The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies

When watching a TV drama, a certain amount of suspension of disbelief is often required. For example, in a detective drama like Morse or Vera, the police person usually goes in alone and unarmed to confront the murderer, rather than calling in armed backup and waiting.

But in this series suspension of disbelief is needed all the way through. I'm constantly thinking "that couldn't happen", "she wouldn't say that", "he couldn't do that". The premise of the story is that right at the start, a man turns up in Oxford claiming to be a top climate scientist. Well, no, anyone could look it up and see that he and his supposed research institute doesn't exist. All the way through, the characters have to behave in a ridiculously stupid way for the story to work. In the final episode, it descends to a kind of farcical pantomime.

There are some redeeming features. The acting is fairly good, considering the silly things that the actors have to say and do. The sets and costumes are quite lavish; plenty of licence fee payers' money has been spent producing this.

It's such a joy to see a show with big ideas, big narratives and - whisper it - maybe even a big budget come out of the BBC. Of course, the American networks are still the best at blockbuster tele; recent highlights for me include 'The Power' - the excellent adaptation of Naomi Alderman's sensational book - and Showtime's gripping 'Yellowjackets'. Both series inhabit an exaggerated reality, and although there's countless real-life monsters to rival Alistair Petrie's villain Rob Chance, 'The Following Events...' has a scope and level of ambition that puts me in mind of those two other programmes.

Speaking of real-life monsters, the final episode breaks the fourth wall entirely with actual footage of famous wrong'uns, from Saville to Epstein, as exploited author Cheryl Harker (the excellent Marianne Jean-Baptiste) vents her frustration at power always protecting power. It's a testament to the show's cinematic dexterity that this moment doesn't feel at all out of place.

Rebekah Staton is sublime in the role of Alice Newman, an aspiring fashion designer who spies her long-lost ex-husband cycling thorough the streets of Oxford, cool as a cucumber, 15 years after dissappearing without a trace. Oh, and the bugger had only gone and done a runner with Alice and her family's life savings. What a scoundrel! But now he's got his eyes on a bigger prize. Can Alice uncover the truth and save the day? (It's far more complicated than that, but I don't want to spoil the many delightful twists and turns).

Staton - who deserves to be on TV a heck of a lot more than she is - delivers a nuanced performance of a complex character battling against contradiction, paranoia, anger and - ultimately - a world where powerful men are always given the benefit of the doubt. Even when you've got to look very, very closely to see the doubt. It's not always men, of course, although it usually is, but it is always power. The most powerful in society seem to he held to a much lower standard than everyone else. We don't need rules for the powerful! They have power, ergo they must be honourable and virtuous, and on the occasions they're not, well those are clearly the exception and we can let it slide just this once.

Sorry, got a bit carried away.

'The Following Events...' tackles a lot of big themes and succeeds in making valuable comments about each one, whilst never overshadowing the story. And what a cracking story it is! Even if it is based on a pack of lies.

To be honest, I was hooked from the first episode. So much so that I watched the whole thing in one night.

It's funny, tackles some gritty issues in such relatable ways, and overall has a good message.

I'm hoping for a second series!

I was tempted to give it a nine because it could have maybe been wrapped up in three to four episodes, but I decided it was fun and pleasurable and well worth the time.

The subject it deals with is awful but it is also so normal. And I think that this gives a good, honest, peek into it. For those who think it's a fantasy, either lucky you or more likely you are one of the baddies!

The worlds of two women crash together, brought together by Doctor Robert Chance, who on the surface is a prominent Scientist, fighting for the future of the Earth, but underneath a confidence trickster, and a man who preys on women.

It's a deliciously dark and twisted series, it takes a little bit of time for it to open up, but when it does, it's addictive viewing.

Initially I thought it was merely a black comedy, but as it develops, it morphs into a psychological drama, with domestic abuse as its focus. It proves one thing, the abused can be ordinary, down to Earth people, or indeed the ritch and famous, people you'd look at and say 'it would never happen to them.'

It's well paced, full of suspense, and contains some genuinely upsetting moments, expect the unexpected. The final episode is seriously satisfying viewing.

Each of the main characters has a chance to shine, Alistair Petrie, Marianne Jean Baptiste and Rebekah Staton all have some incredible scenes.

Truly satisfying drama.

9/10.

Had high hopes for this and it started fairly well but quickly got just plan nonsensical. And downright irritating This person was supposed to have conned countless people, created endless false identities, yet none of his victims ever speak up. Worse, when he creates a fictional identity as a climate scientist heading a major climate action organisation based in Greenland, no one checks his credentials and Oxford University backs him. I was 50/50 till the last episode, hoping it would redeem itself with a good ending, but no - it was totally ludicrous. It was like they wanted a big finale, so just ignored anything that had happened in the previous episodes, all common sense or any interest in reality. Not a single character did what normal people would do at any stage in the five episodes. Just annoyed that I persisted with it, hoping it would get better.