Here we have yet another series that starts out strong with unlimited potential. The viewer has hope for a few episodes, then sadly is forced to watch it fizzle out into increasingly unbelievable actions by increasingly unlikeable people. Mid way through episode 3 I noticed the decline creeping in, and by the end of episode 4 all was lost. The chemistry between the two leads in nonexistent. Whenever they kissed I had to look away. It was simply revolting. And their fights were so contrived and out of the blue that all one could do was roll their eyes. Manufactured drama for drama's sake to push this dud along. Not that the acting wasn't grand, because it certainly was. The failure is in the script, unfortunately. As with Doc Martin, there's moments of deep and sincere emotion, and some of the conversations are very moving. It's difficult to articulate why it lost me so early on, but it's likely a sum of many things that made me hit the wall. When the father of Mary's kids shows up it's over. He's just an overacting buffoon it made me ill. Absolutely horrible. The British equivalent of Chris Tucker. Just some token added color to a series that didn't need or benefit from it in the least. Cliches, silly behavior and dialogue that just didn't ring true. It's a slow descent and remains watchable for the first season anyway., but just barely. The soundtrack is dull and distracting, which never helps. And the mother! A meddling clueless annoying idiot. Her entire role isn't necessary at all, and the same goes for her relationship with that young handyman/loser. There's some occasionally choppy editing and shaky camera work that really gets on the nerves too. Anyway, don't bother. All it does is set you up for disappointment. In the end you will despise everyone involved except maybe 2 or 3 of the kids.
Review of William and Mary
