The Guest's opening episode suffers from classic BBC drama syndrome - it takes its sweet time getting anywhere interesting. The first 20 minutes feel like watching paint dry as we trudge through establishment shots and mundane character introductions.
Eve Myles and Gabrielle Creevy circle each other with the subtlety of a freight train, telegraphing the "something's not quite right here" vibes so heavily you'll want to shout at your screen.
But stick with it. Once Matthew Barry's script stops treating viewers like we've never seen a psychological thriller before, it begins to reveal genuine intrigue. Myles, thankfully, knows exactly what show she's in - her Fran is all sharp edges wrapped in cashmere, delivering calculated kindness with surgical precision. Creevy's Ria feels authentically lost, making her susceptibility to manipulation believable rather than frustrating.
The Welsh setting provides welcome authenticity, and the class dynamics Barry weaves throughout add substance beyond the standard "boss from hell" template. Ashley Way's direction improves significantly in the episode's final act, where genuine tension finally emerges from all that careful character work.
Yes, it's derivative. Yes, it starts slower than a Sunday afternoon. But there's enough craft here to suggest better episodes ahead. The Guest may not reinvent the workplace thriller, but it shows promise of executing it with style.
Just maybe make a cup of tea for the opening - you'll need something to keep you awake until it gets going. Let's see where Ep 2 get us to.
