Run

It isn't often that a drama manages to capture such a dark and tragic atmosphere, while still maintaining a deep emotional core. The series chronicles four different stories that tie in thematically and paint a gritty, but fundamentally compelling picture of those unseen tragedies that happen every day in our urban world.

The production was excellent, as was the acting. The entire cast did a great job in delivering gripping performances, but special mention must be made to Olivia Colman and Lennie James, who, as always, never cease to impress. This series is an emotional roller-coaster that will leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Just what I need...another grim, depressing British drama, spread over four parts just to pile it on that little bit more each night. Set in the sprawling, wanton metropolis of East London, this four part TV drama takes an unflinching, uncompromising nosedive in to the world of those it portrays, taking in a council estate mum (Olivia Colman) and her trouble with her murderous, thuggish sons, a recovering drug addict (Lennie James) trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter, and an illegal immigrant Chinese girl (Katie Leung) who gets by trying to flog dodgy DVDs, only to find her family has missed payments to the crime gang that smuggled her in back home, as well as a lap dancer (Jaime Winstone) who comes to know a polish woman who has something of a connection with the man murdered on the estate.

With next to nothing in the way of humour and light, it's the more fundamental stuff that's going to life this above the periphery, in terms of the writing, dialogue and performances, and once again we have another spell binding performance from Olivia Colman, who manages an East London accent very well over her more pronounced real life vocabulary. As probably the most recognizable other stars, James and Winstone also handle the material well, familiar faces in this type of production. Trying to inter connect all these seemingly unrelated stories together, the writers seem to be aiming for a Pulp Fiction style approach. It works nowhere near as well, but all the same, for what it is, Run will impress it's target audience. You just pray they have a sense of humour. ***

This one will surprise you. It is gritty and actually sad assuming that it is a reflection of the dark side of the UK. Well acted. There is no happy ending just deep reflection on how some people just have bad luck. You are left with hoping for the best. Should have had a sequel.

This 4 part drama is not for the jolly hearted but instead more for serious lovers of honest drama. It pulls no punches and is as gritty as it gets. Gut wrenching from all members of the cast. Sadly this excellent seems to have passed by now forgotten.

I see reviews that aren't complimentary about this series and I get why, to appreciate the level of acting in this, from people such as Olivia Colman and Lenny James, you have to take it to the stripped back level of society, amongst criminal activity, survival and the depths where only the super talented can go. This makes the grit real, it creates empathy on a level that would usually be registered and the sliding door effect, creates the ripple. Great series for those who like actors at their best!