This show has so much potential, but is sadly cheesy and dumbed down. It visits some great Irish haunted locations, such as the village of Aughrim and Wicklow Gaol, but completely fails to explain the history of these places. In the Aughrim episode, there was no attempt to explain the battle of Aughrim or its historical context. They didn't even mention the names of the two English kings who fought each other or explain why they were fighting in Ireland. Yes, it's a paranormal show, not a history show, but knowing the history of a haunted place enhances our enjoyment and makes the ghost stories more compelling. The Wicklow Gaol episode mentions an infamous figure from Irish history, known as 'the Walking Gallows', but neither tells us his name (Edward Hepenstall) or the true story of his murderous activities circa the 1798 rebellion. The show implies that he haunts Wicklow Gaol even though he's not associated with the Gaol. The true history is fascinating and the Gaol is one of the most haunted buildings in Ireland, so why make things up? The show would benefit from fewer presenters, some of whom lack credibility and have nothing insightful to say. Sadly, the charismatic and credible Evelyn Hollow gets relatively little screen time. A bona fide parapsychologist, she takes the paranormal seriously, and this show would be better if she was the main (or only) presenter.
Review of Spooked: Ireland
