BBC1 ::::::::::::::::The A WORD:::::::::::::::::::::::

[RTKangaMummy]

I think this is going to be good

www.radiotimes.com/episode/d2ycmd/the-a-word--series-1-episode-1

Five-year-old Joe is a smart, musical kid. He spends his time with headphones on listening to alt-rock classics and knowing every line of the lyrics. He can be a bit quiet and uncooperative but nothing that overly troubles his parents – or at least, nothing they’ll admit to…

As we meet Joe and his clan in Peter Bowker’s well-worked drama (adapted from an Israeli series) it is the day of Joe’s birthday. Around him a wider family battle simmers nicely as Joe’s interfering grandfather (Christopher Eccleston) and humiliated uncle strike sparks off each other.

That domestic cut-and-thrust might be enough in itself, but we know the real driver of the story will be Joe’s condition. It’s only the slightest of spoilers to reveal that, as the title hints heavily, Joe has autism. His grandfather’s attitude is old school: “If there’s a problem with my grandson, we need to get it fixed.” It won’t be that simple.

ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME
1/6. New series. The various generations of the Hughes family, who all love, work and fight like any other clan, find they must learn to communicate all over again when the youngest member is diagnosed with autism. The opening episode of the drama sees the extended family reunite in the Lake District for Joe's fifth birthday party, but tensions soon rise among Alison, Paul and patriarch Maurice. Starring Morven Christie, Lee Ingleby and Christopher Eccleston.

CAST AND CREW

CAST
Alison Hughes Morven Christie
Paul Hughes Lee Ingleby
Eddie Scott Greg McHugh
Nicola Daniels Vinette Robinson
Joe Hughes Max Vento
Rebecca Hughes Molly Wright
Maurice Scott Christopher Eccleston
David Nowak Adam Wittek
Pavel Kaminski Tommie Grabiec
Linda Michelle Tate
Jane Joanna Bond
Sea Lily Verity Henry
Ralph Wilson Leon Harrop
Louise Wilson Pooky Quesnel
Martha Catherine Kinsella
Terry George Bukhari
Dr Eshell Siri Ellis
Dr Waite Mina Anwar
Receptionist Denice Hope
Dr Graves Daniel CerqueiraCREW
Director Peter Cattaneo
Executive Producer Patrick Spence
Producer Marcus Wilson
Writer Peter Bowker

[woody2976]

the writing is poor. the Uncle is clunky and it cant be him cos hes good in fresh meat.

[TooAswellAlso]

I know it's a child actor, and last week I was impressed, but that is NOT an autistic meltdown.

[NFmama]

I'm actually tempted to turn it off.

[BennyTheBall]

We are finding almost all of the characters completely unbelievable and the dialogue too.

None of it rings true, even slightly.

[TooAswellAlso]

I feel duped, I was so excited last week, their diagnosis and traits so similar to DS and now it's all just crap.

[gamerchick]

I'm enjoying it me. If it's bugging people that much then there is usually a button on the remote to take care of that.

Fuck knows what people were expecting, a documentary?

[DanyellasDonkey]

Agree - very disappointing after last week. All the characters seem to have irritating traits and it seems to be moving away from the original idea of being about a child with autism

[TooAswellAlso]

No, not a documentary. But something a little better than this. It's all very disjointed and too many relationships hashed together badly, all supposedly linked together through an autistic child, which actually isn't being done very well.

[BennyTheBall]

The 'sexy' relationship between the lardy brother and his doctor wife is beyond ridiculous.

[harrasseddotcom]

I like it. I see aspects of ds in this. Feel sorry for in denial mum. I was a bit like that to start with then went completely the other way

[gamerchick]

I think it's being done really well. Life goes on around autism.

It really looks to me people want to focus on the autism only and nothing else. That isn't going to happen.

[PandasRock]

I'm getting annoyed by the propaganda.

