Here's another recommendation for a brief series binge - this time it's the excellent, bittersweet "Back to Life" written and starring Daisy Haggard (obviously very talented beyond the 'gurning' she had to do in Episodes).
It's good on many levels. One it's relatively short - 6 x 30 minute episodes. Secondly it's got a great cast - Geraldine James, Richard Durden ("I am a Viking!" - what a great role for an old guy!), a charming Liam "Fireboy" Williams, Adeel Akhtar, Rhona Cameron (where has she been?) and Souad Faress (Usha from The Archers - amazed to discover she's 71 years old!).
Finally, beyond the excellent writing and characterisation is the cinematography - and I use that word justifiably. For a BBC3 show, the look is superb. Not only are the locations are some of my favourite places in Kent (Hythe, Dungeness, Lydd-on-Sea along with Abbot's Cliff Sound Mirror in Dover, high on top of the White Cliffs), both the direction and setting are on a 'Broadchurch' setting, and better than a fair number of recent cinematic offerings which have seemed amateur by comparison even when it comes down to the basics like focus pulling.
The Director, Chris Sweeney, has to date only really been known for music videos, but he has along with the superb cast has certainly done the source material proud.
It's good on many levels. One it's relatively short - 6 x 30 minute episodes. Secondly it's got a great cast - Geraldine James, Richard Durden ("I am a Viking!" - what a great role for an old guy!), a charming Liam "Fireboy" Williams, Adeel Akhtar, Rhona Cameron (where has she been?) and Souad Faress (Usha from The Archers - amazed to discover she's 71 years old!).
Finally, beyond the excellent writing and characterisation is the cinematography - and I use that word justifiably. For a BBC3 show, the look is superb. Not only are the locations are some of my favourite places in Kent (Hythe, Dungeness, Lydd-on-Sea along with Abbot's Cliff Sound Mirror in Dover, high on top of the White Cliffs), both the direction and setting are on a 'Broadchurch' setting, and better than a fair number of recent cinematic offerings which have seemed amateur by comparison even when it comes down to the basics like focus pulling.
The Director, Chris Sweeney, has to date only really been known for music videos, but he has along with the superb cast has certainly done the source material proud.