Pren ar y Bryn

I was initially drawn in by the quirky characters and interesting cultural undercurrent of the Welsh setting - but I found many aspects grating ( the music, the whining, and the near-constant HYSTERIA of most of the main characters).

I watched to the end just to find out what happened, but by the end I disliked the show, was very unsatisfied, and was sorry I wasted my time.

This show has some plot similarities to several other shows such as Bad Sisters and even Fargo, but without many positive qualities to justify putting up with the grating, selfish, self-destructive characters.

( Maybe you might like it if you have plenty of time on your hands, enjoy spooky 70's-sounding jazz music soundtracks, and enjoy watching 'lost' characters screw themselves up even more. )

Except for Richard Harrington, I knew absolutely nothing of anyone in or anything about Tree on a Hill before watching the first episode. The opening credits and theme music drew me in. The series starts off slow, but the characters - even the most quirky are somehow relatable - are very well-written and acted, and the wacky plot becomes more and more compelling as it unfolds. It's worth watching if only for the production design and the music, both of which are phenomenal. Fans of David Lynch and Wes Anderson will find a lot to enjoy. The series gets better with each episode, so stick with it! I can't wait for Season 2.

True to form quirky, dark humor Welsh production that feels more like a stage play than a tv series. If you are looking for realism, logic or feasibility then look elsewhere. However, if you enjoy oddball people, true love, quiet strength and a willingness to let the series unfold slowly then you will find this series refreshing in the sense that there is none other like it. The acting from the cast was superb and the visuals were rich and textured. The storyline is a cover-up for a murder but what transpires between the deed and the resulting chaos is a simultaneously loud and quiet roller coaster ride. A pearl, if you will, of a unique series.

The premise is interesting and the acting is wonderful, but it is just a bit too much. Welsh-ness plays a huge part in the comedic aspects and is usually successful, especially the playing of the Welsh choral music on vinyl by Alex - the eccentric and mildly terrifying criminal bully. But- Nia Roberts who sometimes sounds like an Actor in a farce mocking Welsh accents (the ah at the end of each word when she's agitated winds up like nails on a chalkboard by episode three) is just too over the top in her acting.

The rest of the cast are just this side of farce so that the dark and very Welsh humor can make you spit out your drink with laughter and keeping track of the myriad schemes and plotting of these characters can get a bit confusing.

I found the background music annoying- discordant, it seems to be trying too hard to be quirky and atmospheric in an attempt to provide a Twin Peaks vibe - and failing.

It is interesting to watch the dynamics in this small town , one that seems like every other one in the world, but portraying so many attributes that are uniquely Welsh.

I could have done with far fewer scenes of the scrawny Rhodri Meilir in his dingy underpants.