The Dry

The fact that this show isn't well known blows my mind - it's genuinely the best show I've seen so far this year. The whole cast is incredible - especially Roisin Gallagher who shifts from comedy to tragedy to pathos and carries the show on her shoulders. It's been described as an 'Irish fleabag', which does it a disservice - it's own thing with a mixture of darkness, drama, addiction and dysfunctional family dynamics told in a deeply sarcastic, darkly humorous voice. Both hands together praying for season two!

I saw The Guardian describe this as an "Irish Fleabag" which really piqued my interest. This might be controversial, but I enjoyed this way more than Fleabag! I'm sober, and so it felt really real to me- painful and gritty and incredibly true to life. Sorcha Richardson's soundtrack added a beautiful depth to the series as well. I hope there will be a series two.

... but the first thing I did was laugh.

I think to enjoy this series you have to have enjoyed Shameless. Some describe this family as clichéd but that falls short. Dysfunctional doesn't cover it either.

The main character returns home and to her completely over the top family members in an attempt to maintain her fragile, six-month sobriety. She couldn't have made a worse choice.

The eight-part series details everyone else's shortcomings as well as her own, making you want to reach for a drink yourself. But it is very well done, humorous, gritty and for someone who finds the theme close to the heart, very difficult to watch in parts.

It is the woman's sponsor who is the lone voice of sanity and some hard truths. The series is very well done, very well written and very well acted.

Some would like to see additional seasons but I think what had to be said and done was accomplished in these eight, half-hour episodes.

Isn't it wonderful when you watch something and you don't have high expectations and then episode by episode it develops into something that raises all sorts of emotions. I loved this drama. I didn't laugh once, smirked a bit, but didn't laugh, so the comedy level wasn't up there for me. But, I loved it all the same. Great script and wonderful wholly believable performances from a great cast. This is a superb piece of filmmaking. I hope it gets the viewing and adulation it deserves.

Gee - how many required characters! Watch it, you might find it surprises you too. It left me feeling thoughtful and sad and I love it when a show can do that.

I enjoyed this original and quirky Irish comedy penned by Nancy Harris. Roisin Gallagher is perfect as Shiv the recovering alcoholic who returns from London to the bosom of her Dublin family hoping for a fresh start and finding an initial mix of bewilderment and scepticism from family members all facing their own unique challenges. Ciaran Hinds is superb as Tom, the paternal head of the family as is Pom Boyd as Bernie. Janet Moran excels too as Shiv's force of nature sponsor Karen. The piece as a whole is at times hilarious and at others quite tender and it's non judgmental lightness of touch and tone feels refreshing.