Small Town, Big Story

Hollywood producer Wendy Patterson (Christina Hendricks) goes back home to Drumbán, Ireland which she has picked to shoot a big movie. She has a secret connection to local doctor Séamus Proctor (Paddy Considine) after an incident during the Millennial celebration. She hasn't been back in over 20 years.

Chris O'Dowd is the show creator and has a fun supporting role. It's a little odd that Christina Hendricks is playing a returning local. Most people do return to their old accent, but she's probably not going to do Irish well. She is my main issue with this show. Her character has so much resentment that it's hard to have fun with that. I would rather have someone like Aya Cash who is funny when she's angry. I like Paddy Considine's scared acting. Big Jim McDaid needs to be a little funnier although he does have a nice sweet side. I love what Jemima Rowlands adds to his character. This is mildly fun in an off-centered sci-fi premise.

I heard Chris O'Dowd talking about this show on a podcast. He doesn't make an appearance till episode 4, which is, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. However, Christina Hendrick, and the rest of the mad irish cast, do a great job, especially Paddy Considine, who is marvellous. If you liked Bad Sisters you'll like this, because it has the same crazy vibe. I think the bad reviews are missing the point. It's a piss take, and as such it works well. It's funny, in an off beat way and the cast obviously had a great time making the show. Slight shame that Christina didn't do even a touch of a latent Irish accent.

Chris O'Dowd was great in the It Crowd. And nothing else despite getting some great parts he's proved to be a sh&te actor. Nevertheless I had high hopes of this; a returning Americanised Irishwoman to make a movie in an Irish village. So much material for a darkish comedy! Jesus wept! I couldn't finish the first episode! Did they even rehearse it? The script is witless, the continuity abysmal, like an awful version of Derry Girls. Just goes to show. Sorry Chris but you can't king write or direct. That's a fact. I'm only adding this sentence in the hope that it will reach the required number of characters.

I hadn't read anything about this show and had no idea where it was going but as the show developed the characters of the town come more to life and getting to know the characters may slow the pace at the beginning but you really need to understand their motivations. Six episodes was not enough as I was just starting to get into it, questions were being answered but there are still more questions. You should give this show a chance and I would say it's much better binge watched in order to keep pace going. I really hope there is a season 2 of this as there is so much potential now that we know the town, there is more room for the story to evolve.

Small Town, Big Story is a slow burner that never quite finds its spark, at least not early on. I found myself wishing that episode three had been the pilot because it felt like the show was dawdling through its own setup. The premise of a Hollywood producer returning to her small Irish hometown has its charm but the execution is, frankly, a bit muddled. The narrative meanders and takes its time getting to the heart of the story, leaving you wondering if the tension is ever really meant to build up.

The characters are meant to be quirky and full of local charm but they simply do not stick in the mind. Christina Hendricks and Paddy Considine have moments where their past chemistry shows promise yet the overall characterisation feels flat and underdeveloped. It is as if the show is trying to juggle too many ideas at once and, in doing so, loses the thread that might have tied it all together. In the end, if you like a slow-paced tale with a subtle hint of mystery, you might find a few redeeming qualities here. For me, however, it just did not quite hit the mark.