The Control Room

Gabe is an emergency call-handler in Glasgow with dark secrets from his childhood which unexpectedly come back to life when he takes a call at work.

Production values were OK, it was well cast and acted for the most part but it had problems script and direction wise. I watched all three episodes and gradually fell out of love with it.

I'd agree with other reviewers that the flashbacks were really overdone and disrupted the storyline. There were also just too many improbabilities in the plot all the way through, yes we can take a few coincidences and strokes of luck once in a while but storylines can't entirely rely on them.

Overall disappointing. For me the story didn't pan out well and the ending was a bit of a damp squib that you could anticipate coming.

Taking the stretching of disbelief to the limit and then stretching it some more. A total waste of Joanna Vanderham. Poor Gabriel a rabbit in the headlights who we are led to believe somehow saves the day.

When Gabe was taking the rear number plate off the van, there was a car behind it, but when there was a camera shot from behind, it was gone. Then it was back.

He was in the locker room and received a text saying there was a bloke there to see him and wasn't going to leave until he does. Then Gabe drives the van in the next scene with the bag of money.

This has an interesting premise and starts well. But, as so often, a good premise is not enough. There are far too many flashbacks, many or most of which could have been cut with no loss to the story. But there were three episodes to fill and I expect those repetitive scenes with the two children were quite cheap. The plot is unconvincing to put it mildly. It is one of those where a leading character continually fails to do an obvious action, thus prolonging the story to fill its allotted hours. I can't say more without introducing spoilers. And what about the control room? Isn't the ambulance service very busy? Erm, not in this case. The working hours seem extremely flexible, too. The one saving grace of the show is the acting of Iain de Caestecker. He does a good job as a well-meaning man going through extreme stress.

Have to agree with the majority of the previous reviews.

Wanted to switch off after first episode and wasn't bothered to find out the ending. Why?, because after Gabe makes the most obvious of "no, you didn't just agree to that" moments, it goes from bad to worse. Every twist and turn in the first 2 episodes have me screaming at the TV "nooooooo".

But as a dutiful husband, having had my wife watch some of the stuff I like, I repaid the debt a million times over to watch this to its conclusion.

There were a few more twists in the final episode that we didn't see coming which kinda redeemed it a bit, but not enough for me to recommend it.

IDC was ok in Marvel agents of Shield but he almost felt the same in this, with his nervous affectations.

So glad it's over and hopefully no sequel..... Sounded good on the radio adverts but in reality a MISS rather that a HIT.

Would give it a 2.5 for the little twists in the last episode.