I Know Who You Are

Really enjoyed the first 10 episodes albeit annoyed with the BBC that originally their website suggested episode 10 was the series finale. Glad that they have now clarified on the website " When will the remaining episodes of I Know Who You Are be shown? I Know Who You Are will return to BBC Four later this year. The programme was originally produced as two seasons, however, its Spanish broadcaster subsequently decided to show both together as one long season. BBC Four is showing the final six episodes as series two. We'll update this FAQ when we have more information." http://www.bbc.co.uk/faqs/i-know-who-you-are

The premise of "I Know Who You Are" is fascinating. A man is found wandering a few kilometers from the site of a car accident. He apparently suffers from amnesia, unable to say who he is or to recognize any of his family or friends. The wrinkle is that a passenger, his sister-in-law's stepdaughter, was apparently in the car as well, according to blood stains found on the seat, yet is nowhere to be found. What happened? Is this man really suffering from amnesia? And where is the missing young woman?

The series would have been perfect for 10-12 70-minute episodes but unfortunately drags on for 16. Just as the intrigue hits its peak, the storyline gets bogged down in too many plot twists and turns that take far too long to unravel. Although the final episode neatly wraps up the mystery, you have to plow through a number of episodes where the plot winds and wanders before you get to the conclusion.

Another aspect of the series that makes it tough to swallow is that there isn't a single likable character in the bunch. While the actors who play the leads are quite good at their craft, the characters they play are far from sympathetic.

Overall, I liked "I Know Who You Are" despite its flaws. The first eight or so episodes as well as the final episode are brilliantly done, and the cast is first-rate. While the series gets a bit too clever with all its plot twists, at least the ending is satisfying enough to merit a mildly positive (6 out of 10 stars) rating.

From the beginning a story-line that draws you in and holds you spellbound. Later on, it does get complicated - if you're the kind that likes involved mystery plots then you'll love it.

It is a dark piece and it is true that one can't actually warm to many of the characters – even the victims usually have their dark side.

I like the skillful changes of pace throughout, you're never more than a short time away from the next gripping high point but there are plentiful pauses to help you assimilate what is going on.

I thought most characters were acted very well indeed. The main character Juan Elias played by Francesc Garrido I've seen described as "wooden" but I thought that this was actually a deliberate reflection of his inscrutable screen persona. As he is faced with more challenges later in the series I think you can really see the subtlety in how Francesc portrays him.

Like many I was very disappointed to be left hanging at the end of episode 10. I speak Spanish and soon discovered that in Spain there were another six episodes available. The story-line up to the last episode in the UK did not make it a natural moment to break the series.

In answer to previous questions I can confirm that if you purchase the box set of DVDs from Spain, with the title and packaging in Spanish – containing 6 DVDs you will get all episodes 1-16.

The UK version contains fewer CDs and 10 episodes. To be clear – the Spanish release does not, I repeat, does not have English subtitles. I found the dialogue and the plot a bit too fast to follow comfortably in Spanish as I am not a native speaker, but there are Spanish subtitles intended for the hard of hearing. I used these and it made all the difference. No difficulty in following the dialogue. I doubt that beginner or intermediate Spanish would suffice.

The 6 disc version is available on some Spanish websites with delivery to the UK. Or try ebay - search for 6DVD set Se Quien Eres.

The reason that the BBC version is only 10 episodes is not because it is edited, it is because they have left off the final six.

The mystery is solved in the tenth episode, but from bits and pieces on the Telecinco website, you can work out that there are a lot more twists and turns to follow.

Perhaps the BBC decided that the plot twists were already dizzying enough and no more was needed. I was reasonably satisfied with the 10- episode ending, but it does not correspond to the 16-episode one.

Fabulously layered script, unpredictable till the end, evolving characters, superb casting with briliant Blanca Portillo (Almodovar's Volver). I wouldn't like to be a member of that familly though...