Reviews

Firstly if you want to ingest something that validates your life, that confirms everything you already believe in or something that makes you feel comforted, loved or thrilled then you probably need to go away and look in the (black?) mirror.

It manages to be upsetting, tedious and poignant and necessarily so. Also add intriguing.

Unfortunately judging by outbursts on Tw*tter (its a love/hate relationship) it seems many people are reacting in a similar way to one of the more remedial characters in this work of genius.

Watch this then turn of your TV for a while and read. Society depends on it.

A bit harsh but this is just paper thin TV for a Sunday audience who want to look at something nice and escape before they clock in on Monday.

Sewell is competent and sophisticated but often bland and monotone. The attempts to create tension, atmosphere and empathy come across mawkish at times because the acting is on the whole quite poor, for example the brother and sister in episode 3. Also many people have mentioned the accents and it is distracting that there are so many upper middle class Brits in Italy.

It is well filmed and the cinematography is great and it could be that this is where they spent most of budget. Should a supposed classy TV drama rely so heavily on locations and lighting to provide entertainment? What about the writing? Even though I've not read the novels this adaptation feels rushed with little depth or strong characterisation.

Nice women though, hence the screensaver comment. It seems the BBC made sure there was something attractive here because it certainly wasn't the plot. Seems like an expensive failure but people will still watch because British viewers are use to weak offerings like this.

American TV drama will certainly not be quaking in it's boots at this standard UK fodder.