First, some boundaries. This review written Dec 2015 at a time when it had not been announced if this series will be renewed. The smart money says it will not. The initial response from mainstream critics has been poor.
Second, this reviewer, no stranger to TV drama, has so far given this series a very positive review and, until this episode, was pretty much fascinated and entertained by this bizarre story supported by some of the best acting and most memorable characters in recent memory.
Which brings us to this episode. The script construction is bizarre. The writers did an amazing thing to get to this episode, they started the series in mid-stride, with minimal backstory and allowed/encouraged the viewer to mentally put together the missing pieces as things moved.
That was a very rare and very daring manoeuvre. But it worked. Viewers like this one who took the time to put together the pieces were captivated.
And yet here, near the end of the season, suddenly we have the equivalent of a super-sized and unexpected order of backstory complete with a side order of flashbacks.
Does NOT work for me, is not entertaining, it's distracting, and most of all makes me wonder if the writers were having "second thoughts" and second-guessing themselves...?
Second, this reviewer, no stranger to TV drama, has so far given this series a very positive review and, until this episode, was pretty much fascinated and entertained by this bizarre story supported by some of the best acting and most memorable characters in recent memory.
Which brings us to this episode. The script construction is bizarre. The writers did an amazing thing to get to this episode, they started the series in mid-stride, with minimal backstory and allowed/encouraged the viewer to mentally put together the missing pieces as things moved.
That was a very rare and very daring manoeuvre. But it worked. Viewers like this one who took the time to put together the pieces were captivated.
And yet here, near the end of the season, suddenly we have the equivalent of a super-sized and unexpected order of backstory complete with a side order of flashbacks.
Does NOT work for me, is not entertaining, it's distracting, and most of all makes me wonder if the writers were having "second thoughts" and second-guessing themselves...?
