Down Cemetery Road

As a few others are pointing out here, there's a new wave of crime shows that try to mix drama and comedy, quirky and comedic characters with more "real" characters. Sometimes it works, like in the first seasons of Slow Horses, or in Department Q, and sometimes it doesn't, like in this case. Ruth Wilson is in full drama mode, she frets, and frowns and overacts in every scene, while Emma Thompson just... chills... and seems to desperately try to do what Gary Oldman does in SH but with a very different outcome. The result is that the two of them don't seem to belong to same story and the show feels very uneven and, ultimately, watching this show feels like eating steak and dessert at the same time. Not terrible, just weird.

I'm not sure what some people have watched, but there is truly some rubbish out there on tv at the moment, but this is not that. It has a decent story, intrigue, excellent cast and is well written. I was able to suspend my disbelief, was caught up in what is going to happen next. Here's hoping the following episodes are even better,

Don't listen to the low reviews; this series is a rare rose blooming against the current manure pile of mediocre television flooding our screens lately. In an era where most shows feel like lazy slop designed to be half-watched while doom-scrolling on our phones, this one demanded my full attention. It's the first series in ages I've watched without once glancing at my phone, completely immersed from the opening credits to the end.

Now, the cast is a sterling ensemble firing on all cylinders. And then there's Adam Godley, who absolutely steals the show. What an outrageously underrated actor! My only criticism would the relationship of Ruth's character and her husband. They didn't gel as a couple, seemed mis-placed, but perhaps it was meant to be that way.

I'm writing this review having not seen all episodes , and I'm already hooked. If the quality holds (and everything suggests it will), we're looking at something truly special. 9/10 and counting.

Definitely watchable but it was like there were two sets of actors given different instructions as to the intended tone of the storytelling. Getting the mix of comedy and drama right isn't easy and the creators of this show have not demonstrated the necessary skills in the first episode. The mismatch took from the tension.

The necessary comparison with Slow Horses shows where the genius of that show lies - the humour is to the fore but underpinnned by solid drama. Here the drama is to the fore and undermined by the comedic elements. Good but could have been better.

The first episode is a bit of a mess. I'm glad I watched the second one. It was much better. There is a bit of a surprise in it, I won't give it away but, it isn't bad. Overall, I'm going to give it a few more episodes, although TBH this weekly thing Apple has, and Amazon, is a bit annoying. But, I'll keep watching, or maybe wait until it's down completely. Not sure yet.