The Game

Channel 5 usually have fairly interesting thriller serials but The Game is not one. Very weak storyline let's it down with plot holes you could fall into and do yourself an injury. The acting is all fine but it it requires Jason Watkins to over act because of the story weakness. I imagine he read it and realised he would have to give it some welly to try to hold the audience.

Why would he immediately suspect his new neighbour of killing the previous house owner and of being the serial killer he's been chasing for years? Jason has just retired from being a detective but has a bee in his bonnet over a cold case. He had been attacked by this suspect in the past but knocked out so he never saw his face, just thought he recognised his voice. To jump to the conclusion that the new neighbour is this killer, in such a short time, just seemed implausible to me.

Robson Green, who I'd not watched before, although I know he's a famous tv actor, does a good job as the new neighbour.

Although there are four episodes, it's written as if it's rushing far to soon to get to the conclusion. Had it unfolded in the early episodes more slowly, it may have been better than what it ended up with. Verdict: acting would have been better had the poor actors had an intelligent script.

I've watched a few of the Channel 5 four part dramas over the last few years and it's fair to say there have been more misses than hits. Most seam to have a group of the same actors that have appeared like Kara Tointon and Jill Halfpenny. In this case they the excellent Jason Watkins who l think has made two previous channel 5 dramas.

He is on top form here as a retired police detective who has a chance to finally crack the case that eluded him in his time as a police detective.

There are plenty of plot holes particularly in the last episode but if you put that aside. You have an entertaining 4 episodes of crime drama.

Catch You Later or in the U. S., The Game, isn't brilliant TV. It's a rather derivative cat and mouse thriller that doesn't have much new to say. There are performances though that really elevate this tired material: Robson Green, a longtime favorite actor of mine, is appropriately reptilian and charming when he needs to be. It is bonkers though, that the neighborhood group don't clue in sooner, the one exception being Sunetra Sarker as Huw Miller's wife.

By turns, she is angry, frustrated, tired, ultimately loyal and very strong in defense of Huw, seasoned enough to intuit a predator in their midst. It's a performance that works on several levels of believability and ultimately satisfying.

Which brings me to the incredible performance of Jason Watkins, who I bet I've seen in many a British movie/TV show but just don't remember. He gives a full bodied, fleshed out performance of a man obsessed with the one that got away, his white whale. And all his selfishness, determination, frustrations, anger and near hysteria at times, filtered through such human ticks, to get this killer off the streets burns through you. I thought he was just magnificent.

The show isn't required viewing, but if you're an actor, you can learn a lot by just sitting back and watching Jason Watkins work.

Great 4 episode drama, I watched it in a week and I'm not normally a TV binger. 'The game' between the two main characters, a returning ' gold blend' stalker and the freshly retired cop who didn't quite manage to catch him and is now adrift and restless playing gold.

The plot was a little predictable at times but just drew me in, plenty of 'aghhh' edge of seat moments when moves are about to be uncovered and you're desperately hoping the hero can stop unraveling in his frustration before more havoc is wreaked in this quaintly friendly neighbourhood.

Great acting all round. It wouldn't surprise me if we get a season 2.

Detective Huw Miller retires from The Force, with one unsolved crime, The Ripton Stalker, a killer with a disturbing M. O. Huw's friend and neighbour dies and Patrick Harbottle moves in, a man Huw begins to think is The Stalker, but suggestions of it are met with ridicule.

I loved it, yes dramas from Channel Five can be a little hit and miss, but this is definitely a hit. I also have to applaud this for being four episodes long, I'm getting so fed up with six part serials.

It's a hugely engaging game of cat and mouse, we have two big questions running through it, is Huw crazy, is Patrick the stalker, it's such an engaging series.

It's beautifully produced, it looks fantastic, once again Channel Five film outside of The UK and whilst it looks like old England, it's actually Bilbao, the bricks just don't look right and lots of the long shots are out of focus.

Jason Watkins and Robson Green are both flawless here, they share some wonderful scenes together, two hugely talented actors. Honourable mentions for Sunetra Sarker and Indy Lewis, all excellent.

It's an excellent watch.

8/10.