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

It intrigued me tbh. So many unanswered questions. I hate the boyfriend so much I really need to see him get his comeuppance.
Weird about leisure centre girl. And him hovering about the car park. I think he's heading for a breakdown. I wonder if girl is same age as their kid would have been? Nicky could be a girl?

DH went to bed half way through.

The brother (?) who was hid up stairs said to the dad something like 'bet they're going to see Nicolas'.

I'm very intrigued by it and quite enjoyed watching, so many strange things happened. Maybe the black daughter is just colourblind casting?

Thanks missed that

He went to Oxford 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes could be?

I know another poster has touched on it, but the pub toilet scene was odd, I couldn't work out what that was about. Unless it was just showing she was still anxious from the gym encounter and didn't want to tell her fiancé.

Dear God this is the worst programme I have ever seen. What a drab dull pile of dirge. It makes marriage look as boring as fuck. A couple not talking hardly, and not communicating much. Big long silences. Then nitpicking about fuckall... Do people really have marriages like this?

DH and I argue like cat and dog now and again, and there are days when I could drop kick him into the middle of next week, as he drives me crazy (sometimes.) But I love him and care for him, and we have laughs and giggles and watch the same TV shows, and share similar hobbies, and have a great time together quite often. We chat a lot, we go on daytrips together, we go for walks, and we rarely sit in silence and never have massive awkward gaps in our conversations.

This is so badly written. 2 of my fave actors too. Sean and Nicola. How disappointing. I will NOT be wasting any more of my life on any more episodes. Dire as fuck. And what the FUCK was that horrific song... 'move to the left, blah blah blah' or something like that. Some weird rabble where people kept talking over one another.... I can't quite remember as my brain has airbrushed it out.

And that scene with the girl in the loo (the one from the gym) not answering in when her boyfriend called her, but then suddenly appeared in a different place with him. Seemed like 5 minutes had been accidentally cut out.

AWFUL!

I am, and have been for a quarter century. Would NEVER have stayed married if my marriage was as shit as theirs. This would make ANYONE single never want to get married!!! My marriage is nothing like this. I'd leave tomorrow if it was!

I found it hard going. Really slow and uncomfortable but somehow so awful it was strangely compelling. I didn't want to watch it but had to. Like watching a car crash in slow motion.

@beachcomber70 The marriage is like a living death. I think that sums it up perfectly.

Every interaction between the husband and wife felt abnormal. All small talk about things that don't matter but avoiding talking about the things that do.

The boyfriend came across as wet, nervous and awkward. An ineffectual and annoying twit. She seemed more interested in her phone. Then, whoah, the salad incident and all controlling .A complete 180°.

I reckon nothing will be as it seems. Think the theme music strangely hideously apt.

@SapphosRock

Why have they got a black daughter when they're both white?

@CrannyFadock

Maybe the black daughter is just colourblind casting?

I found that odd I have to say. Didn't like to say anything though.

Colourblind casting is one thing, but it's not very realistic is it?

I agree. But the Elgar programmes were a nice way to end the weekend. 😊

Going against the majority to say that I found it quite interesting. Lots of questions to be answered due to various as yet unrevealed details. But yes, too many kitchen scenes and very odd music!

It's so boring!!

I don't like SB at the best of times and he looks like drag queen with no makeup on this.

And the music 😱

I'm on episode 3, it's not getting better imo but won't continue to chat as I'm aware this is TV pace.

I am watching it on catch up and probably in the minority here but I am really liking it! I like the mundaneness of it, I think Sean Bean is great, very intrigued by it!

Yes he did. Believe it or not, some working/ lower middle class people do without it alienating them from or cancelling our their backgrounds. He has said he was very angry there, about the poshness and privilege, joined Footlights with the most rude mocking performance he could think of and they just laughed.

It was in fact Cambridge

Well I think he did a pretty good job of alienating his background, if it is indeed what is reflected in the show. I did find it condescending. I suppose it's always a temptation to have a go at where you come from if you judge it bland and provincial.
I know a few people from w/c backgrounds who went to Oxbridge. It definitely changed them. It's what Oxbridge does I guess.

I do too,I can't really get past that when he's on the screen.

Did you find Mum patronising? Or the the characters in Him and Her? You can see a clear thread running through those to this. Do you think you can override him, what he says and thinks? That you know him better than he himself? Curious, indeed rather patronising.

And he clearly, from what he says in interviews, does not regard his lower middle class background as bland and provincial. Quite the contrary, he has a strong connection and affection for it Look, we all see things a bit differently. You are not necessarily right. Nor me for that matter. I don't see what you find offensive or patronising, I just don't see it.

Of course I don't want to override him! I'm going to continue watching tbh as I thought it had some interesting elements.
It's not a personal attack I'm mounting. I just didn't like some aspects of the programme and thought it smelt faintly of groucho.
I've not watched those series. Are they good?

I think he is on number 5...

It was a bit slow, but there are lots of intriguing plot points where I want to see what develops. I assume that Nicholas was their birth child they lost (why?), and then they adopted Jessica. I don't think it was colour blind casting, the whole thing had a very realistic feel.

Why did Emma (Nicola Walker) have such a frosty relationship with her co-workers? Why do they all seem to know the husband (and seem to think he's a bit of a joke or something?)

Why did Ian (Sean Bean), keep trying to chat to the young receptionist at the Leisure Centre, and why couldn't he see how inappropriate it was?

What is wrong with Emma's relationship with her father? And why does he think she's abandoned him? Does he have dementia or something? Is she not allowed to go on holiday? Why does he dislike Ian. And why did the brother go upstairs to avoid them?

So many questions! I will keep watching.

I mean there are lots of dramas where plenty of stuff happens each episode, and there is plenty of exposition. Some of them are a bit crappy though and the tnings that happen seem unlikely. I am thinking particularly of Channel 5 dramas like that crap about a teacher with Sheridan Smith for example. Actually I've given up on Channel 5 dramas as I now know they'll be crap. A lot happens though. Where as this is just more subtle. I'm hoping my patience will be rewarded.