Obsession

I find it odd that the description for this series doesn't admit to being a 100% remake of the mesmerising film starring Juliette Binoche & Jeremy Irons from '92. I mean there is dialogue ripped from it verbatim. Its not a bad series but could've been better. And nowhere near as psychologically demented, captivating or shocking. If you want to watch a true fkd up psychosexual drama/tragedy, with two huge indie stars from the 90's in one of the true indie cult film favourites of the 90's ? Go watch "Damage". The movie is legit. Not this watered down, Adrian Lyne lite version. And although Charlie Murphy (Anna) does an admiral job, NO ONE does that watery, luminously mysterious, sucking the soul out of you brown eyed stare like Juliette Binoche. NO ONE.

Started watching this because Richard Armitage is in it. Quickly devolved into hate-watching two utterly reprehensible individuals selfishly causing chaos and wrecking lives.

William is a star pediatric surgeon, long married, who becomes obsessed with his son Jay's girlfriend Anna. Jay tells her he wants her all to himself, and we're also told someone once committed suicide over her. So what I want to know is, what's so damn special and irresistible about Anna? I sure don't see it. She certainly doesn't make me think "wow, I wish I looked like her" (I especially hated her haircut). So she must have pheromones that pack one hell of a punch or a gold-plated vajayjay, is all I can guess. Anna comes across creepy and manipulative. She loves to play head games to make herself seem mysterious ("learn to love the questions", seriously?). Anyone with any sense would find that annoying as hell, not irresistible.

Honestly, the most fun part of this series for me was frequently yelling "What the hell is wrong with you?" at both William and Anna. The sex scenes were laughable, since Anna is always ready to go within 5 seconds and apparently immune to both STDs and pregnancy since condoms never seem to enter the picture.

"A member of Parliament falls passionately in love with his son's fiancée. They pursue their affair with obsessive abandon despite the dangers of discovery and what it would do to his complacent life and his son...." Sound familiar? This is the plot of the fabulously erotic 1992 film "Damage" starring Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche. (Based on the novel by Josephine Hart.) Change MP to Dr. And you have "Obsession." Both even have the initial moment of locking eyes across a crowded room. Don't get me wrong-- I have a crush on Richard Armitage, and he's a worthy successor to my all-time heartthrob Jeremy (who, let's face it, is getting too old for this sort of thing). And who doesn't love a good, all-consuming erotic obsession that wrecks a bunch of lives? I'm no killjoy.

But check out the 1992 film, too, and the novel while you're at it.

P. S. In "Damage," the fiancee is also Anna, and the wife is also Ingrid.

Well produced and shot, but why didn't the writers make the characters smarter? Just because you're a genius surgeon doesn't necessarily mean you know how to successfully have an affair. Here are some handy tips:

• Turn off text message notifications. It only serves as a way to alert your spouse that something's up. Same goes for taking calls at strange times of the day or in important meetings/events.

• Don't stare off into space like you've been dealt the worst news possible. Your spouse will ask if everything's okay and you'll have to lie.

• Avoid lying if you're not good at it.

• Don't let your phone ring until a coworker notices and asks you to answer it.

• Don't take calls from your lover in the presence of other people. One side of a conversation can still speak volumes.

It's like the main character skipped the class on "discretion."

This was a very unsexy letdown, due to completely lacking writing and plot. I watched this for Richard Armitage who is, frankly, too good of an actor for such a lame script: 2 stars for him alone. If you want sexy Richard Armitage, stick to the safe-for-work North & South miniseries.

I understand that it's labeled a thriller but for such ominous music to be playing during supposedly passionate scenes is just bizarre and a huge turnoff. Am I gonna be jumpscared? It's confusing. Blue Velvet, Cruel Intentions, and Handmaiden are good examples of movies that successfully toe the line between sexy and unsettling; this wasn't it.

The female lead came off as super creepy due to the unrealistic and lacking writing of the show, so it was hard to want to watch past the first episode. On top of that, there was just very little chemistry between the leads. The man had more onscreen chemistry with his wife than on the woman he was supposed to be cheating on her with.