Mix Tape

This is the best limited series I have seen for many years. In fact it is a high quality movie presented in four parts. The story is interesting, but it's execution is what makes this show a 10.

The screenplay is superb. It's best moments are when the story is hinted at, not spoon fed to us - the writers treat the audience with respect.

The direction is also a standout, again using understatement to make greater emotional impact. The use of flashbacks and current timelines is fluid and never misses a beat. Again presented to allow the audience to draw their own conclusions & interpretations.

And the acting.....fantastic! Every role was so perfectly cast and they all delivered. In particular the young & old Daniel & Alison. All four were superb, but I must single out Florence Hunt who played the young Alison. To me her convincing performance set up the story so well.

And last but not least, the Music. Used to perfection and ensured my emotions bubbled over, especially in the last episode. Well done to all on a most memorable viewing experience. Thank you.

I found this tv drama emotionally engaging - it had me hooked right to the end - despite it containing a few flaws. I am of an age to remember compiling cassettes made up of my favourite songs - so I could relate to both time periods (many of the songs chosen were quite obscure, though). I did find it irritating that, despite Alison and Daniel both being professional writers, they are amazingly inarticulate at explaining their actions, or expressing their feelings. It does enable the series to create and prolong misunderstandings, so has dramatic value, but does seem rather contrived. Also, their partners are portrayed as being self-centred and insensitive, which helps justify the betrayals of Alison and Dan, but one wonders how the relationships have survived so long with these attitudes. Finally, the actresses who play the younger and older versions of Alison, whilst good in themselves, bear no likeness to each other, which stretches credibility. One reviewer on this site made the interesting suggestion that Lily James would have been a better match for the older Alison (presumably she was either unavailable, or too expensive).

I really enjoyed this series, acting was really good, storyline was suprpsing not only about love story of Alison and Dan. I just couldn't accept that adult Alison was playing Teresa Palmer, all this time I could see Lily James as the older version. Nevertheless she was good just didn't match with her younger self. Jim Sturgess as always shines on the screen, young actors are amazing. Music is great however I missed having more of it. I was thinking it will be in the centre of the story as the title suggests, I simply didn't have enough of it as it was really great one, it transported me to my youth.

Well, I'm a man in my 50's and this resonated on every level with me and was thoroughly heartbreaking from start to finish.. I thought that the two younger actors were amazing and really bought to life working class England of the late 80's - which they would have had no idea about , so hat's off to the writers & creators. The adult characters were well portrayed too and all in all it was, at times, verging on too agonising mainly with what was left unsaid and unresolved.. Sometimes in these pieces the switch between timelines can be a bit harsh, but not here - as every move between them was summoned in by a classic 80's tune - whose lyrics set us up for the switch - I found this aspect to be seamless. Talk about a ride, my wife and I watched all 4 hours on a rainy Sunday evening.

I've given it a 10 because not much makes me cry, but this did. The story is close to my own and hit some raw nerves. But even if it wasn't that way I think it was superb. True the adult characters are not quite old enough but relax into it, enjoy a great story and absorb the amazing music. The intertwining of 1988 and present day is seamlessly done. A superb production, will there be a season 2? Probably doesn't need one.