User reviews

David's Tennant plays these characters all too well, he's never a let down. The rest of the acting was well done also.

4 episodes was just enough, any more would have been too many. A few little twists but maybe too much personal drama amongst the other characters than I expected, without enough background information.

I read a couple of reviews on here after the first show, as I was telling a friend to try it, and wanted a bit more info (as they always ask). So it was disappointing to read the low reviewer comments, and see their upset about the ending. I still watched it. I still enjoyed it. Found it compelling and intense. And have no issue at all with the way the story unfolded. The acting and characters were good, and the story held me. It kept me all the way to the end. Worth watching!

The show started out as a very interesting drama and mystery story with likable characters that had great development potential. So I was very looking forward to seeing the second and the third episodes. It seemed like something overwhelming was going to be discovered at some point. Alas, this never happened. And the last episode was a total disappointment.

I think "Deadwater Fell" is just another one of those shows that we are gradually getting used to: the watching is a captivating process, episode after episode, and then they bring it to some hasty flat ending. Unfortunately, the writing these days leaves much to be desired.

On a positive note, the acting is very good, I also enjoyed great views of amazing landscapes of Scotland.

I found the opening episode a little slow but hooked me in just about enough and then it exploded with 2 really good episodes leaving me excited for the finale. Unfortunately the finale was very predictable and ultimately underwhelming but I fell that was more due to the level of the two previous episodes and this being average rather than terrible. Ultimately this was still a good series if unfortunately not reaching further heights that seemed possible.

Core of story was good and initially gripping as the real truths started to unfold. But too many inaccuracies and holes in the plot eventually started to grate and became a distraction.

I am very surprised to see so many negative reviews for the series, none of them seem to relate to the drama I watched. Clock developed very well over the four episodes we get the harrowing scenes in the first episode, and the next three episodes are spent solving the mystery.

The acting is first rate, Tennant does genuinely steal the show, but when is he anything less than brilliant? Cush Jumbo and Matthew McNulty are excellent also.

This isn't slow, it's measured, the characters and story are given depth, and chance to grow.

I thought it was excellent, 9/10.

I think everyone will guess the ending quite quickly in this slightly overlong show. The real standout elements are the cast and the themes ingrained in a semi derivative mystery wrapping.

There's some good depictions of how numerous kinds of abuse, the social dynamics at play in regards to toxic masculinity, trauma, and the madness of crowds. People can't usually recognize signs of abuse nor cries for help or look beyond the performance of social respectability when it comes to men. So, on that front I think the show is a success.

The problem comes from a lacklustre actual plot and its beats. This is almost quintessential now, and it does very little to muddy the issue of the mystery it purports to be actually about. Had the mystery been overtly secondary, it might have worked better. Or the mystery having a more nested and compelling set of clues and the ways in which they are rolled out.

As is, it feels like a long time to wrap up, and the highlights of the show are merely peripheral, which almost feels diminutive for such important issues.

Firstly, I don't believe people should give such high reviews when they haven't seen the full series. Secondly, I wish people would give realistic reviews....so many 10 out of 10s, wow, is this really the best show some people have seen, even without the ending there are so many better out there. As for the series, it is slow to start off and the jumping from past to present is a little confusing. The acting is reasonable, but the story is just one dimensional and pretends to be more than it is. I kept watching expecting a twist or something less predictable for a finish, but this didn't happen! Very flat, perhaps worth watching for some, but not for me!

Fascinating insight into abuse and the intricacies of adult relationships. A refreshing perspective - you cannot be sure of any one characters innocence in the broader scheme of things. Everyone is guilty in one way or another - though not in ways you'd expect. Character development across the board for all protagonists was rich. I do think that only a particular audience will appreciate this kind of series. There are definitely twists throughout and anyone who says different is missing the point. Fantastic acting.

The plot and the cast had so much potential but both fell short. It seems like they ran out of funding &/or too many compromises were made that diluted the plot. Too bad.

I watched all 4 episodes in one evening and have to say it was a disappointing experience. Even Tennant couldn't bring it to life and I found the constant flashbacks distracting and unhelpful. Nowhere near as good as Broadchurch or Happy Valley as the story does not flow or even give a twist at the end.

I wouldn't watch it again.

I love British mystery series. I loved David Tennant in Broadchurch. I was prepared to really like this one. I liked the first couple episodes a great deal. Nice and puzzling, good group of characters. Lovely scenery, great acting.

But it is ultimately disappointing. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I was hoping for something more imaginative. Guess I'll wait for the next Nicola Walker series -- those have all been great!

My Review - Deadwater Fell. On SBS Iview

My Rating 6/10 Not much to say about this 4 part Mystery Crime Drama series except it was very predictable so the mystery was missing and I thought the story while dramatic the character that David Tennant plays Tom Kendrick while well acted was not very believable.

I've really enjoyed David Tennant recently in Des where he was cast as the serial killer Dennis Nilsen and Alec Hardy in Broadchurch ,which is head and shoulders above Deadwater Fell .

The first episode got me in so I persevered but as the story developed I found the characters too contradictory their motives didn't match their actions .

I can't say why because I don't put spoilers in my reviews.

The bones of the story like Broadchurch is set in a fictitious rural village in Scotland when a seemingly perfect and happy family is murdered by someone they knew and trusted, cracks appear on the surface of a supposedly idyllic community.

Filming began in June 2019 in Dunlop, Ayrshire, which stood in for the fictional village of Kirkdarroch.

Some may enjoy Deadwater Fell more than I did but for me it was just average and quite watchable but these type of Crime Dramas are churned out like sausages in a meat factory . The competition is intensely competitive and it's fine to have a big name Star in the role but if the script is just average and not convincing it's a big investment to ask viewers to spend 4 hours watching something that has an unconvincing conclusion.

The first 1.5 episodes offer us a decent premise and some compelling performances. It manages to make us question who the true victim is. But at a certain point, the show loses itself.

It either should've been made into a film, or fleshed out more over more episodes. The development of Tennant's character is unsatisfying. He continues to feel like a stranger to us and we don't get a satisfying glimpse of his psyche. Certain things he does doesn't feel believable. The plot then causes our heroine to act in ways that don't seem like her. It just seems to miss a few notes on the way to its ending. We needed more finesse and meaningful time with these characters for the ending to have any sort of suspense, impact, or surprise.

..this isn't an action movie, it's one of BBCs miniseries. They're not known for high speed, but for quality heart-tugs and slow-paced brilliance. David Tennant plays his part to perfection, and that's all you really need to get started.

Have to agree with those reviewers in the disappointed category. Amazed this poorly constructed plot and screenplay made it to the screen at all.

The motivations for the (extreme) actions by key characters were largely unexplained or lacked credibility and the plot lacked any subtlety or depth.

Why on earth was it felt necessary to offer a helpline at the end of each episode!? Perhaps to assuage disappointed viewers?

Absolutely outstanding drama from C4 with superb performances and a killer script. Nuanced, emotional, relevant and urgent, this drama grabbed me from the outset. Two episodes in I am totally gripped.

Beautifully shot in parts and well acted. It would have been nice to have a few more twists, as the ending felt incredibly predictable. Hope to see more Scottish dramas.