The Teacher

This was a good yarn that could have been a bit better directed but it was enjoyable and kept you wondering. Sheridan Smith's portrayal of a flawed but brilliant and committed teacher was exemplary. Some of the other characters were a bit on the weak side, but overall it was well worth the watch.

The first 2 episodes nailed it with the terror and consequences of accusation.

Everything that could've happened in a situation like this happened.

Realistically portrayed terror directed at the accused.

A rarity for a show to use every last drop of potential.

Brilliant acting all round especially from lead actress Sheridan Smith. Very likeable character, so selfless. How the producers of the show showed how seriously she took her role as teacher with regards her pupils.

The first 2 episodes would have me scoring this 10 stars but after the fallout of the accusation the show became just watchable with the investigation leading to one of those 'make it up as you go along' poor endings.

Well worth watching for what the teacher went through being accused.

I enjoyed this series a lot and found it thrilling, was eager to see next episode throughout. Good actors, for me most of them new (Im not living in UK). The last episode went from an exciting upper to a complete downer cause we didnt get to see how things went with any of the characters, and in the end the scene between the teacher and her student left us with many questions. Its like the episode went from #4 to #10 and skipped all info in between. I hate endings like that coming too fast and think they could have made the storyline more complete with at least five more episodes.

Sheridan Smith is a great actress but this series was a little odd. The plot was there and it was good but the character was weird in the way that I couldn't tell whether she wanted to have a relationship with him as she seemed infatuated with him in a way. Still worth a watch but yeah, a little odd.

Series 1 was watchable and believable in parts, but Series 2 was hopelessly 'huggy', and with so many 'I love you's it could have been an episode fewer. Of course the death was a tragedy, but the over-emotion shown by the staff and pupils was used as padding. The complicated storyline wasn't bad, though (as so often in this sort of modern drama) the main character becomes the investigator and that is unrealistic. The police seemed in a muddle, but DNA would have solved the second case within a few hours.

One recurring complaint is the trend, presumably for financial reasons, to make these dramas abroad (Budapest for Series 1 and Ireland for Series 2), with occasional drone or long-distance shots of Bradford or Manchester respectively, without the cast. I wonder if other viewers find this irritating; I do!