Rellik

I thought that it couldn't get worse. I'm watching it because my partner is able to watch this sort of stuff. it is the worst drama series that the BBC have ever produced. At one point a hospital bed revelation was made and the unsuspecting victim overheard it (accidentally) as the woman lay her head on his chest and told him something he wasn't supposed to hear. Surely writers know when they're writing rubbish. The whole pretext is nonsense, the plot's ridiculous, the script is woeful.

Riveting, twisted, and if not original in concept certainly original in presentation (at least for TV). Every piece of the puzzle is put in its place with mathematical precision (and no, it's not that confusing - if you have a functioning brain, that is!). The visuals and sounds of going back in time are somehow spine-tingling - after a while, you begin to wait for them. It really is a brilliant concept: instead of the usual cause-and-effect viewing order, here you first see the effect and later the cause. The only flaw is that you'll probably be able to guess the killer at the end of the 4th episode. But even if you do, there are still more things to be revealed. Very well acted by all - Jodi Balfour is superb and a revelation. Highly recommended, if you like serial killer thrillers and don't mind exploring new ways to tell a story. *** out of 4.

When I started watching this, the time line ticking back took a little getting used to but by the end of the first episode I was hooked. This is a very compelling, brilliantly original approach to a whodunit drama. The plot is multi layered and enough is served up at each stage to make not binge watching the next episode almost impossible.

The acting was solid in particular Richard Dormer and Isaac Taylor, with Jodi Balfour proving she really is a standout after her notable previous performance in the excellent adaptation of Max Collins's Quarry.

The directing is subtle, slick, and atmospheric where needed without being over egged.

I highly recommend Rellik. If you enjoy the likes of Luther, you will love this. Allow yourself the full first episode to settle into the style of the writing & time line structure and you will be rewarded by this gem of a series that will keep you guessing through it's twists and turns.

The now tedious fad of winding a plot backwards or rather in this case not just backwards but in different sequences like a messed up jigsaw is plain annoying. It smacks of the writers being too lazy to write a decent plot so instead they just segment the whole thing mix it up and leave you to do memory games for what must be their entertainment rather than yours. Shame I like the lead actor from Game of Thrones and the leading black actress is pretty compelling. Into episode 3 it's quite obvious unless I have overreached what the twist is going to be. Could have been very good but you just know it won't be.

Lots of negative reviews and maybe I can see why - it's not easy viewing but the more I watch the more fascinating it becomes. So often with crime dramas one can sort of see where things are heading - that's what makes them reasonably easy to watch and enjoyable and somewhat bland. Rellik turns that on it's head - the impressions and ideas one builds about the characters and plot may be completely undermined later in an episode or in a subsequent episode - a twist that, instead of changing the future story arc, means you have to change your understanding of what you thought you already knew. I think it's incredibly clever writing and plotting - the more one engages with it the more engaging it becomes.