Boat Story

What a pleasant surprise that the BBC can actually produce something contemporary and with some geniune edge. Very refreshing and a change from the super serious dramas, wildlife documentarys and lifestyle shows. This is not for the faint of heart and gets very dark at times - one particular seen I couldn't believe I was watching on the BBC. The darkness is offset with some genuinely laugh-out-loud funny moments. This is the true definition of a dark comedy. Brilliantly acted by an amazingly talented and recognisable ensemble cast and presented in a really interesting and engaging way. Satisfying stuff. Everybody involved should be chuffed.

Crime is rarely fun; and cocaine is not some wonder drug with no serious ill-effects; but the criminal caper, often focused on cocaine dealing and featuring some stylised ultraviolence, is a well established genre. And you'll rarely see it done with more panache than in 'Boat Story', with its ridiculous plot and arch presentation, playing self-consciously with the viewer but actually well assembled and acted. The cast have great fun while managing to keep straight faces; I did enjoy seeing a good role for Joanna Scanlon, a fine comic actress when given something to work with. What you can't do is really care who lives and who dies; but that isn't really the point.

I don't understand some of the negative reviews - yes, you'll either love it or hate it - but watch it for what it is - I love it so far; very different and thoroughly enjoyable.

For me, the Tarantino-esque over-the-top violence and Lock Stock-like ineptitude and daftness of some situations/characters is what I enjoy about it so far. Yes there is violence, yes the plot is unrealistic, yes the dialog is sometimes corny, yes the characters could have been written better, but it's simply good fiction and a good plot so far, so watch it for what it is...a dark comedic thriller.

Although only 2 episodes in, I really cannot wait for the remaining episodes!

I really can't understand the low scores on here for this? They must have watched a different program than I did. This is one of the best things the BBC have done in a long time. It's gruesome, witty and totally clichéd, but you know what, it's brilliant. If you like Tarantino this is right up your alley. The story is set in a fictional Yorkshire coastal town, where a couple of dog walkers stumble upon a boat washed up on the beach. Inside they not only find a couple of dead bodies, but also millions of pounds of cocaine. For various reasons they decide to take the drugs. What ensues is a tale full of twists and turns as the true owners of the drugs want to get their stash back and will do anything to achieve it. The actors are all superb and the dialogue is sharp and witty. I was totally invested in it in within the first 10 minutes. Well done BBC for doing something other than another period drama.

Where do I start? At the end. This has the best endings ever. It's not a misspelling, I do mean endings. It's not like there are choices to change the ending. It's more, well you'll see .. more endings. And the ending, while not the ending the tailor hoped for, was as spectacular an ending as anyone could hope for. The acting is absolutely top class and the story line has a lot of twists and turns. I particularly like the way actors who we know for their roles in other series suddenly confound us by doing the unexpected. Craig Fairbrass shows us he can play a character other than henchman. Joanna Scanlan goes from annoying dog trainer in wellies to iconic sex symbol and shows us her softer side. Then just as you get comfortable with the idea she might be a bombshell in bed drops coarse humour then later compassion. It's Villian meets French romance meets Godfather gangsters (tubas instead of violins) strung together in a series of sketches that have a Monty Python air of "and now for something completely different" with scenes broken by Keystone Cops title plates and a stage show reminiscent of Mulholland Drive. Yes, I've tried not to give away the plot, because you should absolutely watch it and once you've started you'll find it very hard to stop. Utterly brilliant in every way!