The Way

This was a really odd piece of TV. It was almost impossible to pigeon hole and I think that's its major problem - there was too much going on and it mixed too many genres.

There was magical realism, sci-fi touches, documentary realism, theatrical dialogue and monologues - all roughly connected by some heavy-handed politicking.

There was a big lack of attention to credible characters and storyline and I'll be surprised if many people will see it through to the end - its just too messy a beast and one with very little pay-off.

At the end of the day a clunky experimental drama with a political agenda that will appeal to a minority and quickly disappear from memory.

I think perhaps people are hating on this show because they don't "get it".

It reminded me a little bit of "then you run" which also got bad reviews because viewers seemed to be expecting something realistic and sensical.

This show similarly is at times, dramatic and nonsensical in an almost comedic way. However, you wouldn't have to look far abroad from Wales to see places where simar circumstances to this premise have played out.

My point is - viewers in the UK who leave negative reviews believe so strongly they are safe from this type of upheaval or civil war that they are calling it dystopian.

Meanwhile, the Met has been using facial recognition on live security feeds in Greater London since 2020, have trialed and may continue to use Clearview AI (an extremely flawed AI policing system) and overseeing all online traffic through GCHQ.

Dystopian? I don't think so.

Writing is fantastic, especially in late episodes 2 and 3. I recommend a watch to anyone that enjoys analogous and meta-level dark comedy.

There have been some great Welsh dramas on tv in recent years such as Hinterland, Keeping Faith, Hidden, The Accident and Bang but this isn't a scratch on any of them.

With some of the top actors from Welsh tv in a prime time slot, I thought it would hold much promise but it soon began to lose the plot (or maybe it was just me!).

I am sure some of the incidental music was taken from Tales Of The Unexpected but this was far from what I expected!

It felt a bit like 1984 at times (or maybe that was just due to the reference of the miners strike!) but, like that film, it didn't deliver.

I endured the whole series mainly because I loved Mali Harries in Hinterland, and apart from a underwhelming role in the first series of Keeping Faith, this has been her biggest role since and such a let down.

Disappointingly giving it a generous 5.

The Driscoll family are forced to leave Port Talbot, and forced to leave Wales itself, after they find themselves heavily caught up in protesting a potential shutdown of The Port Talbot steel works.

A very poignant drama for this point in time, the works is indeed the very heart of Port Talbot, and right now where its very future is in jeopardy, it's relevant.

Episode one was very straightforward and easy to follow, episodes Two and Three however are very much off the wall. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, and I understand why some people have disliked it, I however, really enjoyed it.

As I watched, it put me very much in mind of a sketch The worm that turned, in which men Did all made to wear dresses, ruled over by women, and try to escape into Wales. It really is that zany.

The acting is tremendous, and there are some big names, Aneurin Bernard, Luke Evans and Sheen himself, but I'd argue it's Mali Harris and Steffan Rhodri that steal it.

I honestly think this is one of those shows that will garner further appreciation years down the line. One of those I'd like to think that's ahead of its time.

7/10.

A very strange drama.. I started watching the first episode and almost gave up as it made no sense, was full of plot holes, inconsistencies, impossibilities, non sequiturs etc. But then i persevered as it became car crash tv... i had to watch just to see how it would pan out.

I can see from the other reviews that it is marmite tv. People either love it or hate it. For those that love it there is an element of "emperors new clothes". There was some good acting, some poor overacting. Loved Sheen's cameo. The whole thing seemed to be a dramatic equivalent to Sheen's speech to the Welsh football team from a couple of years ago (check it on you tube).

Worth watching - you might like it. If you forget about the logic of the plot and appreciate the visuals it is interesting... the equivalent of eating magic mushrooms.