smartarsebutler

I clicked on The Strays knowing nothing about it, and i'm glad I did as I think the preconception of it being terribly acted/scripted would have dampened my viewing experience. Yes, there are flaws here but I don't think these are down to the actors abilities, so much as a mismatch of direction, staging and direction. It felt like it didn't know what it wanted to be. Was it a horror? Was it a gritty british itv drama? Was it low budget? High concept? It seemed to travel through all those identities and didn't seem to settle until the crescendo at the end of it being a horror thriller....kind of.

Having now read that the writer wanted to portray Neve as a multi layered character, neither good nor bad, I can make sense of what they were trying to achieve. The actors did the best with what they presented, but unfortunately there was a bizarre mix of surreal and realism that just became confusing. I couldn't help but think 'is this trying to be Get Out lite but got lost on the way?'. Also characters needed fleshing out a little. Details were scant apart from a mention of a stay in a psychiatric unit, children being 'got rid of', and a maybe abusive relationship. There was no explanation as to how Neve had achieved her position, or what her intentions were at key moments.

Saying all this, I'm glad I watched The Strays. It kept me gripped, I was interested in the subject matter, it just failed in a consistent tone or a fully rounded narrative sadly.

Please ignore the negative reviews. I think the issue is that the BBC overestimated it's audience, as opposed to any flaws with the show. Golaszweski's writing is astounding, slowly peeling back painful truths, whilst subverting narrative expectations the world of tv has lulled us into needing. I watched it all in one sitting and the last episode truly had me a blubbering mess. This is a masterclass in writing, acting and direction. Characters are exceptionally observed, multi dimensional and complex. If you have half a brain and an attention span, you won't regret investing in this. Truly magnificent.

I love everything Julia Davis does, and have followed her avidly since Human Remains, having seen her previously in The Day Today, Brass Eye, Jam and touring with Steve Coogan. I understand that Julia tends to have one note in her creations, which would generally be a bleak, psychotic, sociopathic darkness that runs roughshod over societal norms. Some people enjoy that, some don't. I am one that loves it.

Sally4ever, like Julias other offerings, takes the grotesque elements that are common in peoples characters, and multiplies them, where shame and conscience aren't a feature for some, whereas politeness becomes almost a conduit to self harm. Following the story of a woman trying to break free of a loveless relationship and controlling parents, only to become a slave to another flawed selfish human being. Bonus points for the Sean Bean cameo, which is the cherry on the psychotic cake. If you get her brand of comedy, you will, like me, watch this on repeat over and over.