The Catch

This was most disappointing. The cast was unlikeable, the acting was awful, the whole thing was just pretty rubbish. The book I enjoyed but certainly wouldn't reccomend this! Was like some kind of mid afternoon made for tv film! The plot changes were either pointless or weren't as good as the original. The main characters didn't seem believable and wee all just a bit weird. Even the daughter didn't come across in any way that made you really care about her, it's quite a feat to make a cast all so I likeable but they managed it. That's all surprising considering the cast, I was expecting more!!

You know that thing where you can't concentrate on what someone is saying because you're struggling to place their accent? This whole thing is like that. I don't just mean the actor's accents (real or imagined). The whole thing lacks a clear sense of place which I suspect will drive a lot of British viewers round the bend, while viewers from other countries might not notice anything strange. It starts off feeling like Cornwall - then you realise that's just your own assumption because it's a popular setting for films, and some of the accents certainly could be Cornish ... or maybe we're in Devon ... or is it Dorset? Ultimately, this made it difficult for me to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the ride.

Moving on - the main character Ed and his wife, daughter and mother in law were all well acted and believable. The boyfriend actor, with his confusingly Welsh accent (wait! Where are we?) not so much. He was seriously wooden and, I felt, poorly directed.

I personally liked the way the film looked and was constructed, with longish scenes (by today's standards) with significant dialogue. That's a win, in my book. The first couple of episodes were a lot of fun, as things got weirder and weirder, but the massive spoiler at the end of episode 2 was disappointing. It turned the final two episodes into a standard "pretty young woman in danger/desperate man falsely accused" piece of schlock, which I've seen enough of in the past twenty years. Can we please have something else? And an ordinance survey map?

Yet another long drawn out non-thriller. As 90 minute TV movie it might have worked but I was bored by the end of the first episode. The plot was predictable with no surprises along the way and the ending was nothing but a series of pure cinematic cliches. We know what is going on, the protagonist knows it as well, but we have to endure four hours of mediocre acting and dialogue drowned out by the over loud incidental music.

Jason Watkins' talent is wasted as the protagonist whom no one believes, Aneurin Barnard is too lightweight for the role and the two main female characters were little more than set dressing. And as for the granny; is dementia the new stick to beat us with as it seems to be popping up everywhere lately.

Still grieving for the death of his son, Ed takes an instant dislike to his naughtier Abbie's new boyfriend Ryan. Things are going wrong for Ed, but who is responsible.

I honestly have no idea what the ridiculously low ratings refer to, definitely not this four part series, without any doubt of Channel five's best offerings, and I'd argue one of the better dramas of 2023 so far.

I certainly missed Crompton's writing skills in the recent series of Silent Witness, he was missed, but his skills were out to good use, bringing this four part drama to life. Channel five dramas can be hit and miss, I'd argue this one was definitely a hit.

Four episodes worked well, it allowed it to nice up through the gears quite quickly, it never felt slow or laboured, and whilst the mystery may be a little obvious, the journey is a very good one.

It's a very well produced drama, it looks great, Dublin looking fantastic.

The acting was excellent, Jason Watkins did a great job, I thought Aneurin Barnard was fantastic, I'm so glad he's been cast in the next series of Doctor Who, what a talent.

8/10.

I guessed what the storyline turned out to be from the beginning! Love Jason Watkins and the scenery lovely, the only reason to watch. Terrible script, a child could write it. Ridiculous coincidences, weird characters, but still must've held my attention because I watched it all! Glad it was only spread over four episodes, the usual six would have been too much. Give it a chance if you have nothing else to watch, at least it's not long winded. But if you actually listen to the dialogue/ script you may laugh out loud! Makes me want to visit Ireland where it's filmed though, beautiful beaches!!!