Landscapers

A strange adaptation mixing fantasy with reality but I'm not really sure that it worked.

It wasn't badly acted or anything but i think I'd have preferred a more traditional handling of the subject.

I often find British crime dramas to either be so desaturatedly bleak that they're a slog to watch, or too cartoonish to take seriously - Landscapers is neither and instead takes its filmic cue from the murderous couple's adoration for old romance and westerns. As such the four episode miniseries is alive with action scenes, arch fourth wall deconstructions, monochrome melodrama, soft focus romanticism and everything in between. Its layered restlessness accompanied by some charged performances and a deep empathy for the characters (and people) gave it a strange charm and I found myself completely won over by it. Definitely worth a gander.

This show held me until episode 4, when it all but descended into farce and got too clever for its own good.

It could easily have been told in 3 taut episodes. For me the breaking of the 4th wall in ep4 (which began in ep3) didn't belong, and was an unnecessary distraction.

The best way I can think to describe this show is an artisanal docudrama, and it works. The scene cuts are flawless and the cinematography dark and vivid. The characters are well cast and well acted, Coleman slays as usual. It's an interesting story, if not a bit odd.

I never much post reviews on series here, but this one really caught my attention. Was very surprised the score wouldn't be higher.

I have to applaud the director and writers, for bringing such a creative story telling, of a very simple murder case, in some way. They focussed on all the back stories, dug deep in the past of the characters and done a great job on finding a different way to bring it to the screen. Although the last episode was a bit confusing and symbolic to me.

All the performances are outstanding. Special mentions to Kate O'Flynn and David Thewlis. Colman was good, but... I would start to like seeing some less typical Colman tweeks. I have seen this character before in other work of you.

I absolutely would recommend to see this... it's quite dark, but also funny and disturbing. But it also carries a lot of heart and emotions. Very smart story telling, and I can't wait to see the first movie of Will Sharpe now.