The Game

The first episode was good but, if seemed as though all thd efforts had been put into the opener. After a poor middle couple of episodes, the series comes to a better finale but still struggles to show any originality or any real dramatic effect.

Robson Green seems to be cringing to the viewing audience but somehow seems to be the best mate to nearly all of his new neighbours.

Jason Watkins does show some great acting in parts but not enough to save the overall hum drum of the show.

Things manage to come to a satisfactory conclusion just when the truth seemed futile Another run of the mill channel 5 release.

Newly retired detective Huw Miller (Jason Watkins) who failed in finding the killer stalker, before he retired at the grand old age of 55, following a nervous breakdown. Anyway, he need not worry, as the stalker Patrick Harbottle (Robson Green) has found him. In fact he's killed his neighbour, living directly opposite, purchased his house, and moved in, all in a space of a week or so. Sounds far fetched? That's probably because it is. The pace of the drama is too quick after episode two, it appears they have sacrificed character development while also compromising on a good storyline, so the whole production can be wrapped up in just four episodes, I speculate for budget reasons, which is a shame. Really strong acting as you would expect from two actors of this calibre, but on the whole an anticlimax.

In many ways this show is a waste of a great cast. The script feels like it was written by a group of people brain storming while eating lunch. The plot has more holes than a cheese grater. It has coincidence upon coincidence. The person responsible for the crimes is so loopy it's hard to believe he wouldn't have been caught by now. He seems to be able to appear and disappear more adeptly than the invisible man.

The only reason I'm persisting with it is the cast and I'm waiting to see what preposterous plot line they'll come up with next. Some of the actions of the main character are hard to forgive. He doesn't exactly endear himself to you.

I am a big fan of both leads however this drama was very disappointing due to the poorly written script. Predictable, pedantic & not worthy of the actors involved.

That being said, if you need something to watch, there are many worse programs than this one! The last half hour watching the two leads almost made it worthwhile!

I don't know why Channel 5 can't come up with more interesting programming.

When I think of all the excellent British programming I'm confused as to where they are getting their writers. They obviously have no problem in attracting excellent actors. Are they running out of money when searching for stories?

I've watched a few of the Channel 5 four part dramas over the last few years and it's fair to say there have been more misses than hits. Most seam to have a group of the same actors that have appeared like Kara Tointon and Jill Halfpenny. In this case they the excellent Jason Watkins who l think has made two previous channel 5 dramas.

He is on top form here as a retired police detective who has a chance to finally crack the case that eluded him in his time as a police detective.

There are plenty of plot holes particularly in the last episode but if you put that aside. You have an entertaining 4 episodes of crime drama.