Desperate Measures

"Desperate Measures" suffers from having an illogical and, frankly, impossible plot. The villain is akin to a cartoon character while the bank manager and police officer are little different. That said, the principal characters do their best with what they've been given - ridiculous plot, a plethora of unlikely circumstances, and a fairly mundane script.

A less likely gang of bank robbers is not just hard to imagine, it's impossible to imagine. How a nervous bank cashier is transformed into their leader is a question better not even asked. However, if all of the impossibilities and other failings are put to one side, the series can be watched and even enjoyed. The story does move along at a decent pace and is interesting despite being so implausible. Rather oddly, I found myself reasonably gripped despite its deficiencies, and award it a 5, which somewhat surprises me.

Bank Employee Rowan Suffers a series of setbacks, she's made redundant, her estranged father returns, and her son Finn gets into trouble with a sadistic drug dealer.

Don't expect Desperate Measures to act as a straight up, feasible, run of The Mill series, it isn't. It's far fetched beyond belief, so you really do need to suspend your disbelief, if you can do that, youl will really enjoy this four part series.

The running time helps, four fast paced episodes, each offers something different, and will have you on that edge of your seat.

The extraordinary lengths a mother will go to for the love of her son, poor Rowan doesn't half have some bad luck.

When I saw that Amanda Abbington and Warren Brown were both appearing I had high hopes, and for the most part, it lived up to my expectations.

If you're scratching your head thinking that Manchester looks a little unusual, it's because it's Budapest, some interesting looking buildings are seen.

8/10.

This series is very good, I enjoyed it.

The fact is 4 episodes long which is the perfect length for this storyline.

A good person, a mother of a son who made bad choices, is forced to take "desperate measures" to get her son back.

Screenplay is very good and the story progresses well.

It has twists and turns leaving the viewer keen to watch what happens next.

Very good casting who deliver good performances.

The actor playing the main villain is quite believable in his role.

Storyline also shows how banks can be so insensitive to their employees as they are obsessed with the financial side and profits.

Overall, a very good series !

Channel 5 dramas are not known for their quality at the best of times, and this is certainly not one of their best.

It's entertaining enough to watch all episodes in one evening if you have nothing better to do, and can get past the first episode which doesn't really come alive until the last 5 minutes. Be prepared to suspend belief in just about everyone and everything ... Cops who couldn't find a criminal right under their noses unless they were waving a placard with "I'm a robber" written on it and a Drug Lord who is a true pantomime villain with a gun

From the cops to the robbers, the acting and script is pretty poor and the ending ridiculous.

Amanda Abbington did her best as a cashier who comes under suspicion when her bank is robbed but she had too little support to save the show.

Production values were poor, not sure where it was meant to be set, but it was shot in Hungary, for budget reasons I guess? Main problem was the cast, there were some awful actors in this, e.g. Her wooden boss and the HR woman, the baddies, her son and his friends etc.

The script was also weak and clunky, it was a potboiler plot full of improbablities with nothing original.

One you can safely give a swerve, it was terrible all round. Find something better and don't waste your time.