Alice & Jack

Odd that this got poor to average ratings, and this series has made me question my faith in reviews. The 5 main cast members gave really great performances, and it was a story about true love, what's not to like? Perhaps it's not everyone's cup of tea, and it's not without fault, but I would advise you to give it a chance as I was swept away by it. It's the best thing I've seen all year. Obviously the two leads were great, but a special mention for Aisling Bea who really is a very good actor. Surely it's only a matter of time before she gets the lead she deserves. I want a friend like Sunil Patel btw. There is a lot of crap available to stream, it's not hard to find, but what is hard to find is a series that really draws you in, and keeps you thinking about it long after it's ended.

I just dont like romantic comedies at all! But this is so much more. The romance is enduring but utterly unorthodox. The comedy is dry and sardonic. Tragedy is the other player which provides the fuel for this wonderful study of love. "love" oozes out of Jack and manifests itself in a so many ways....not just his feelings for Alice.....these facets are worthy of fuller discussion. Credit to the screenwriting and the subtle direction for maintaining a pace which supports the narrative fully. Alice is unconventional in her dealing/management of love....understatement....by the fascination is why? Other characters are "real" and bring value and nuance to the evolving relationship story. Yes the eponymous protaganists can be irritating and even dislikeable....well Alice anyway...but these are realistic characters, real people....not romcom cliches. Bravo!

There are some television dramas that are simply bad: the plotting is implausable, the dialogue clunky, the acting wooden. 'Alice and Jack' doesn't have these problems; but in spite of this, it isn't very good. One problem it faces is a standard challenge for writers of romantic dramas: the viewer is expected to know that the central characters would be good together rather better than the characters themselves, as the drama lies in us watching them overcome the obstacles in their way. The obstacles faced by Jack in this drama are very simple: the Alice we meet is a selfish lunatic, the consequence of some deep family trauma. This makes it hard for the viewer not to simply wish that Jack will run a mile, so the story compensates by making Alice a genius. For example, when she decides to make amends, she simply lets him share in her ultimately successful plan to make millions speculating on oil futures. The whole framing is rather odd, as if her extraordinary qualities somehow excuse her obnoxiousness. The drama's other problem is something it actually does quite well, but does too much of. Most of us have some experience of falling in love, and of that sensation where everything in life seems heightened, in beauty as well as pain. Much of 'Alice and Jack' occurs in a gorgeous, almost hyper-real portrayal of the world; and in small doses, this would be fine, capturing how things might feel to its protagonists as key moments. The problem is that "much of" is a big understatement. Alice and Jack's entire world seems to consist of falling in (and out) of love with each other. This is not a story where mutual affection has to be squeezed in around the mundance realities of life; Alice's financial aptitude ensures there are no arguments about who's going to pay the rent this month, while all sympathetic figures in the story are good looking, and when tragedy strikes in the end, the central characters are both given those mysteriously beautiful and dignified deaths that sadly few people get off the television screen. I know some people have said they would have liked for Alice and Jack's best friends to be better developed, but personally I don't think much promise was missed there: they basically function as emotional support animals, dedicating their lives to the welfare of their fundamantally superior friends.

In summary, you could take a selection of scenes from this and make what looked like a trailer for the greatest love story ever told; but in fact, what we get in full is less of a story and more of a trailer spun out over six parts, all affect and no actual realism. The leading actors do their best with the material, but can't altogether save it.

I get the distinct impression that this show is a love it or hate it show. For me personally I loved it. It's gentle in its approach to 2 very different characters the name sakes of the show.

Jack a gentle Irishman and Alice a self proclaimed hard nose damaged goods lady.

My wife felt they never connected and didn't suit but their differences is what endeared me to them and to the show. Both have lives that seem destined to connect but fought against at every turn.

Periphery characters are also loveable from the best friend and fellow scientist with a blunt matter of factness that's comical but fitting. To Aisling Bea who your heart can only go out to.

All in all this isn't your typically love story but if you want something different and you'll overlook the negative reviews then I think this has got much to offer.

It's no One Day and thank goodness for that. Maybe it's a love story for those who don't relish in love stories. It's certainly no hallmark tale.

Enjoy.

Watching the first episode, it didn't feel like the first one it was like I was missing an episode. I don't understand where and when they became obsessed with each other they just seemed miserable, it was an average meet up with not much chemistry then all of a sudden he's pining over her and they are back and forth over and over, but why ? I'm still halfway through the series but does it get better? Was hoping for a better series to be honest especially with the actors involved. It doesn't feel like years are passing by either, both of them look no different during the time jumps lol should be better.