and even to the extent the actor any justice. Its great the writer has a twitter following from the aldridge army and he does communicate with them, so maybe that's where he is getting his inspiration from.
But i think if this 3rd series fails to bring back the original elements of the drama, then surely the BBC need to move on, they axed or do not recommission some fantastic dramas in the past and I do not think Our Girl is quite in that league. Don't get me wrong, I am still a big fan of the original pilot and the first series, but the second series was no where near worth tuning in for.
Tina & Bobby
(2017)
Storyline and Actors were awful!
5 May 2017
Both actors who portrayed of Tina and Bobby were so bad that it was just painful to watch. Michelle Keegan has a great management behind her and obviously she pulls in the audience due to her celebrity hype, but she is not in the class of someone who can hold a lead in a drama. It really showed in this drama. Her cockney accent often fell off back to her northern accent. At times it was so bad you didn't know what she was saying.
I wouldn't waste your time watching this, as you will truly be wasting your time. Even established actors that were in the drama didn't save the show.
If Michelle Keegan is to develop into a serious actor, then she need to take herself out of being a female lead and go back to basics of learning from those who can. Don't get me wrong, she is not a bad actress but is just not good enough yet.
I wouldn't waste your time watching this, as you will truly be wasting your time. Even established actors that were in the drama didn't save the show.
If Michelle Keegan is to develop into a serious actor, then she need to take herself out of being a female lead and go back to basics of learning from those who can. Don't get me wrong, she is not a bad actress but is just not good enough yet.
Tell Your Friends