Reunion

I'm having trouble writing this review as the normal words you use to describe a TV mini series just don't express the feelings you have when watching Reunion.

Yes the way it blends sign language, lip reading, subtitles and silence make it difficult to get used to at first but it isn't as difficult as being profoundly deaf actors delivering such awesome performances!

Yes it starts slowly as most do whilst the characters are introduced and cryptic hints to the plot are seeded.

Yes it isn't easy to fully appreciate the isolation, frustration. Anger, depression, misunderstandings, indifference and prejudice being experienced.... but we should shouldn't we?!

BUT at the heart of Reunion are some really important stories to be told and the twists and turns are every bit as good as a 'normal' thriller. Try to suspend the normal rules you use to judge this and see it for the groundbreaking, emotional, educational and absolutely awesome drama that it is.

This show really like to show the same stuff over and over again; flashbacks, recalls. I swear one episode I watched and I was thinking "haven't I seen this before?"... aahh another flashback!

It also runs the typical cliché of corrupt cop and bad childhood trauma.

The only original thing this show has going for it is that it has deaf actors involved. So perpare yourself for reading a lot of text instead of voices and a lot of hand signs, whispering or weird noises coming out of their mouths. Sometimes it's a bit funny and I had to laugh several times.

There are also a lot of stuff that annoyed me: The characters deliberately refuse to answer questions or talk about sertain topics because that would ruin the slow pace of the show.

Also how long does it take to track down one guy in a town? If I really wanted to find someone who still lived there I wouldn't spend days or weeks finding him. Maybe couple of hours.

There is also a stupid scene with a cop that is batantly corrupt in front of an interpreter as he is filmed on camera. He tries to hide this by turning off the voice recorder in the room. But what about the camera? He doesn't know he is being filmed?

The only thing keeping me watching it is the good acting, funny moments and I want to know what happens. I probably won't find out since this is a running show with no ending, so either it gets cancelled or dragged on for so long I will quit watching before the end.

6 / 10.

I only watched the first episode. Might have watched the rest but...not keen on the style of storytelling whereby the viewer is kept in the dark and everything hinges on the big reveal. The acting was fine, the dark vistas apt for the narrative. Did not quite understand how the daughter went from totally hostile to being seemingly won over by her dad in next to no time? Where is the irony you say? Well, the rundown looking flats where the protagonist's daughter lived, is Park Hill, which was renowned for being not somewhere you wanted to be after dark, back when I were a lad that is, today, the refurbished flats are the hangout of the young trendy. I gave it 7 so as not to bring the rating down as it was probably worth another watch.

Daniel Brennan is released after serving a ten year prison sentence for murdering his friend Ray. Brennan is keen to meet up with his daughter Carly and is desperate to find someone from his past.

A groundbreaking drama, my honest advice is to ignore the negative reviews, they simply do not relate to this incredible drama. The BBC isn't exactly at its best right now, but there's always a chance that it'll put out a classic series, Reunion is just that.

This deserves to be remembered for years to come, after a good first episode, it opens up in the most unexpected way, as soon as you get used to the formula, you'll be engrossed, I haven't seen anything as good as this for some time.

Mathew Gurney deserves an award for this, his performance quite simply, was breathtaking, in episodes three and four he actually had me in tears, unbelievable, I thought he was phenomenal.

The supporting cast are terrific, Peake, Duff, Marsan, Sims, the whole lot of them did a great job.

So good to be able to give a drama a perfect score.

10/10.

Seen all the best , from Breaking Bad through Adolescence etc , this is truly up there!!! Will open up a whole new world to so many who just don't realise what it's like to be deaf . The acting is excellent, the story painful for many to watch , but this sxxt exists in the world we live in . Bravo !!!

This is not one to miss , can't really understand the comments about bad ending or dreary plot etc . It's not about either , it's the subject matter and the way it is portrayed, it touches so many nerves and if you can watch it without feeling uncomfortable, upset and extremely guilty for being so ignorant, then you've got no soul .

Take away a slightly slow episode 2 and this would be 10/10 stars all the way.