Without You

Thoroughly taut well acted psychological crime story! If something doesn't seem right- it probably isn't! Those around you may try to shield you from yourself! Your close friends and workmates will make you give it up! But you believe in yourself and you will not give up because that would surely destroy you! So onward against the odds! Keeping your wits to gather those threads of truth until you can weave the why and wherefore of all that took place and explains the gaps, the doubts, the illogic of preconceived opinions! Love is your manna! Retribution is your muscle! You will succeed and retribution will subside leaving only love!

An entire cast of utterly unlikable characters! One character after another is introduced . . . And each one worse than the last. That's almost three hours of my life gone that I'll never get back . . . Don't make the same mistake!!!

I just wanna shake them all. This is actually on PBS with the original title from the novel, "What to Do When Someone Dies". I found the premise interesting, but Ellie's logic sometimes failed me. What bothered me the most was all her bullying friends! They were yelling at her to get over it, stop what she's doing, do this do that. God, I'd throw them all out of my house and not be friends any longer! It's like many other shows where you logically know what should be done, but logic needs to be suspended so the drama can flow. But really, she comes across as so very weak. It's annoying. And dang, they drink a LOT.

I was drawn to this by the two leads. Friel from my days of watching Brookside and Warren from Hustle. Both accomplished actors' who have been a pleasure to watch in whatever their roles' may be.

Something went drastically wrong with this melodrama, in fact let's call it seriously exaggerated melodrama.

Their solid performances still stood out in a sea of mediocre acting. I'm not sure what else the other players in this have done previously but the poor writing did nothing to save this.

Logic was left behind at an early stage of proceedings and from that point, I just felt like I had to watch just to see who the culprit was, although I had my suspicions early on and was proved right.

Nothing against Friel and Warren who still did a good job at rescuing the script, but the flaws were evident moreso in Friel's scenes with others less capable. Her nuanced subtlety had nothing to play off with some of the other actors in this misguided drama/thriller.

AKA What to Do When Someone Dies

This is probably a lot better than it would have been reviewed 10 years ago.

The reason being is that is not weighed down by PC characters, same sex relationships, inclusion, diversity et al.

Also, only two Fs throughout, which make a change from the profanity fests we have to endure in contemporary dramas.

3 Episodes was just about right, especially when the ending was being telegraphed at the beginning of episode 3. The culprit was having just a little to much to say for themselves.

What a waste of Marc Warren. He was barely in it.

Pippa Haywood pulled of the death mask to end all death masks.