No Return

You don't see Sheridan Smith on TV for ages then she's... yes back again (and on top form), starring in a new 4-parter about a family on holiday in Turkey dealing with the arrest of their 16 year old son for a serious crime.

Written by Danny Brocklehurst who penned the excellent Brassic the opening episode was a confident piece of drama. Production values were good all round, it was well cast the actors were on form and it had a clever score. Great cameo by the Turkish lawyer acting for the family.

It's not going to win awards but overall I really enjoyed the story, it tackles strong and important issues like consent, moral dilemmas and sexual identity, but at the same time it was a thoroughly entertaining drama.

Very unlikeable characters, impossible to have sympathy for any of them. Unoriginal, drunken Brits on holiday story. Predictable, just dull. By the end you just don't care what happens.

Make your own mind up , no spoilers here.

It's a poor storyline that hobbles along. Some reasonable acting making the most of it all. Sheridan Smith doesn't come anywhere near some of her previous performances whilst playing the abrasive worried mother. These problems are offset to a degree by a couple of notable roles such as " I am the circus master" solicitor.

Poorly scripted plot with even dumber subplots and an ending that beggars belief. We watched it because it was shot in Spain but all we learned was that crappy shows can be made in Spain just as easily as anywhere else in the world.

I feel I am being generous giving this 5, but it was just about watchable. Very serious flaws, though. Mainly the writing and direction. I find it hard to believe that Sheridan Smith would have willingly performed the role in the way she did. Her expressions in the courtroom scenes were especially poor. The mawkishness of the storylines steadily descended in to ever deeper cringe.

Having written all that, I'm asking myself whether it does really deserve the 5/10. I'd better sign off before I adjust it downwards.