Moving On

This series of 'one-act plays' reminds me of the quality one off dramas that seemed to fill schedules in the 60s and 70s. Excellent scripts and top notch casts. A wide variety of story lines, moods etc, but one thing in common, a general feel of all round quality. Shown in the afternoons, made me wonder why not during prime-time? Possibly because its hard to market a one-off one hour play these days, evidence of the schedules suggesting that everything has to be open ended (more in the American style) in case it is a hot and can therefore be used to lure advertisers etc. Still, we all ought to be able to watch things when it suits us these days, so worth setting the recorder for. Credit to the progammers for commisssioning such a series.

I'm only getting through the second series, and I feel it's one of the best modern dramas that I have seen. Superb casts and well thought out portrayal of social issues, I highly recommend this series.

I found this series because I'd thoroughly enjoyed Jimmy McGovern's "The Street," which was excellent, and unlike "Moving On" portrayed human drama in a much less mawkish, soapy way. I'd also watched "Broken" and found that to be excellent. So I looked up other series written or created by Jimmy McGovern. Sadly, Moving On is a real disappointment. It is true, as other reviewers have pointed out, that it features many well-known British actors, but even their impressive skills can't uplift the "poor me" storytelling. Perhaps I should have skipped Season 1. After the first three episodes, the repetitive, cloying, tinkling piano score became literally painful to hear. I did skip ahead to Season 9 and was relieved to NOT hear that music. But the stories were no less sadsack with exasperatingly victim-y or angry characters who blame other people or circumstances for their desperate, sad situations, or worse yet, go looking for reasons to feel angry, sad, and sorry for themselves. I'm mystified as to the "10" ratings reviewers have given. This is no better than any other melodramatic, sentimental soap opera. Ugh. No thanks.

If you're looking for a series that touches on all aspects of modern life, that many people have either seen or been a part of, then watch this. It can pull at the heart strings, but it does make you feel and understand the many emotions and actions that can occur in any walks of life. Some you may recognise as being familiar, or what you've heard about in the news etc.

The creator is Jimmy McGovern who created the wonderful series Accused. If you've seen Moving On but not Accused, I highly suggest you do. If you've seen Accused and curious about Moving On, you won't be disappointed.

And this folks....is why I adore British TV. They play this in the afternoon! This quality TV is head and shoulders above any prime time American shows! The casting, writing, acting, the way all british tv is filmed. I simply can't watch anything but british tv. The high quality is phenomenal.