Mayflies

This drama shows us life really is so short. The present day story was very emotional and raw however it was the flashbacks to their young lives which got me the most it shows how fragile and short life is and how we have to make the most of it. It shows how we take our friends and memories through all our life's ups and downs and how memories always stay strong in our minds. A tough watch but worth it a very strong cast and script. The decisions which need to be made are so hard for all involved and life impacting for all of them. Martin Compston is just such a wonderful versatile actor. Get the tissues ready for this one.

Tully asks his long term friend Jimmy for help, a request that would test the tightest of friendships.

First of all, I would start by saying it was quite a strange scheduling choice, putting this out just after we've had the turkey and tinsel, not a criticism, just a curiosity.

You won't be able to watch this with dry eyes, this is one of the most moving things I have seen for years, it isn't what I expected, but it really is the most powerful drama.

A real story of love and friendship, early on Tully asks Jimmy a question, and the rest of the drama is spent explaining why he was in a position to ask such a huge request, what gives him the right, it's an amazing friendship.

Good drama makes takes you away, great drama makes you think about real life situations, in this case euthanasia.

Tony Curran is the only actor to make me shed a year in Doctor Who, his performances in Vincent and The Doctor was astonishing, he brings me to tears here once, what a tremendous actor, both he and Compston are awesome here, as is Jensen.

Please don't be deterred by the opening ten minutes, or the plot, this is a very moving, sometimes funny drama, that is well worth your time.

Quite wonderful, 9/10.

Having never wrote a review of any film or programme before, I find myself here pouring what's left of my emotions into these few paragraphs.

Mayflies has left me in bits and emotional wreck in a way that no visual entertainment has done before. An incredibly well told story by some fabulously gifted actors.

There is absolutely nothing glamorous about Mayflies and it's all the better for it!

I do hope Mayflies gets the recognition it deserves, not only for the performances of the actors, but also for shining a light on terminal illness and the effect it has on oneself and those around you. Bring a handkerchief.

Death comes to us all in the end, often in a slow, painful and undiginfied manner. Some people, faced with a terminal diagnosis, prefer to check out early, which is illegal in Britain (unless it is done unaided) but is allowed in some other countries. To do so is, of course, a horrifically enormous decision. 'Mayflies' tells one such story, but, as its title suggests, it also encourages us to reflect on the briefness of life, and how we might end up facing our own deaths when our youths seem barely to have passed. It's a warm and affectionate piece, avoiding over-sentimentality (though some is necessarily in order). It does choose to give us a character the severity of whose illness is mostly hidden from us in off-camera visits to the toilet; our protagonist still presents as very much alive throughout the drama, which allows him full mental responsibility, but which also makes his choice seem somewhat premature. Not much happens that isn't obviously telegraphed from the outset; but it's an intelligent dramatisation of the realities of death and the ways we might choose to face it.

Perfectly written and perfectly acted. Tony Curran is one of my favourite actors anyway and in this he again shows the skill he has of brilliantly bringing a character completely to life. The whole cast was simply sublime and the story heartbreakingly simple and true. It captures the flavour of being young and the intensity of friendship which carries on through the years. I cried and genuinely smiled. Being Scottish and of the same era it was so relatable and real but this will connect with anyone from anywhere. Get a box of tissues and watch it on your own so you can ugly cry. Captivating TV.