FINDING ALICE - starts SUNDAY 17th jan - 9pm itv - weekly pace NO SPOILERS PLEASE!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Moving to a new house should have been a dream come true for Alice (keesley hawks) and Harry (Jason Merrells) and their daughter Charlotte

But turns into a nightmare when Alice finds Harry at the bottom of the stairs dead

And turns out harry has secrets ........

[title edited by MNHQ at poster's request]

[SoupDragon]

I can't work out the timescale that means Harry's parents are talking about having to pay inheritance tax on the house already.

On another note, I didn't think his position in the floor was right for someone who had fallen down stairs with no bannister.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jan/17/finding-alice-review-thank-god-for-nigel-havers-and-joanna-lumley

This review seems to think she was married to him although we, on here, doubt that. It raises a few of the same points, though. It's certainly got us talking so the programme has, at least, been successful in that regard.

[LIZS]

I wonder if she moved him or that the cctv will show what she did, or didn't, do in the aftermath. Maybe the parents had taken legal advice when gifted the house. If he had survived them he would have presumably got it back.

[Clawdy]

I'm enjoying it, it's a bit different from the usual crime dramas, and the dark humour grew on me after a while. The police interrogation on the day of the murder did seem strangely unsympathetic, I agree. And much as I love Keeley Hawes, she does look older than 40. Looking forward to next week's, so glad to find a thread without spoilers!

[Pimlicojo]

I thought it was very strange. I couldn't even work out whether the daughter was hers, his, or both of theirs. No-one upset at Harry's death. A morgue where people visit dead bodies as if they're in hospital, with no supervision. Weird.

[DawnMumsnet]

@Blondeshavemorefun

Wish could edit

No spoilers

We've edited the title for you, OP

[kindlyensure]

Agreeing with all these points - v good. The fake morgue especially is really irritating me (why was he always ready for visiting?Just bizarre.)

I really like KH usually but I'm not enjoying this bemused, distracted, helpless Mrs Durrell act here. I get that the Finding Alice title means that she has probably lost herself along the way (I mean she literally didn't even have a voice in the house at first - it wouldn't listen to her) and this will be a story of her woman-ing up maybe?

And I get the gallows humour in the face of tragedy. But I wish it was a more straightforward who/why dunnit. I think we are all desperate for a good series to get our teeth into (is there anything left to watch on Netflix?!) but the left-field format is distracting.

Perhaps her not showing the cctv to the police will turn out to make sense because atm it's really irritating.

I would have preferred a more stable kick-off point: eg. when she tried to flush the loo she accidentally frizzed something in the system (water in the bathroom for e.g.) which temporarily stopped the cctv footage just at the crucial falling moment. Then the game would have been afoot and we could have started to make a list of suspects. It's a bit too silly atm to want to do that.

Also, what does she do? Just wait for her husband to build a house with no bannister? Does she even have a career? She is very passive. I hope she finds herself soon.

I'm going to have to keep watching though because apart from The Masked Singer what else is new on TV?!

[AllTheChocolateNow]

I hope this gets better. I was looking forward to it, but was bored to tears by the end and thought the script and acting = clunky and wooden.

[the80sweregreat]

Her dealing with the bank on the phone was funny.
No help at all , but they like to add ' is there anything else I can do for you today ?'

[Blondeshavemorefun]

@SoupDragon

I can't work out the timescale that means Harry's parents are talking about having to pay inheritance tax on the house already.

On another note, I didn't think his position in the floor was right for someone who had fallen down stairs with no bannister.

If someone gives you something worth a lot and they die before 7yrs you have to pay Inhertience tax

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Thanks @DawnMumsnet 😘😘😘😘

[JamieLeeCurtains]

@Blondeshavemorefun, you do have to pay inheritance tax, but only after it's all been through probate which takes ages, even if there's a will. My dad had a will and it was reasonably straightforward and it still took months and months for probate to be granted (pre-covid, and we had a solicitor too).

Isn't Harry intestate? It'd take ages.

Unless the parents are lying to the hapless Alice about the tax bill and it's all part of the plot.

[frustrationcentral]

I thought that was weird too Jamie, a bit quick to be talking about inheritance tax!

[the80sweregreat]

His dad was clearly desperate and worried about the big tax bill looming!
Money is obviously a big problem for all of them.
Harry had taken bad advice about investments I think.

[JamieLeeCurtains]

As ever, the thread is better and more interesting than the programme!

[the80sweregreat]

@JamieLeeCurtains

As ever, the thread is better and more interesting than the programme!

😀
I agree that there will be many twists and turns here and I still think that Alice is a bit dodgy too.
I bet her mum is sleeping with the business partner! ( just a musing , no idea)
Or Alice will run off with the pathologist.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

@JamieLeeCurtains

As ever, the thread is better and more interesting than the programme!

They often are

Coz we are entertaining 😂😂

Saying all that. I really enjoyed last night and roll on next Sunday

[Blondeshavemorefun]

@the80sweregreat

His dad was clearly desperate and worried about the big tax bill looming!
Money is obviously a big problem for all of them.
Harry had taken bad advice about investments I think.

Agree @the80sweregreat

They knew they would have to pay a huge amount

I also think this is wrong. We pay enough taxes. Why should we lose almost half of what our parents for example have saved and worked hard for

[Blondeshavemorefun]

@kindlyensure think she said she worked in a wedding :bridal shop

[southeastdweller]

I struggled with the uneven tone and generally flat story but the main cast is very good. I guess it'll liven up a little from episode two like most series's.

I think I'm the only person here who thinks KH looks 40.

[Pebble21uk]

I really liked it - I thought it was good to have a 'slow burn' / darkly humerous, more relatable/domestic thriller for a change.

I prefer dramas where 'not a lot happens' and we get to know the characters to a better degree. I think on a lot of the minor points (like hand rails on the stairs / wouldn't she know where the fridge is etc) you just have to go with it and suspend a bit of disbelief - not get too sidetracked looking for absolute technical authenticity!

And I really rate Keeley. I agree with the PP who said she is showing grief in a very realistic way - it's not all about overt emotion. It's the anger and the confusion and not always behaving as people think you 'should'.

And just as PP said in real life someone said to her about being young enough to marry again. I had a friend who lost her teenage son in very tragic circumstances. A NURSE said to her 'you're young enough to have more' only a week or two later. It happens!!

[JaneJeffer]

Yes that was my first thought @Wingedharpy. I thought JL was upstairs with someone else.

The morgue guy is 52 in real life! He looks much younger.

We need to learn the character names

[the80sweregreat]

Inheritance taxes would make a great thread , as it was also online about how the chancellor was thinking of imposing a property levy! It probably won't happen , but it is a very controversial subject all round. Especially those that inherit a council property that had a discount from the council to start with for example!

[SoupDragon]

If someone gives you something worth a lot and they die before 7yrs you have to pay Inhertience tax

I know. However, he's been dead a week at most. You don't have to pay it that quickly!

[SoupDragon]

Isn't Harry intestate? It'd take ages.

Especially with another child popping up! How many more are there?