Next of Kin

The best way to educate is through emotions. If we can get to the heart of a person, we usually succeed! So, with all that is going on in the world these days, it's important for us to try to keep an open mind. What's happening in the Middle East is very confusing to many of us. As for me, with this film I am able to see how a young man can be recruited to a terrorist cell. Taking place in the England, we can see people from all walks of life caught up in this tragedy. The main character, Mon, cannot see how her nephew Danish could betray his father & his family, but these things happen. It can happen so quickly. We are all looking for some kind of purpose in life! Perhaps Danish saw a higher purpose for himself by joining this terrorist cell. They made him feel important, like he was part of something big, something important. Proper make mistakes. And sometimes there's no turning back from these decisions! Even though this family seems to be a loving one, families can have all kinds of complexities. This film had a deep emotional impact on me. And it helped me tremendously on my journey to understand what's going on in our world today. Understanding & education are crucial to finding positive solutions. I really believe that. So, I thank the makers of this series for helping to open my eyes & see more clearly!

It is a real pity that such a topical subject matter that holds such promise for highlighting modern global realities as viewed from the family angle disappointed me so much. I looked forward to Archie Panjabi's acting making this series work ( I was very frustrated when she was dropped from the Good Wife series) but the story line was unimaginative, full of plot holes and unbelievable develpoments. I only continued watching because my OCD prevented me from abandoning it. I cannot believe such incompetence from the creators of Vera. The story assumes that we viewers cannot seperate fiction from nonsense. I also hoped with ever decreasing fervour that some twist would save it from oblivion. Jack Davenport gave off the vibe of chagrin as he realised too late that he had been sold a flop but plodded on to honour his contract. Shabana Azmi was quite convincing in her acting but her role in the story was not. Viveik Kalra did what any teenager does naturally - just laze about and sulk. Claire Skinner could not control her family in Outnumbered and was just as incompetent in her control of underlings here. Simply not worthy of the BBC.

However it makes no sense to me that this family after the police started targeting them that they did not have an attorney to help them through the police harassment and investigation.

When is this going to be shown on Sundance in the US?

Next of Kin is a very powerful, very emotive drama, set over six episodes it gives a real insight into the acts of terrorism, the origins, process, and eventual tragic outcome.

It's a little far fetched, and it's definitely padded out in the middle, but overall it's a very good watch. Best episode is Part 3, which is edge of the seat viewing, it also concludes well.

There are moments where you have to suspend belief, as some events will have you scratching your head, asking, would they really do that?

Very well produced, well acted, Archie Panjabi steals every scene, she is marvellous. Claire Skinner I'd argue was badly cast.

Overall, emotive, intense, slightly muddled, but watchable. 7/10