We've enjoyed two of Kay Mellor's other shows when they finally washed up on our shores, esp. "Love, Lies and Records." Sorry to report that season 1 of this one's "not available in our location"; Season 2's winners are salt-of-the earth hospital workers, portrayed by a first-rate ensemble of Northern actors, several (Siobhan Finneran, Natalie Gavin...) familiar from UK cop shows. Mellor comes up with some clever plotting right out of the gate, and the first couple of eps are very well done, but in the last few she seems to be straining to keep it real, Bradford-style. A few of the over-the-top plot twists--nurse finds novel way to neutralize bullying husband; XXL porter clicks with online Asian cutie--seemed inspired by the famous study that showed that lottery winners, once the initial thrill's worn off, are only slightly happier in their daily lives than paralyzed accident victims.
Season 3, which is highly recommended, combines a couple of surefire plot lines--stately home on the skids, downstairs staff steps up, "Rain Man"-style savant fills in plot holes, middle-aged-sexy DI (Polly Walker, with a crunchy Yorkie accent) gets after kidnappers and art thieves. Anthony Andrews, of "Brideshead" fame, shows us what Sebastian might've grown up to be like if he'd hung around to inherit the title; the rest of the cast is first rate. Sentiment, romance, suspense, mild social commentary (solid working-class characters versus sketchy upper-crusters)--what's not to like?
Season 4 is a more pedestrian effort, but still quite watchable: struggling 20-somethings work in a boarding kennel, have to scramble when their winning lottery ticket goes missing. Appealing young cast (notably Katherine Rose Morley from "Last Tango in Halifax"); Neil Morrissey, memorable as a bent copper on "Line of Duty" and a sketchy stockbroker on "Unforgotten," does not disappoint us here.
Season 3, which is highly recommended, combines a couple of surefire plot lines--stately home on the skids, downstairs staff steps up, "Rain Man"-style savant fills in plot holes, middle-aged-sexy DI (Polly Walker, with a crunchy Yorkie accent) gets after kidnappers and art thieves. Anthony Andrews, of "Brideshead" fame, shows us what Sebastian might've grown up to be like if he'd hung around to inherit the title; the rest of the cast is first rate. Sentiment, romance, suspense, mild social commentary (solid working-class characters versus sketchy upper-crusters)--what's not to like?
Season 4 is a more pedestrian effort, but still quite watchable: struggling 20-somethings work in a boarding kennel, have to scramble when their winning lottery ticket goes missing. Appealing young cast (notably Katherine Rose Morley from "Last Tango in Halifax"); Neil Morrissey, memorable as a bent copper on "Line of Duty" and a sketchy stockbroker on "Unforgotten," does not disappoint us here.