MARRIAGE - sun and mon bbc 1 9pm - TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

New drama starts sun and mon for 1&2

then 3&4 following week on Sunday and Monday

the lovely Nicola Walker and Sean Bean

The acclaimed British actors play Ian and Emma, who are a couple navigating the ups and downs of their 30-year partnership.

They are parents to Jessica (Chantelle Alle) and are dealing with their fears and insecurities as the drama explores the risks and gifts of a long-term relationship.

Marriage on BBC1 sees married couple Ian (Sean Bean) and Emma (Nicola Walker) negotiate the ups and downs of their 27-year marriage. They've dealt with all the insecurities, the ambiguities, the hopes and the fears that are part of all marriages. The drama explores the risks and the gifts of a long-term intimate relationship.

When we first meet married couple Ian and Emma they’re in a Spanish airport returning from a lovely holiday — and bickering over a baked potato! By the time they’re on the plane it’s a full blown argument, setting the scene for what’s to come in this four-part series.

looks good

Ha ha ha @Sammy5654

i always do tv threads

most I choose are good

or dreadfully bad 😂😂

I did initially - and then if just seemed so 'right' by the end.

I loved it. Loved how mundane it was. Loved how normal it was.

To the side, to the side, to the side, to the side
to the left, to the right, to the side, to the side
Aaah aaah aaah aaah

You're welcome 😁

I have just finished watching the 4th episode, watched the first 3 last couple of days. I found it all quite emotional.
Emma saying Ian supported her after their baby died, the daughter not believing that he could be capable of it.
After hearing my own mother talking rubbish (crap) yesterday, imagining things that aren't true, I can totally understand the difficult relationship between the Emma and her father, not getting any support or thanks, him not asking how she is etc. I can definitely relate to this.
Also people finding it difficult to express emotions. So true in my family when I was brought up.

Did we ever find out why Emma’s brother avoided her?

I kind of felt sorry for Ian in the gym, he came across as creepy to the reception girl but I think he was just lonely and wanted some interaction with her. It was actually sad to see. Well acted by Sean Bean

'Did we ever find out why Emma’s brother avoided her?'

We were just let to presume it will have been another dysfunctional relationship that ended in estrangement, probaly enabled by the weird dad. It was odd that the brother said 'are they going to see Nicholas?' As if he didnt approve.

No we didn't

I agree with you about feeling for him actually. I think he was lonely and trying to make connections

Maybe the brother didn't like them adopting Jess ?

The neighbours didn't like them much either !

No one wanted to talk to Ian. Gym girl. Shop assistant and neighbour plus brother in law

not sure what brothees issue was

Very different kind of drama - quite liked it; it was certainly interesting/ thought provoking.

It was thought provoking.
I did give a lot of ' head space' to it I must admit.

The shop assistant was alright to ian though.
When he said ' whatever gets you through the day ' was nice. He was just too busy to talk

just posting here to catch up
seen episode one
at first it was very annoying with the jacket potato but like other comments it was intruiging.

I found the most inexplicable part was when the receptionist met her boyfriend at the pub, said she was going to the toilet, didn't return and we saw the bf knocking on the toilet door to see if she was in there . We never saw either of them again !! Weird .

I think we were left to presume the whole thing had shaken her up and she'd retreated to the loo to compose herself. All very ott, Ian was clearly just socially awkward and trying to chat, not your average sleazeball. But then we didn't get to hear Maxine's story maybe it was all triggering for her.

So much of it was guessing. Perhaps that was the whole point. I did think it was odd that Jess said as a family they didn't communicate when she was the one doing those constant nervous giggles and the letter opening scene, omg.

And when coin got stuck in the locker and he asked Maxine fir help

she went to get another male staff

I'm very happy I don't have to watch another episode today.

You do know that it was never compulsory.

She did this a few times - went behind reception to get male colleague to step in.

There was nothing innocent about it - ie about him being lonely - because she was young and female - if he just wanted daily banter he could have chatted to the male colleague.

I have been in this situation so many times when expected to entertain boring older men - it’s a power imbalance that they are exploiting.

Yes it’s about avoidance and poor communication. Interesting that Jess “lost it” at least twice - once with Jamie about the drugs and then with daughter about the boyfriend - so she is all fake smiles and says nothing until she has a disproportionate outburst.

I thought the little squabbles and often quick recovery by physically “hugging it out” quite believable as they seemed unable to express themselves verbally but could do so physically or more implicitly

I am glad you explained this as at times I kept thinking we don’t giggle like this at home or why are they laughing / was that funny? Made me feel I was a bit joyless for not giggling all the time.,

I think it reflected exactly how they interacted with each other - avoidance, walking on eggshells, increased tension, confusion and then an impulsive outburst - and then withdraw - rinse and repeat.

The Beeb are now promoting this series (on Catchup) with one of the few scenes that was good imho. The discussion about the chicken in the supermarket aisle.

The rave reviews seem OTT to me, a bit ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’, but each to their own I suppose.