Patience

I was so angry to see the reviews in the Mail, GB News, Sun, Star, even the Guardian. The headline was the same in almost all of them and it seemed to be an organised attack on the show by the media. It makes one wonder who wrote the original article and who paid for it! I can forgive ignorance about autism but this front page headline:

Patience viewers 'switch off after just ten minutes' as they blast show for 'ripping off' rival drama and slate 'awful' Channel 4 scenes

The same headline and more or less the same text appeared in all these papers on the same day. All front page.

Now if you watched only the first ten minutes, you wouldn't have seen anything to make a judgement! All the episodes begin by setting up the scene of the crime and those involved. Perhaps these people thought that the DI was the main character and autistic, they cetainly didn't sit down with the intention of watching it.

There are so many series that 'copy' foreign series, and so many series with a similar theme: autistic detective is brilliant at solving crimes. Think Sherlock Holmes, Dr House and many many more, it is a bit of a cliche; however, this series goes further than most others in showing the characteristic behaviour of one kind of autism very well.

So was the show attacjìked in such a way???? Perhaps Patience can solve this mystery in the first episode of Season 2!

My son is autistic and I loved this show as it got nearly everything right for a single case of autism. Autism is a spectrum with so many characteristics and problems.

My son doesn't communicate directly but speaks endlessly on occasion, so anyone can see he is different, but many autistic people can fake normal behaviour and take part in society. However, the intensity of their senses can make it increasingly impossible to function, and they can freeze, become angry, or run. Patience showed this aspect very well.

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As a person with autism, I enjoyed this show very much. The way Patience is portrayed as someone on the spectrum is so well done. It made me shed some tears, which is rare for me. Her emotions and reactions are very recognizable for me, but of course not all. Every person with ASD is different.

Laura Fraser shines as well, making me feel as if I could seek comfort with her character. Great casting, all of them.

The music is fantastic as well, the intro theme keeps lingering in my head. The melodies are so bittersweet, complementary to the story and the main character's arc. I can't wait for the next season!

Whilst investigating a case, DI Metcalf encounters Patience, a young employee who works at records, an autistic young woman, with a razor sharp brain and a skill for spotting patterns, Metcalf persuades Patience to join her team.

I haven't seen the original series, so I can't compare, so my words are based purely on Channel 4's series.

I was honestly blown away by the quality of this series, I genuinely wasn't expecting it to be as good as this, what a tremendous first run, my only hope is that more follow.

The best thing Channel Four have done for quite some time, it truly is a cut above.

Every single episode is beautifully crafted, clever and intriguing, what a totally refreshing series, unlike anything else on the box right now.

I've always been a fan of Laura Fraser, and she is excellent, but this series is stolen by the sublime performance of Ella Maisy Purvis, who is genuinely sensational as Patience, acting of the highest order.

I love seeing Patience developing, and seeing an increase in her confidence as the series develops, if you have anyone close to you, who is autistic, you'll see some indicators, I certainly do.

Please Channel four, we need more.

9/10.

Patience is an extremely poor remake of Astrid and Raphael, a long running French / Belgian production that has just ended its fifth series. Unlike its far superior portrayal of Astrid and her neurotypical difficulties, which are explored in much greater detail and far more sympathetically, Patience falls short of the mark in so many areas. As a person who has raised foster children who were on the autistic spectrum, Patience simply doesn't do justice to their trials and tribulations. Those wishing to watch a far more intelligent and extremely empathetic portrayal of the autistic spectrum, should search for Astrid and Raphael, as it is readily available for download or streaming, and is a sumptuous feast by comparison.

I love it. I don't care if it is, as reported, a rip-off of 'Astrid'. I haven't seen - and am unlikely ever to see - 'Astrid'. I think this show has great stories, is well-acted and gives some insight into what it might be like to be autistic. As autism is a much-misunderstood condition, I think any show that helps neurologically 'normal' ("what's so great about normal, anyway?") people to get even a small insight into autism is a good thing. But mainly, I like it because the show is entertaining! And there are not nearly enough well-made, entertaining shows being made these days. Ludwig being a notable exception. I'd put 'Patience' up there with Ludwig, personally.