The Cuckoo

The Cuckoo is an entertaining, albeit rather clichéd series, and although some big names star, it somehow just doesn't quite make it to be a top series.

I did enjoy the performances of Lee Ingleby and Claire Goose, and I thought that Freya Hannan-Mills was good as Alice Heynes, but, in my opinion, Jill Halfpenny was miscast in the role of Sian Gregson, and I didn't find her character all that convincing.

I also felt that the script occasionally veered towards the silly, and some scenarios left me shaking my head, particularly in the fourth and final episode, but all in all, it was pretty good, and worth a watch.

Claire Goose, Lee Ingleby and Jill Halfpenny are all well known and respected actors who I assume can pick and choose their parts so I am worried that they all decided this was the best work available. I'm not saying Cuckoo is rubbish, so far it's actually better than most crime/suspense dramas but it isn't going to become a classic that people talk about for years either.

As usual with Ch5 dramas the budget is tight and it shows, Half way through the 2nd episode I realised it was supposed to be set in the Lake District but it was obviously filmed elsewhere for tax reasons. Overall the plot is less predictable than some dramas and it passes the time pleasantly enough.

As usual all the good reviews prior to release come from the marketing team and the magazines and websites persuaded, however so, to look on favourably.

Here is where you get the honest reviews. I agree with all previous comments.

A clichéd production in terms of script, direction and visuals. Unrealistic/unbelievable actions by all the principal cast and by the police! :). When you consider the number of stages a script goes through before production you wonder why nobody had the power to halt the process and send the writers back to the drawing board.

Then they leave us with the possibility of a second series! Please, no.

Disappointing overall, lacklustre script and some unbelievable scenario's, especially the immediate bonding relationship between Jill Halfpenny and Claire Goose! The ending is extremely predictable, and its nothing we haven't see before. Somebody also needed to give Jill Halfpennys character a serious change in dress sense, as she more resembled a character out of This is England set in the 1980's than a middle aged woman of current times! Channel 5 need to up their game big time or they will continue to lose out to the likes of BBC, ITV and Channel 4, as this follows in the same footsteps as the equally poor drama Coma!

With C5 dramas you never quite know what you're going to get, they're sometimes surprising in ways you didn't hope for.

This one isn't the worst or the best, its OK-ish. Yes the script was cheesy and had many improbabilities. Like someone driving by who sees a room to let advertised, pops in and happens to have three grand cash in her purse to slap down as a deposit. I wish that was me...

But on the plus side it was reasonably well made and had a strong cast with the likes of Lee Ingleby and Jill Halfpenny.

It was well paced, (its just four episodes) and had some big twists, if you like psychological dramas it's worth checking out and a fun ride (if you can suspend your disbelief at some of the plotting).

If you're wondering where its filmed, we're in County Wicklow, Ireland, which really is as nice as it looks here.