Un extraño en nuestras vidas

I would have to disagree with the comments made previously. Secret Smile was a complete breath of fresh air to drama. The characters were unusual and that is what made it an absolute triumph. I'm glad that Miranda mumbled, it shows her passiveness and lack of control in the situation. It's different that her sister was the weak one because in the end, we see the dominating character that was Brendan fooled by his own game, by the people we perceived as weak. So what if Troy isn't a class example of you depression. Who cares if you have a degree in Psychology? You're just bitter because it isn't they way you studied depression. It's fiction. Get Over It. Forget all the factual stuff of depression and the psychology behind. Fair enough I don't have the degree, but I found it truly though-provoking and found myself comparing my personality to the persona of some of the characters. It's good that I connect with the programme because you want to be fooled into thinking. Nobody has time to pick out all the certain flaws in a television programme. I loved Secret Smile and it certainly fooled me. And that my friend was pure elite drama.

I agree with Jane Dow, except that for "interesting" I have to substitute "predictable"! I missed the first 20 mins of part 1 of this last night (which didn't seem to matter ...); part 2 is on tonight and having looked at the reviews, I now know that there is a "surprise" end. But, that doesn't change the flaws in this story, too many to list here - and Jane Dow has nailed most of them. But from what I've read, the "surprise" is equally flawed and unrealistic.

This reminds me vaguely of another 2-part TV film that was shown on the BBC last year: it was called "The 7.39", starring David Morrissey and Sheridan Smith. This was very slow moving but equally predictable - no surprise ending so less flawed because it was so mundane. What I find amazing is that "The 7.39" got a lot of hype before it was shown (... following which it got a lot of flack!); I only came across Secret Smile on TV last night by chance, but I have to say that judging by the quality, or lack thereof, of programmes like this, I think I need to get my pen/computer out! If TV companies are happy to continue to make TV films that are implausible, I can come up with some good story lines: to make them more exciting and appealing they too would be a bit flawed and thin on research (I would be a bit more diligent in having my characters having COMMON SENSE though!), but if anyone's interested, I'm here :-)

The previous review is grossly unfair. It's a reasonably good drama of its type, some normal people and a disruptive presence suddenly appears in their lives, how do they all react? Sure, some of US may have reacted differently and said different things, you could say that of any film or play! The police appear terminally dim? Well, goodness, that's hardly a novelty on film or TV either?! Tennant is suitably nasty as the evil presence, nicely persuasive and threatening when he can't quite get his own way. The parents are well-played, many people want to see the best side of friends and acquaintances, and the sisters are also good performances. There'd have been lots of different possible endings, go with the flow and see what the author chose!

This show is 1.5 decades old but I just watched it and mostly for Tennant. The rest of the cast was good, and I especially like John Bowe (Miranda's father).

All that being said, the ending was daft and completely unrealistic. That, alone, ruined it all for me.

I have a degree in architecture-but I don't go around claiming to be an architect. So let me be clear: if you're watching Secret Smile with a psychology degree in one hand and a checklist of forensic realism in the other, you're missing the point entirely.

This is not a procedural. This is a psychological thriller. And like real psychological abuse, it doesn't unfold in a courtroom-it unfolds in gaslit family dinners, charming smiles that hide rot, and the unbearable silence when no one believes you.

David Tennant's performance as Brendan is chilling because it's real. If you've ever dealt with a sociopath, a narcissist, or someone who weaponizes charm, you know exactly how fast they get into your life-and how easily they turn your friends and family against you.

Some reviewers complain about the victim being "slutty" or "selfish." Let me translate that for you: she wasn't obedient enough to be palatable. She had sex, she had fear, and she had no perfect script. That's not a flaw in the writing. That's accurate.

And the family not believing her? Also accurate. Because this is how emotional abusers operate: they isolate, they ingratiate, and they discredit the victim while smiling through the front door.

If you thought the ending was "unrealistic," you've clearly never been cornered. Never had to plan your own escape because no one else would help. The blood twist isn't fantasy-it's desperation turned into strategy.

To the American audience expecting clear heroes and villains, digestible diagnoses, and perfect courtroom monologues: go back to your network dramas. Secret Smile isn't here to comfort you. It's here to show you how evil wears a grin, and how survival doesn't come wrapped in justice-it comes wrapped in scars and silence.

This story hit me hard because I've lived through gaslighting. I've seen charm weaponized. And I know exactly what it means to walk away with no vindication-just the knowledge that you made it out alive.

So if you hated this show? Maybe it was too close to home. Maybe that discomfort wasn't the show's failure-it was your signal to pay attention.