Us BBC1

[unique1986]

Starts tonight 9pm
I haven't read the book or anything but looks good.
Also The 7.39 is repeating tomorrow and Tuesday same writer.

Think Tom H is 53 and Saskia R is 59, so the timescale was all wrong.

She looked like a Debbie Harry clone in the flashback, which would place the flashback in the 1980s.
Looking like Debbie Harry was the only good thing this drama gave the wife. She seemed squashed completely in episode 1. I get it that this is just following the focus of the book but I have HAD IT with stories that just make women into accessories for male emotional journeys. I won't be watching episode 2, despite the lovely Tom Hollander.

Watching first episode. The husband is awful, a self obsessed pillock.

I found it very bland. And the dialogue was just awkward and totally unnatural.

I watched the whole thing with a lump in my throat. 2 people who love each other, but who probably had little in common drifting apart. It could happen to any of us. I did feel like I shouldn't be watching it though. It felt intrusive to observe a relationship gently crumbling apart.

The young blonde woman is gorgeous

I'm
On to episode 3 now. Still enjoying it.

Holiday crashing girlfriend is annoying. Bloke is very controlling. His wife gets no say in anything

I have read the book and I've watched the first three episodes. I'm really enjoying it! It's from his perspective as it was in the book and I feel that the characters are close to how I imagined them.

I'm a bit that the mum just lets her 17 year old son, go off on his own and just goes home. Where is he getting his money from?!

Agree. Fair enough age 18 but 17 unaccompanied is bizarre and I agree few 17 year olds could afford it

Tom and Saskia are too old!

I just felt tremendously sad.

If there is no hope for people who love each other so much - and they are not able to accept each other's quirks- what hope is there for any of us?

I get it that this is just following the focus of the book but I have HAD IT with stories that just make women into accessories for male emotional journeys.

TBF this does seem to be David Nicholls standard pattern. See also: One Day. Thankfully I didn't waste any time reading it but I may have sworn at the TV in annoyance at the end of the film.

She is the accessory for his emotional journey but she is leaving him so that changes the scenario surely.

I'm loving it - think the acting is great.

I listened to the audio book over the summer (hadn't heard of it before) and absolutely loved it.

David Nicholls does normally have a male narrator but nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't complain about women writers who mostly have a female narrator.

When listening to the book, I had a lot of sympathy with the younger narrator (a bit boring, socially awkward, lacking self confidence but basically a nice guy). I found myself increasingly angry and frustrated with the older narrator. David Nicholls did the Jane Austen thing of letting totally unaware characters condemn themselves with their own words, particularly when he gives examples of his terrible parenting.

I quite enjoyed the tv version. Not as funny or poignant as the book so far, but that's impossible without the narration.

Agree they are about 15 years too old. They both look about 30 when they have their son so should be late 40s not late 50s and they should have kept the same age differential between the older actors as the younger ones, but maybe doing that and finding actors who look similar to the older versions is hard. Am on episode 3 and really hope the woman doesn't end up with the teacher. I'd like her to get in to her art not spend her energy on another unsuitable man

10 not 15

I wasn't sure how old the son was meant to be (probably wasn't concentrating enough). Given his impatience and embarrassment I assumed he was younger than 17. Even so I found it rather surprising that his parents found it amusing that he was having loud sex with a stranger in the hotel room.

Bored me a bit tbh :(

Preferred the 7.39

I read the book ages ago and enjoyed it but it wasn't amazing. Like Starter for 10 and One Day, it's entertaining but.... in the book Kat and Albie were both extremely irritating, they're not as bad in the TV adaptation. I think the older versions of the two main characters are miscast, even though I otherwise like both of them.

I haven’t read the book. Still on episode 1 and not overly impressed. I don’t know the actress...is she...a bit wooden or is it the dialogue? It’s all so stilted and unnatural.

I was confused by the ages too. The younger couple looked about 28-ish, but then as parents of 17-year-old Albie they were in their 50s. I love Tom Hollander, but I thought he and Saskia Reeves were 10 years too old - they should've cast actors in their mid-40s.

Otherwise, I found it depressing. Could be me and DH in 10 years time. When they dropped Albie at university

One other thing - the trip was supposed to be Europe in August - where were the crowds? Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Siena and Barcelona all virtually deserted?????? Come on!

@zafferana

One other thing - the trip was supposed to be Europe in August - where were the crowds? Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Siena and Barcelona all virtually deserted?????? Come on!

Yes, when the were on the electric scooters on deserted streets.