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.

I didnt think about their age either on the first episode.

Well might have - but that though was more " they haven't cast a woman as a mother who is just 10 years older than her supposed children" thought"

I've created a new weekly episode thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/4034949-Us-BBC1-week-by-week-pace-no-spoilers?watched=1

Might fall flat on it's face, but if you want to join in, please do!!

The actors ages are jarring for me too probably because I seem ages with them in the flashback scenes but they are a decade older in the present day. It's not that they are too old to have a teenage son.

I really wanted to like this, but I'm getting irritated by it. I haven't read this book but I remember that same feeling of the main character in Sweet Sorrow being way out of the league of his young girlfriend.

The younger Connie is just so beautiful in comparison and a bit of a manic dream pixie girl. The actor playing the son seems a bit off and a bit wooden. I'm not a huge fan of Tom Hollander either.

Still I am going to crack on with the 3rd episode, but normally I'd be binging something like this. The city breaks are giving me a lot of nostalgia though.

Regarding the ages the young versions of them did not look 17 years younger than the older versions of them. Just wasnt believable.

The younger versions would have been early 20s. The male character is a scientist. He would probably have graduated at 21. He might have been working for a couple of years before they met.

Then you allow a couple of years before they get married, another couple of years for an event that hasn't yet been alluded to (if you're watching as the programme is broadcast live) and at least a year to conceive and for the pregnancy. They could realistically be in their late twenties when the son is born.

That puts them in their mid forties when he is 17. Tom Hollander is early 50s so not too much more than that. Saskia Reeves is 59 which is pushing it a but more, but I don't think that the difference is enough to make it really unbelievable.

Douglas is so obviously autistic. He reminds me of my children's father.

Binge watched it yesterday. Thought all the subsequent episodes were much better than the first. Loved the travel.aspect and the story felt very close to home. Cried quite a bit at the end so it obviously resonated with me . Me and my DH weren't sure if we were rooting for them to stay together or to split up. It was a funny one. The middle class-ness was the only annoyance. Finances absolutely not an issue in any of the decisions.

I've loved it. Made me sob during the last episode though.

I really thought it was so well cast. I thought I'd already seen in, but it was just my memories of reading the book 🤔

I really enjoyed it and there were some fab lines - very good writing. I liked all the actors but the leap between the actors ages was out - we have a kid that age and are under 50 yet had her later than them?!

Agree that the 17 year old seemed to have lived a very full life already - many girlfriends that his parents had met etc. I thought the actor very watchable and very like his mum which was the point. Dad was grieving for the child who would have possibly been more like him.

Thought connies speech about the marriage being a success and good things were still to come was very moving and good advice for many.

I read the book and found it so similar to my own marriage that i darent watch the film. Its so sad when you love someone with all your heart but you feel suffocated with them

I've just finished the second episode and am finding myself enduring rather than enjoying. Douglas is so dull and in the flashbacks he's the same so what's the point in showing them.

A dull lead character makes for a dull drama , not sure if I'll watch the third one.

'I'm not a huge fan of Tom Hollander either.'

Me neither, he is so dumpy and unattractive. He's like Hugh Grant, always seems to play similar sweaty, bumbling characters.

I quite like it though, what with the scenery and dysfunctional characters. I haven't read the book but I'm hoping Douglas leaves his miserable wife and son and goes off travelling with Freya.

Douglas is so obviously autistic.

I thought that and was waiting for the big reveal... that didn't come.

I’ve quite enjoyed it. 3 down one to go for me. I really hope it’s not a twee ending.

I think it is getting really tedious having programmes about how men have gone through life being a pain in the kneck and then we are expected to sympathise when they realise this and start to try and be "better". Paying no attention to the damage they have done.

Like men who have second families where they are a doting dad and the first family were just an irritant.

re thread spoilers.

I think it a real shame that people who binge watch come on a thread about a programme being shown weekly and talk as though everyone is like them. Have often seen dual threads on this forum one for those watching as broadcast week by week and one for those who have binge watched / read the book.

It doesn't take long to set up a thread!

Okay - looks like those wanting to discuss week by week now have their own thread! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/4034949-Us-BBC1-week-by-week-pace-no-spoilers

I've seen it all and loved it.
My favourite line :
Albie :Dad, are you ever going to do something spontaneous ?
Douglas : Well, I haven't planned to.

@The80sweregreat

I've watched episode two today and the locations are nice but the actual story is a bit boring! Kat and the son are a pain and the wife is annoying. I don't think someone like Connie would have even looked at him twice in real life. She was too much of a free spirit. I might watch the rest , but I'm not that hooked.

Agree

She was a free spirit. They wouidnt have stuck together

Unless she wanted the reliable responsible man

Great line purple!

I know what you mean stumble and this story is very much of its time - 90s? Although Douglas spends a lot of time looking at what he did wrong with his son (later episode?)

I enjoyed it but found it sad. A couple that loved each other enough to marry and have a child but then drift apart.

Venice looked lovely. I am going in 2 weeks time for the first time and can't wait

I didn't see Douglas as autistic, just a pedantic bore

I loved the book - although everyone else in book group hated it so I was excited by the idea of the series and sad that I have finished it.
I thought the acting was excellent- I thought Albie was a very convincing gauche teenager embarrassed by his DF and I thought Tom Hollander was superb.

I do agree that Saskia Reeves was either too old, or the young couple portrayed were too young, it made no sense as they appeared mid twenties in the flashbacks.

I need to reread the book, Connie seemed a bit one dimensional in the series and I seem to recall that she wasn't quite as amenable.

I found the first episode dragged a bit, but by the end I wished they'd spread it over 6 episodes rather than cramming into four.

Just finished it. I enjoyed the book but remember at the time a lot of friends didn’t. I found Douglas cringeworthy, obtuse, infuriating, endearing and terribly vulnerable. Albie was just as I expect my son to be by then and infact I found the whole thing a bit ‘close to the bone’ so I blubbed my way through episodes 3&4. I enjoyed it, I was glad they didn’t change the ending.

@butterpuffed
".......enduring rather than enjoying...."

Me too.
I've started so I'll finish the series but they are dull characters.
That free loading girlfriend !!!!

My friend recommended it and I really enjoyed it. And loved all the shots of places I have been to.