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THE VICTIM BBC MON 9pm

255 replies

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/04/2019 16:45

New drama about a grieving mum who confronts the man accused online for being her sons killer

But is he really a notorious child murderer or a tragic victim of mistaken identity?

In law, there is the accused and the victim. In life, it’s not that simple...

I think this will be quite heart wrenching

OP posts:
Graphista · 12/04/2019 18:49

Partly placemarking as I've not watched at pace but waited to binge watch.

But also - I'm sure I saw 2 trailers for new John Hannah shows this and one about a soldier with PTSD? I'm sure I didn't imagine but I can't remember the name and can't find by browsing drama on iplayer

I'd really be so grateful if anyone can help?

Justmuddlingalong · 12/04/2019 18:50

It's called trust me iirc.

Piggywaspushed · 12/04/2019 19:31

That's a new series (but with a completely different cast!) of the Jodie Whittaker thing, isn't it?

Girlofgold · 12/04/2019 19:39

I'm not one for noticing the quality of acting but I thought James Harkness was really heartbreaking to watch, as was she.

An even more difficult watch at times given the horrific murder of Alesha Macphail. Even the scenery of port Glasgow and the passing ferries were a reminder of Rothesay to me.

Graphista · 12/04/2019 20:00

Thanks that sounds right. Not on iplayer though has it not shown yet?

Probs watch victim this weekend

Mrscaindingle · 12/04/2019 21:27

I thought the acting in this was really moving, I didn't see the twist coming and I am fairly jaded with these TV thrillers.
Added to which I was fairly thrilled that I walk my dog in the tunnel they were in every day. The dog was not that Impressed when I pointed it out to him, it is nowhere near Port Glasgow or Edinburgh I might add. Wink

SinkGirl · 12/04/2019 22:01

The acting was fantastic, but the writing not so much - well-written dialogue but I could see every “twist” a mile off.

BaconAndAvocado · 12/04/2019 23:21

James Harkness and Kelly McDonald were both incredibly moving. Superb series though really uncomfortable viewing in places.

Redact · 13/04/2019 07:29

Really enjoyed watching this too, superb acting. During the mediation scene I knew Craig was EJT. This is a show that made you think and question that it is possible to sympathise with both characters however conflicted that appears. Who was the victim? Anna or both? Although law is black and white, life is not. Yy all the awards to this drama, Kelly and James.

purpleme12 · 13/04/2019 08:09

I'm not sure I did feel sympathy for him. Empathy maybe but I'm not sure about sympathy.

SinkGirl · 13/04/2019 10:46

I disliked the fact that as soon as it revealed it was him (which I felt was clear from much earlier, probably as early as the police refusing to make a statement about his innocence), her guilt / conviction vanished from concern. The mediator, the policeman, suddenly it was only about his guilt and not hers, which made it much less interesting in terms of examining these issues.

What were people’s interpretations of that last line about him wanting to be big, as he’d said in the video? DH and I had very different opinions about that.

Invisibleiink · 13/04/2019 10:53

I was unsure about that as well Sinkgirl - I think I interpreted it as meaning that Liam wanted to be a big person, big hearted, and therefore Kelly MacDonald was telling ex h not to hurt Craig after all (looked as though they'd had a prior agreement that ex h would attack him, or was I over-presuming?)

Would be interested to know the two interpretations in the Sink house!

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Blondeshavemorefun · 13/04/2019 14:10

Finally seen 4. Was working thur night

I was right

I said at the beginning that he was the killer

And what spoilers

once something has been shown on tv it’s fair game to discuss that episode

If you haven’t seen the next Episode then don’t read the thread which is obviously about the series

OP posts:
Awrite · 13/04/2019 14:19

Yeah, I commented after the first episode and then didn't return until I'd watched all the rest. I don't need to be babied with 'spoilers' in the thread title. It's a given.

As for the final line - I thought she meant that Liam would want them to be the bigger person. Perhaps even forgive.

Awrite · 13/04/2019 14:20

I also thought that Craig was Eddie from the start. Was more realistic that way.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 13/04/2019 14:42

Oh dear. I enjoyed watching it but I found it really unsatisfying! I just didn't ring true at all and so although the acting was brilliant and the locations memsmerising, I couldn't get past all the plot holes.

As a pp said - why was he even living in Edinburgh at all? That wouldn't be permitted surely.

The policeman who recognised Danny after all those years would have recognised EJT too.

John Hannah's boss told him unequivocally that Craig was not EJT. So the scriptwriter tricked the viewers there. That sort of thing pisses me off!

John Hannah had a sort of meh role. I can't even think why he was in it. Perhaps they had to stick on a role for a big star to get it made. He couldn't have played the killer (too old) he couldn't have played the step father and been second fiddle to the wife as pivotal character - so they had to write this strange part as a vehicle for him in which his only role seems to have been to disbelieve Anna from the outset. But as he was taken off the case ... he just lurked around in the background not doing anything much.

The scene with the big knife in the cafe and the very last second phone call was silly.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 13/04/2019 14:44

The fact that Craig was EJT was a twist as we had been told for definite he wasn't and all of the plot developments were designed to make the viewer believe that he wasn't.

Piggywaspushed · 13/04/2019 14:53

He WASN'T living in Edinburgh. Sighs. Grin

BumbleBeee69 · 13/04/2019 14:55

it was brilliant...

Awrite · 13/04/2019 14:56

Aye, he was living in Port Glasgow. Which is West Coast. Edinburgh is East.

John Hannah's boss said Craig wasn't EJT but then said that EJT was local to the area. I thought he hinted that the denial may not be true. Backed up by the fact that the police didn't issue a statement confirming it.

Groovee · 13/04/2019 16:56

Craig was living in Port Glasgow and John Hannah said he wasn't allowed in Edinburgh under his restrictions. So he would be allowed to attend court to be a witness but he didn't attend all the days of the case. Tom went instead.

Invisibleiink · 13/04/2019 17:00

Did Tom know the truth? I wasn't sure - at one point Craig/Eddy said he wasn't allowed to tell anyone including his best friend, but then on the other hand it was odd that Tom was going to talk to Judith (the social worker).

Clawdy · 13/04/2019 18:35

I assumed Judith was his social worker too. Didn't Anna's friend say she met her all her ex-prisoner clients there?

purpleme12 · 13/04/2019 18:59

I think Tom knew yes.
Tom was saying he met the social worker cos he was worried about Eddie

tinstar · 13/04/2019 19:07

I thought Craig said he'd been told not to tell anyone but he had to tell someone so told his cell mate/best (only) friend.

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