Stonemouth

When the British get crime drama right, no one does it better, and this is an excellent example

Stonemouth

Reasonably good drama set in Scotland, I can quite put my finger on why it isn't better.

Its lack of narrative drive probably rests in the weakness of the crime and the weakness of the investigation and it just descended into a kitchen sink, soap like morass.

The actors were good but the script banal.

This is a "Top-notch" show! I really enjoyed this series and how it unfolded. I wish it was longer than 2 episodes. I will have to read Iain Banks novel and perhaps his other novel "The Crow Road".

The actors Christian Cooke (Stewart Gilmour), Charlotte Spencer (Ellie Murston), Kevin Mains (Fraser Murston), Jack Greenlees (Norrie Murston), Chris Fulton (Ferg), Naomi Battrick (Grier Murston), Brian Gleeson (Powell Imrie), and, Samuel Robertson (Callum Murston) were portrayed excellently and so believably.

Not to mention how handsome the lead actor (Christian Cooke) with his piercing blue eyes are, and lets not forget to mention the supporting male cast as well (Chris Fulton, Samuel Robertson).

Now the relationship that you see between Ellie and Stewart through the flashbacks is nice to see(it lets you know how they got to where they are in the present). Also, Stewart's relationship with his friend's Ferg and *Cal(whom Stewart came back to Stonemouth his childhood home to be at *his funeral).

I feel that it's a story based on secrets and lies that are behind the death of Stewart's best friend Callum, which prompts him to come home two years later after being chased away.

You can sense a little tension in the air between the Murtson's and the MacAvett's; plus the way the father & brother's of Ellie (Don Murston, Norrie Murston, and Fraser Murston) feel towards Stewart returning home after two years.

Will Stewart be able to find out what happened to his best friend before it's too late?

Christian Cooke really is pretty though. I can't tell if it was the dialogue or the acting that was the problem of if it was the pretty people who made it feel so soapy but it was pretty bad if somewhat exciting at a couple points.

It's difficult to relate this to any kind of novel. If it is, the screen adaptation is just poorly done. The terrible acting does not help redeem the series at all. The first episode is just a mass of confusion, and the second episode is put together with no continuity or care for credibility. People just seem to show up in places at the right times to make the story keep moving, totally ignoring the need the need for logic. One could excuse that lapse if the show were an entertaining one but since it's at the level of a university drama project, that is not an option at all. Overall, a really horrible series with no redeeming factors at all....other than beautiful people doing what they do best...looking beautiful!