Keeping Faith

It started dragging after a few episodes. I lost interest. Also, it seems the director was obsessed with her big mass of messy hair. The constant, insufferable tossing of her mane was distracting and annoying.

I really enjoyed this when I watched a few months ago. I've revisited it recently and if anything have found it even better. Some have said it was slow, but I think this isn't justified. What is true is that the plot and characters are given time to develop and if one is looking for more action and less depth then this may not be for you. I'm a big fan of Hinterland (which is more dark & brooding) and there are similarities, though Keeping Faith is full of lighter we'll-observed family intimacy and the moments of madness which are natural in a busy working life with young children! I felt the way the plot is developed works well - by the end of the series one is left punch-drunk with all the twists and turns but, remarkably, I felt that it was quite believable. I hope (provided it's as good as the first) that we may hear more from Faith...?

While I agree with many of the bad reviews on this site (particularly about the cheesy music, overly long panning shots, over the top acting and far fetched story lines) I have to say that this is possibly one of my favourite shows of the year for those very reasons.

I'll even find that sometimes I'll just be going about my day to day life and without realising I'll be humming the main song. This show is amazing... if taken with a bit of good humour.

Things to look out each episode: Faith taking off or putting on her heels multiple times. Faith leaving the kids with family or giving the kids to strangers. Faith going from hysterically crying to maniacally laughing in seconds. The music.

But that music makes me want to bash my own head in. It's interminable and it's corny. It's misery rock. I hate it so much. Can anyone make it stop? Is there a musicless version of this show somewhere out there available for public consumption? Why is it that the drama is constantly being undercut by this caterwauling troubadour? Is she related to a producer? Musical cues telling viewers how to feel is a shortcut to drama and a cheat for writers.

In addition, the cypher at the center of the show is Evan. This lunkhead is not worthy of redemption. He is more than just flawed. At every turn he's shown himself to be weak.

Maybe I don't like this show as much as I've said. I might have rated it too high.

Keeping Faith is another gem of a drama to come from BBC Wales, and I'm so glad to see it's finally getting a full BBC1 transmission, as people need to see this.

The story is brilliant, and the eight part format allows it to develop, and develop it does, the middle episodes are so different to the opener, with the final two parts even more dramatic and intriguing.

The acting is fantastic throughout, with Eve Myles showing what a superb talent she is. Mark Lewis Jones, Eiry Thomas and Matthew Gravelle all impress also, in fairness the whole cast do an incredible job.

Superb production values, it looks and sounds fantastic throughout, Amy Wadge provides some superb vocals. The Welsh setting looks incredible, so picturesque.

All in all I'd say it's quite easy to follow, at no time did it being confusing or too deep, they've left plenty of questions that need answering, and I'm delighted to hear that a second series is in the pipeline.

Bravo all involved. 10/10