The Castaways

Tbis popped up on boxing day and seemed intriguing. It started of ok then became a chick flick and lost all senses. A terrible show with plenty of plot holes and annoying acting by both main characters.

I can't understand how the director or author thought to proceed with such stupidity in the discovery of the whereabouts, there was nothing intelligent about this and it seems to underestimate the IQ of the audience.

The final scenes also dragged, I found myself forwarding a lot of it as I'd already committed, but they just became annoying and it turned from a thriller into a full on chick flick. I would not recommend this and encourage you to save your time.

Episode 1 is nothing to write home about and if I'm honest, and it wasn't Easter, I would not have watched any further. As it is, I found myself starting to watch episode 2 in the hope that this would get better. I mean, who doesn't like a good old fashioned marooned on a desert island story, especially when it has characters who survive a plane crash! Background stories were vaguely interesting but didn't really add much to the plot. There are a few annoying scenes when one thinks for heavens sake, you're on an island and need to be in survival mode and not rock the boat the more you find out about your fellow survivors.

Anyway, it didn't get any better but I found myself watching it all.

If you have nothing better to do and appreciate Sheridan Smith (even though I did find her annoying in a couple of scenes, but overall, terrific actress), maybe you'll like it more than the 6 stars I gave it - which was being generous!

Whilst looking for something to binge I stumbled across The Castaways. The plot looked interesting, so I thought I would give it a go.

The first episode is interesting, even the second. However, then things just get a little too 'out there' for me. Maybe convoluted is the better term of expression.

You start to feel invested in the characters, then something happens and you are like oh okay, but it is not in a good way, it feels like the director/author has just thrown everything at the screen hoping it will stick. You start to dislike everyone involved and I battled to watch the end. Shame.

The scathing reviews of this show are a bit over-the-top I must say. It's not that bad, in fact, I would even go as far as to say its good. Not brilliant by any stretch, but at less than 5 hours in total, it's decent enough to waste away an evening or two with some mindless escapism. Now I haven't read the book, nor was I aware of it's existence until now, so this review is based on being standalone and will not be compared to the literature.

The story interchanges between "then", which is about Lori, who is stranded on an uninhabited island following a plane crash. And "now", which follows her sister Erin, a journalist who's obsession with finding Lori has understandably taken over her life. Months have passed since the plane fell from the sky and marooned a handful of survivors on the island and over the course of the story we learn that there are several survivors who have a good reason to never be found. Things go missing, mystery traitors sabotage progress, and despite apparently being a team, the isolated group start to turn on each other until the now and then catch up with each other as we enter the climax of the story. All along the way, Erins investigation drives the plot and reveals the secrets of the past.

There's nothing here that is groundbreaking, the dialogue can be iffy but the actors mostly play their parts well and the mystery elements keep you guessing throughout. The main downside for me was the little things that take the realism away. They settle in to life on a desert island remarkably easily, with little struggle and are mostly perfectly presented throughout. No sunburn or tanning to be seen, never do we see them struggle for food or water and the rate they seem to learn how to twine, thatch and build from the islands limited resources is quite remarkable.

That all being said, the story and mystery is entertaining enough to make this worth a watch, even if you do have to suspend your disbelief sometimes and ignore the odd plot hole. As long as you don't go in expecting Emmy worthy television and are prepared for some mindless entertainment, then you won't be disappointed.

6/10.

And you will not be dissapointed.

If however you would think it will show similar struggle to survive, you will be hugely dissapointed. There is almost nothing about this, how to settle on a deserted island with no human presence at all. From one part to another there are huts, they know how to fish, they have food and water, although complaining it is not sufficient.

Of course setting is fantastic, nature itself is worth watching.

The plot is very unrealistic and sometimes ridiculous, but the scale of it is not more, than in an average criminal story.

Acting is average and uneven. I am afraid Sheridan Smith is not convincing at all. The best of the cast is Lasarus Ratuere.

So, if it rains and you have already walked your dog, make yourself a nice cup of tea and relax watching this beautiful island.