Wreck

Loved this series. A couple of things I loved:

• I love that it's a genre bending show: comedy, horror, drama in all one. And they are not afraid to really go there with each genre. The funny moments are really funny. The horror moments are gory. The dramatic beats are sincerely heartfelt.

• the gay and Asian representation. Who knew a UK BBC show would ever give us some much-needed representation and actually succeed? Vivian is delightful and we finally have a gay Asian love interest.

• the pacing is great - in six episodes there's a lot there but it's never overwhelming. I think this show deserves a second series.

I'm so glad to see this series starting to catch some fire. It was a surprise of the year. I caught it late night on the BBC and then went to watch the rest on iPlayer. Wow - there are some snobby, mean-spirited people leaving user reviews on IMDB. "I sat through all 6 hours but I didn't enjoy it" smells off to me. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but some people get a kick out of being rude. Maybe it's an older crowd who don't get it? (I'm 34) Lighten up. Anyway, on with the review...

Horror comedy is extremely difficult to get right as both can be objective in their own ways, but this show managed it for me, and did it with aplomb. Leads Jamie (an excellent Oscar Kennedy) and Vivien (Thaddea Graham, also excellent) are living and working in the bowels of an ocean liner. But, Jamie is secretly there to find out what happened to his missing sister. She had been working on the ship previously but had gone missing. It's a simple enough setting but it works very nicely. I wasn't going to watch at first, as a lot of reviews said it was a duck hunting people for six episodes and that did sound a little too daft for me...this was not at all what the show was. It's so much more than that! It's a slightly slow starter, but it sets the scene in a fun way and it had me hooked from the end of the first episode - an inspired move to kill off who they did in episode one. Episode 4-6 were the strongest for me, a rollercoaster that had me on the edge of my seat. I liked the way the show grew with each episode and wasn't just crazy from the off.

What follows are six episodes of blood, laughs, and genuine heart. That was perhaps what I loved most about this show. Despite all of the silliness, it has characters that feel real and vulnerable. They could have done a Scream Queens or Harpers Island and killed someone every 5 minutes, and although there is a fair body count (4 or 5), they smartly opted to invest in the characters more, which paid off with the stakes being raised higher. The bond formed between Viven and Jamie was especially beautiful. It was nice to see a male/female friendship without romance. I'm happy to hear the show has already been renewed as I want more of this dynamic duo ASAP. The performances from everyone were stellar. American actor Donald Sage Mackay really stood out for me as the Cruise Director - he gives a really fun and often terrifying performance.

I won't spoil the plot, but it is genuinely surprising and there are at least three big twists that caught me way off guard. The writer really played a blinder with that very last reveal. It kind of goes to a political place near the end but is never preachy, and perhaps the messaging isn't new, but it does need repeating and I appreciated it.

Wreck showcases its knowledge of horror history with amazing references and easter eggs throughout, and it was a lot of fun spotting them (although very occasionally distracting; but I imagine viewers less horror obsessive wouldn't mind). I think the friends I watched the show with were tiring of me pausing to point something out in the background.

Is Wreck perfect? No. It's a really good time that keeps you guessing, tensing and laughing from start to finish. It felt like it had shades of Edgar Wright but also a little Giallo and even some Romero when it came to the social commentary. It really is a show worth binging.

Bring on series two.

This was such a fun discovery for me - think Below Deck meets Hot Fuzz with a dash of Scream and Scream Queens. Each episode just got better and better. After reading some of the other user reviews, this is clearly a show that some will appreciate and others will not. I think some reviewers have missed a couple things. Wreck is firmly set in a Slasher universe, and so tonally it's a little madcap, but it also has a lot more depth than most slasher films. It's clear that a lot of thought and love has gone into the making of this show. It features all the other horror conventions we've come to know and love, but also proper, real feeling 3D dimensional characters - and hooray for proper queer representation that isn't all doom and gloom. I'll admit it, I'm a grown woman, and not the target audience, but I love this show. It kept me guessing to the end, and I never saw the BIG twist coming...

Season 2 of Wreck isn't just a continuation; it's an elevation, a thrilling ride that surpasses the expectations set by the first season. This time around, the show has truly hit its stride, delivering a masterful blend of dark humor, suspense, and developed characters. It's a significant step up, and you can feel it in every scene.

Ryan J. Brown has that rare ability to fuse dark humor with genuine suspense. This is some of the best british YA tv in years. Brown weaves his story with such effortless precision, each unexpected twist pulling you deeper into the story. I, for one, am eager to see what he does next.

What really distinguishes S2 is how it broadens the world introduced in the first season, delving deeper into the mysterious Velorum. The pacing is spot-on, maintaining a taut tension while also allowing the characters the space they need to breathe and develop. If you found yourself drawn in by S1, then you'll love 2. It's a crazy show that knows where it's going and exactly how to get there.

If you're watching this thinking it's going to be a hardcore comedy then you're in for a disappointment. However, as a mystery thriller with horror and comedy elements then I really enjoyed it.

Six episodes was the adequate amount of time to introduce, investigate and resolve the case (but leave enough left to lead into series 2 which I am looking forward to).

The writer has also peppered the script with callbacks to famous films of the last 30 years, which is a fun little Easter egg to keep an eye on.

I wasn't really familiar with any of the cast beyond Liam from Ladhood, but they all played their parts well (even if you hated them).