Compulsion

After surviving a tragedy, paramedic Jenny Challoner struggles with PTSD and turns to gambling.

C5 Drama have had more than their fair share of flops lately but this one takes the biscuit. Poor production values all round, heavy-handed direction and an OTT score. A poor cast, Anna Chancellor aside, that didn't gel together. Script wasn't good with lots of clunky dialogue and heavy exposition and an obvious storyline, you can guess the ending already.

Protagonist Jenny seemed to be the only one with a Scouse accent in Liverpool? Failed in all respects, one to skip.

This was a potentially great series it was well acted and you invested in the characters however it was really enjoyable until the last 1/2 of the final episode it was as though the writers just couldn't be bothered

There have been some great mini series from this Channel but sadly this wasn't one of them

It wasn't even cliche'd it was just disappointing, they wrapped up all the episodes in one 15 minute segment

There were lots of twists throughout the story all frustratingly closed off so quickly with no care for the characters or viewers

It just felt lazy and the end was too predictable when you just wanted one final twist or turn.

Initially a nice lady helps you on a train when you are having a panic attack, then quickly becomes your bestie, nothing suspicious about that right?

Better than I expected given the reviews I had read.

As the title says, it actually wasn't too bad. I'd never seen any advertising or mention of this show until I randomly stumbled across it. The best way to describe it is "okay". I'll admit: there's plot holes and some weirdly unusual scenes where I wonder what a particular character is doing. But, it takes on a unique issue - gambling. Considering that topic isn't widely represented in TV I thought the writers took it on quite well. And, the ending was not the best: it was drawn out and didn't really flow or make sense. Bit of a shame as I thought the ending might redeem the previous episodes. I don't know whether its worth watching - give the first episode a go to see if you like it and go from there.

The next show on the UK's Paramount Plus collection was this 2022 Channel 5 ... melodrama, I guess. A four-part series that tries to cram six seasons of storyline into that run time, which somehow you'll still be ahead of, before an anticlimactical ending.

Jenny (Leanne Best) is a paramedic, struggling to cope with PTSD following a train accident that she was caught up in. Whilst having a panic attack on a train, she meets Sasha (Anne Chancellor) who calms her down and the pair become friends. Jenny though has turned to online gambling, to quieten the noise in her head and now owes money to both the casino and to a local loan shark Connie (Hayley Mills).

It's tough to describe exactly what's wrong with this series, the best I can say is that it felt... awkward. The performances aren't bad, certainly not from the two leads anyway. Hayley Mills is a wild casting choice for a Liverpool loan shark, but it does at least mean that their intimidation tactics can't just be physical threats. It has that kind of glossy channel 5 feel to it and the basics like set design and cinematography are fine.

The problem is the story. There are multiple storylines that feed back into the main thrust, but with only four episodes and all of them happening at the same time it's initially difficult to decide what you should be focusing on. On top of that, there is a twist in the plot and if you've ever seen any TV show before, or read a book, you'll quickly work out what's going on and the motivations for it. I write my reviews spoiler free, so I'll also add, in the vaguest possible terms, that the resolution is wildly unsatisfying as a long and complicated plot and all the subplots are unravelled by a brief conversation.

Based on the title, I'd imagine that if it is to continue, it'll be anthologised into a new story. Even then, I rather hope not.