Crá

Only six forty-five minute episodes, so it is easy to watch.

It kept me interested, kept me guessing until the end.

The acting seems somewhat wooden at times. Direction is zippy enough.

The series would have worked just as well had the dialogue been in English, although sub-titles would probably still be needed for many to understand the accents.

The plot is somewhat laboured, with a somewhat improbable end that I did not guess, although there are faint clues.

The bleak scenic coastline and langscapes of Donegal adds atmosphere and interest.

The wardrobe budget must have been small, the Dónall Ó Héalai gets a single pair of trousers! But he goes get some lovely wool sweaters :-)

I loved the setting and the idea of the murder being set in an insular, inward-looking community. However, the series was marred by somewhat wooden acting and implausibilities.

As always, we have to ignore the person the episodes were strongly signalling was the guilty one. It was completely obvious from episode three who we were meant to imagine had "dunnit". So we had to look elsewhere. I must admit I didn't guess who the real assassin was partly because it was such an improbable plot twist. There were other irreconcilable anomalies too. Martin was a thoroughly unpleasant character but why he should have been singled out for a beating by Connall is a mystery to me. We were meant to work out the reason why but I don't know what it was about (not a spoiler - this is the very first scene in the series).

Barry's involvement in passing on information didn't ring true either. He was such a wimp and jobsworth that I found it hard to believe in this facet of the story.

I watched it all. The final fifteen minutes were disappointing. The fate of Conall's dad is unknown but with court cases pending, would such extreme measures have been taken? And the decision to keep quiet about the conclusion of the case and leave an innocent reputation sullied didn't ring true either.

After reading back over the review, I've downgraded to a four from five stars.

I have only watched the first episode and am not sure I'll watch more. It's good, could even be great. Setting, plot, location, most main characters all worth watching. But, but, but, the journalist might make this completely unwatchable. I know the character is supposed to be determined, trying for a big story etc etc but as she is played she is so incredibly unlikable and annoying it gets in the way. I like strong female characters but she is not strong she is cloying, unethical, and so unlikable. Director should have given actress more notes on how to play the character so she doesn't kill every scene.

Crá (Torment) is an intriguing gripping atmospheric crime drama.

Set in the dramatic rugged wild Atlantic comes a story of murder, deceit and redemption helmed by talented bunch of writers and an equally talented cast and crew.

Where this show triumphs over other standard fodder is the world building aided by the fantastic music and cinematography.

Trying to keep this spoiler free. The story moves at a steady and assured pace giving the required nuggets of information so that we the audience and the main characters are discovering the story together.

I'd highly recommend this show and it's available worldwide on TG4 website.

I want to give it a higher rating, because I liked that it's in Irish and in Donegal. It had an interesting setting, and I really would like to see more of this (I'm from Scotland). I thought the main male actor was quite good, so was his other half in it. The character of the journalist/podcaster was just really bad, quite cringe worthy and not well written. Nothing against the actress, she worked with what she had.

Some of the acting wasn't that great, but I think the writing is what let it down the most. I really wanted to give it a higher rating, but it's just not that well written. Lots of things don't make much sense, the dialogue between the characters is a bit bland, there's too many cringe worthy moments that feel out of place with the nonsense plotline of the true crime podcaster getting away with/doing stuff that just wouldn't happen. It could honestly be a lot better.

I see the potential in it though, and I hope this starts more series funded that are in Irish with this kind of theme. I think they just need some extra help with the writing. So I'm giving it a 7, cause I still enjoyed it when I shut my brain off for a bit, and it is quite unique.

I would still recommend people watch this series, just shut your brain off a bit if some things seem a bit far fetched and you'll probably enjoy it. If we support it, hopefully more stuff like this will come out in the future!