What the father attempted (turning the music off and trying to get Joe colouring) was not Beahvioural Analysis, nor anything even close to it, both at has clearly been deemed mean and unhealthy now (much like the state summation, tbh)

Keeping a child who is utterly unable to integrate in mainstream in mainstream is not necessarily of benefit (although it is often advised, as it is the cheaper option)

It's really starting to grate.

[gamerchick]

The bit with the ring pull made me chuckle, my bairn does that loads. The eldest is going to act out because she's feeling ignored and it is hard to find the balance between an older child and the youngest with asd. Especially when you're in denial over the diagnosis as she is.

[TooAswellAlso]

I think there's just too much. The father relationship. The couple. The brother in law. The affair. The daughter. The two businesses.

It's only a six parter. It could have been condensed, it could have been better.

Some bits are good. Like this arguing about the decisions, the worry about schooling, the not wanting to label.

The daughter being elbowed out even works.

The other shit is just too much crap drama tbh and unnecessary

[gamerchick]

Well I'm following it perfectly, life goes on.

It seems to be upsetting you more than it should though?

[TooAswellAlso]

Wow gamer, not sure you meant that to be quite so patronising?!

[gamerchick]

Some bits are good. Like this arguing about the decisions, the worry about schooling, the not wanting to label

This just says that you would prefer it to be just about autism and emotions attached to autism. Do you live and breath autism day in day out with absolutely no variation whatsoever, no relationship, no socialising or work, having a laugh even or just being a grown up with grown up worries or happys because I certainly don't.

That would be a seriously shit existence.

[harrasseddotcom]

i missed the first episode but i dont think it has too much going on, have managed to come in at this episode and follow the story . Seems to be a good balance of family/extented family life and Joes story. I think its good to see how Joe's autism has effect on all members of family.

[TooAswellAlso]

No I meant it made you engage with the actors, it had passion and sense.

Really, the in laws and the affair, the father and the singing teacher asking for sex, it just seems so many stories and characters mashed into a small six part series.

My life doesn't revolve around autism. But it's also not a series commissioned and marketed to be either.

[southeastdweller]

God knows what Nicola sees in Eddie.

Still struggling to believe in Morven Christie (looks about 30) as a mum to a teenager and Christopher Eccleston as a grandad.

[Helmetbymidnight]

It doesn't really work, does it?
The characters, especially the mum and the aunt are behaving quite irrationally!
Why on earth did the aunt meet her ex? Bizarre.
I like the dad though and the sister. Condom thing was funny!

[TooAswellAlso]

I like the daughter, and the condom thing was funny.

I'm sure the singing teacher and grandfather sex proposition will be explained more. And that the bil and wife will have sex eventually. As will teenage daughter. Who knows, maybe Joes parents will too?

I know I live in the SE, but I still can't understand their relaxed attitude to Joe going on early morning walks alone in the lakes though!!

[gamerchick]

She met her ex because she was asked to to get referrals for joe.

God that music thing, the same bit over and over until your nerves are jangling. The art of tuning out

[PandasRock]

Actually, I do live and breath autism day in, day out, yes. I don't have much choice about that.

Yes, I do have other things in my life, and I do have a laugh, socialise, and occasionally work. But I still live and breath autism constantly, because that is what it is in my life. I have a child whose autism is more severe than that shown in the programme (although it seems at times as though the programme is trying to show severe autism, with the routine wandering (Im Another thinking wtf are the parents thinking/doing being so calm about that!) and the inability to do anything expected of a 5 year old without heavy mediation and adult involvement, but then shies away from the behavioural stuff that would often go hand in hand with that level of autism)

Everything I do is arranged around autism, because that is how it has to be. It doesn't mean my life is narrow or restricted, just (to some extent) controlled in a way I would not allow without autism. If I didn't arrange everything g around autism my life would be a whole lot worse, believe me.

[BennyTheBall]

The voice coach/grandad proposition was totally incongruous as is the relationship between the brother and sister in law.

And the mum? She looks about 35 at least. Surely Christopher Eccleston couldn't be her dad?