The Ridge

Having recently watched The Gone, another crime series set in NZ, I hoped for an equally good production but sadly not. I wasnt a huge fan of the lead actress in Karen Pirie beforehand. Lauren Lyles' acting is very one dimensional & she's fast becoming typecast. Her characters' behaviour in this is so over the top it becomes irritating. The Fiances' acting is slightly awkward to watch & 1 or 2 of the supporting cast have been handed roles (Fiancés Mother for example) that really use a sledgehammer to get the point across (Dementia) and are embarrassing. The camera work is all over the place & annoying. There have been far better crime series set in NZ (The Gone being one of them) that this series pales in comparison. Add to that, I dont think I can watch anything else with Lauren Lyle in.

I just didn't buy this. It all seemed too contrived and unconvincing to take seriously. There was a serious, dramatic story embedded in there somewhere, but it just didn't develop in a realistic way and reach its full potential. The main character was all over the place due to poor writing and plot development, so became impossible to take seriously.

I would give it a chance. I did make it through all six episodes. I think it does recover, and the whole female anti-hero persona is often unpleasant and not easy to like but also, maybe partly because of that, quite good fun. The mystery is not terribly unpredictable, but I liked how some characters develop beyond the initial stereotype, and there were some off-the-wall ideas (which I am not going to spoil). Plot holes, yes, but who cares - leave (part of) your brain at home and enjoy.

Once again BBC wastes viewers money on Lauren Lyle who is truly a one trick pony. The rest of the cast are okay, but the plot is poor at best often sliding rapidly downhill to utter garbage. Lyle plays her usual abysmally unlikable character who insults or demeans everyone whilst playing the part of a thoroughly unlikable junkie doctor. Watch it if you like, but I suffered through six episodes and wished that I hadn't.

Too slow, bad script, bad acting & looks like it was shot by a 4 year old with a 90's camcorder.

Too many zooms & wobbly camera work just leave you feeling sea sick & distract from a limited plot, making 45 min episodes seem much longer.

Make better use of your free-time and seek out anything else Lauren Lyle is in instead.