The Serial Killer's Wife

There are many problems with this series, and there are a few plus points. Thankfully at 4 episodes long, it doesn't suffer an overblown run the way many of them do. It finishes just at the right time.

The biggest issue is the mis-cast of Tom. Jack Farthing may be a fine actor, and he has that dormant psycho air about him. But a successful multi-millionaire Doctor who owns and runs his own GP practice? No, not believable.

Beth as a character is OK and I get the trade off of wanting to continue to live a life of luxury when her love life is falling apart, but she seems to wander from one strained expression to the next. Again Scholey has been a great actor but the development of her character is weak and even when she pulls a clever stunt at the end, it's difficult to side with her. Not helped by anyone with half a brain seeing the ending coming a mile off.

This needs to be filed under 'Could've been so much better'.

Not sure about the low ratings, people must've watched a different series. This has a good cast and an intriguing enough plot. It has a Broadchurch feel about it (possibly because it's on the coast!).

Not obvious who the killer is throughout, so it keeps you engaged. It's not easy creating something original these days but this series manages it.

Good cliffhangers at the end of each episode and in my view it's compelling watching and worse case will take up 3 hours of your time. So not a lot to lose.

Worth a watch and it's only 4 episodes, so easily bingeable. Give it a go. I hope you enjoy it.

My Review - The Serial Killer's Wife My rating 6.5 /10 Streaming on Paramount

I must say I enjoyed the performances especially from Julie Graham as Clover the Serial Killers wife and Jack Farthing as her problematic husband Tom.

Mercifully 4 episodes were enough for me as the plot began to unravel into unexpected improbable scenarios.

The conclusion leaves room for a second series but I doubt it will be forthcoming because it's just not good enough to warrant one in my view.

Especially when excellent original series like the recent Étoile don't get a second series I can't see this just average melodrama achieving an encore?

I admit the first episode of The Serial Killer's Wife won me over as I thought it an interesting perspective to concentrate on the innocent victim married to a monster .

However as the story developed, no spoilers from me it became a little tedious as the serial killer aspect got blurred with an improbable plot twist that concentrated on the dysfunctional characters that certainly included The Serial Killer's Wife.

I have a theory that mini crime series don't benefit from multiple screenwriters in this case three screenwriters contributed to the story but I felt in this case to many cooks spoilt this pot boiler.

Beth is shocked when her husband Tom, is arrested at his 40th birthday party, on suspicion of murder, Beth starts her own enquiries.

We've all seen some shockers from Channel Five, end you could be forgiven for thinking that this is another, but take it from me, this is one of the Channel's best ever dramas, signs that they're moving in the right direction.

It's a straightforward watch, after being utterly puzzled and perplexed by Strike, Ink Black heart, it was nice to watch something so coherent and straightforward, but it is full of twists, turns and suspense.

Pacing is good, at no time does it lull, there are definitely no dips, the intrigue continues the whole way, until the shocking finale.

Excellent performances, the whole cast were on point, Annabel Scholey, Jack Farthing, Luke Treadaway and Angela Griffin all stood out.

Well worth seeing.

8/10.

How well can you truly know someone you love? That is the question that you will need to ask yourself as you watch this 4-part mini-series.

The story follows Beth, a wife and mother, who finds out in the first few moments of episode one that her husband is accused of murder. From there, she starts to look more closer at her husband who has, to this point, been considered an upstanding member of the community through his elite family lineage of the Fairchilds.

Also a doctor who saves lives, Beth can't help but question if he also takes them when she starts to find clues to suggest that her adoring husband is not who she thinks he is. As the evidence mounts up, she starts to take note that he has a sinister side. Or does he?

This mini series will keep making you question what the answer is until the story gives a solid ending to wrap everything up.