User Reviews

I'm going to review this, for now, as if it's the first season of a show that's going to continue in some form, although I might move the review to the shows main page if that proves not the be the case. The Belgian show that this is adapted from has gone down the anthology route for it's second run. For what it's worth, I think that this first season of "The Rising" was fine, but I doubt I'll remember it in 12 months' time.

Neve (Clara Rugaard) awakens in a lake and, having swum to shore, walks home. She comes to realise that she has been murdered, and is a ghost, unable to interact or be seen by her friends and family. She begins to follow her own murder investigation but is plagued by a fear of the woods nearby where she lived. This continues until, following the wider discovery of her body, her estranged, alcoholic father Tom (Matthew McNulty) inexplicably seems to be able to see her.

Despite a relatively outlandish idea ultimately, I felt "The Rising" was perhaps a little to pedestrian for its own good. It doesn't particularly exploit that idea as it might, for example, Neve doesn't spend enough time listening to conversations with people that don't know she's there. Part of the problem is that, in the end, too many people end up with the ability to see her. There is a reason why the people that can see her can, a reason that becomes guessable pretty quickly, but one person who can doesn't seem at all surprised by it, which remains baffling when the resolution to the story comes. There are also a few moments when the internal logic of the show doesn't hold up, which wouldn't be such a problem except the show makes a big deal out of aspects of it. Also, and this is the biggest thing I wonder might be lost in translation from adapting the Belgian show, but the story hinges around a motocross club which in reality should be a middle-class time waste, but occasionally here is more like "Sons of Anarchy".

I appreciate that from that list of my issues, it might feel like the show is poor. It's not, it's fine. There are genuinely good performances from of a cast of recognisable, if not perhaps 'household' names, particularly those that have to deal with worst of scenarios opening up for them. The murder mystery story works, gently pointing you down a route of misdirection and playing with your suspicions before a conclusion that was, at least, satisfying. It's just that in all areas it's .... and here's that word again ... fine, rather than brilliant.

All the clowns leaving 1* reviews after only watching one episode or complaining about the "woke box ticking excercise" - you're the problem, stick to low brow trash and shows from the 90s if you're not comfortable with seeing two women kiss.

The show was fairly well paced, gradually developing as Neve comes closer to her killer, some memorable moments and the plot was fairly water tight.

People complaining about the fact only certain people can see Neve, if you'd watched more than one episode you might have actually learnt why this is. 👍🏼

The storyline is original but has its plot holes , some big but I ignored them because it intrigued me ,the plot gives you plenty of suspects to ponder over so beware of early presumptions , I was disappointed by some acting performances In earlier episodes but realised given time and more understanding of the way the story unfolded it's probably how they were told how to play their roles , imho the writers don't understand small town politics so it was let down by the way some characters turned on each other on a whim but having said all that I really enjoyed it and was glad it didn't turn into a series.

What a fantastic concept for a TV series: a dead person investigating their own death. Probably not an original when described, but all the same, you can have numerous variations on the idea to create something entertaining and memorable.

Cast is excellent, as is all production. Script is worthy of a mention too as is the storyline, nothing is really missed and should attract high ratings, but unfortunately doesn't. So why?

TV today is infatuated with emotional outbursts: anger, sadness, fear, paranoia..... all displayed here in a manner mimicking a 1920's silent movie. It seems as the world cannot control itself if we think everyone would react the way script-writers think. These constant pointless moments spoil the atmosphere.

Throw in the compulsory same-sex relationship because that's what all Brit-shows do to try to appease the 'woke-brigade'. Totally unnecessary and almost contrary to the characters condition. Anyone would think jumping sides is like changing socks.

And the ending - usually there's lots of red-herrings in UK shows where the viewer gets to guess the murderer. Not here. The killer is barely shown and their motive is well-stretched and barely believable.

Worthy of watching for its originality and acting, but you might feel a little let down in what it could have been.

Too long. I could have fast forwarded through the last 4 episodes. Too many lapses in reality, relied on magic and too heavily leaned on LGBT preconceptions.