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Marriage - BBC1

160 replies

johnworf · 15/08/2022 07:19

Did anyone watch it last night? I thought it was really good. Sean Bean and Nicola Walker are a bit of a dream team.

Reading reviews went from sublime to absolutely boring. I went for the former but realise it's not everyones cup of tea seeing the daily routine of a marriage.

Hopefully Sean doesn't get killed in this one!

OP posts:
NanaNelly · 16/08/2022 15:25

I’ve watched all of it but only because of the two lead actors. If it had been anyone else in the roles I think I’d have watched something else instead. Truth be told I still don’t know whether I liked it or not.

KangarooKenny · 16/08/2022 16:22

Watched it all now. Feels like it’s not finished. I wanted the dad to punch her boss. And what was the point of the girl from the gym going to the loo ?
Just not finished , and a lot of it seemed pointless.

NanaNelly · 16/08/2022 16:31

KangarooKenny · 16/08/2022 16:22

Watched it all now. Feels like it’s not finished. I wanted the dad to punch her boss. And what was the point of the girl from the gym going to the loo ?
Just not finished , and a lot of it seemed pointless.

I think it was to show the difference between the girls romance and the daughters. The girl had someone who loved her waiting outside the loo to propose to her he was so keen to do so and the daughter had that horror of a bloke she was living with.

LadyEloise1 · 16/08/2022 18:44

Annabananna1 · 15/08/2022 11:29

Turned it off after 10 mins. My own life is boring enough with out watching a middle aged couple faff around with slippers.

😂
I agree but am still watching.

pendeen123 · 16/08/2022 23:37

It attempts a stab at the "reality" of everyday married life but (a) SB is at least 10 years older than NW (b) most men of SB's age and background do not,in "real life", have perfectly aligned Hollywood teeth and (c) Emperor's new clothes alert,most mundane couples do not have an adopted daughter of a different ethnicity as,funnily enough,most people in their lives are not striving to fulfill a diversity quotient. In short,the whole thing purports to be "realistic",but in fact lacks any credibility. Harsh but true.

IronNeonClasp · 16/08/2022 23:57

I’m really disappointed at the musings by previous posters.
I think ‘Marriage’ is fabulous and have been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks. SB after ‘Time’ incredible actor.
Also couldn’t believe when I saw James Bolam - all of 87 playing Dad. I knew I recognised him. Phenomenal career. Most actors are retired or dead at this age. Absolutely amazing actor; a true gem.

I’m only on ep 2, but I am relishing this masterpiece of slow burn.
I’m a huge Mike Lee fan and a wannabe filmmaker/director still after getting my filmmaking degree (1999!) so perhaps I relish in dark, slow, misshapen disclosure.
(I do utterly hate the ‘Marriage’ music though! 😬)

NanaNelly · 17/08/2022 00:06

I’m really disappointed at the musings by previous posters

Why?

extrapineappleonmypizza · 17/08/2022 00:10

I thought it was really thought-provoking. I could relate to a lot of it, and from different points of view. My OH would have hated it!
I watched some of it with my daughter and we spoke about how it's really hard to watch your child struggle in a relationship that you know is wrong, but to not interfere!
I also liked how Jessica told her mum that she thought they didn't communicate well as a family. I think many British families could relate to that, mine included. On the topic of loss of a child, I told my daughter about some of the losses in our wider family, and she had no idea. It's just brushed under the carpet.
I also loved the part where Ian showed Jessica all the things he'd saved from her childhood.. and the letter! I wish my dad was even able to attempt to communicate like this with me.
The idea of having a shit job with a shit boss who won't listen to you, will also resonate with many, I'm sure!
I thought is was very relatable and quite life-affirming.
'Did you even ask if they'd do me a jacket potato?!'😂

Wallabyone · 17/08/2022 00:15

I'm halfway through episode 2...I'm not sure what I think. The acting feels very bad in places,
The daughter and boyfriend are terribly wooden. And Sean B isn't great, it's just a bit 'meh' (and I loved Mum).

knickersniff · 17/08/2022 06:49

I'm pulling myself through this , it's weird it's so awkward in places and I'm cringing but I can't stop watching it . I had to turn it off when he was trashing the car and why was her boss so rude at the conference? Il continue it tonight .

Benjispruce4 · 17/08/2022 09:57

Oh god ep2 was no better. Her swearing doesn’t seem to fit her character. Very weird and depressing.

Southeastdweller · 17/08/2022 10:08

pendeen123 · 16/08/2022 23:37

It attempts a stab at the "reality" of everyday married life but (a) SB is at least 10 years older than NW (b) most men of SB's age and background do not,in "real life", have perfectly aligned Hollywood teeth and (c) Emperor's new clothes alert,most mundane couples do not have an adopted daughter of a different ethnicity as,funnily enough,most people in their lives are not striving to fulfill a diversity quotient. In short,the whole thing purports to be "realistic",but in fact lacks any credibility. Harsh but true.

I was thinking the same about the daughter and can't help but think that they needed a black actor in the principle cast to avoid criticism. The casting, along with many things about this drama, didn't ring true at all for me.

Lolreally · 17/08/2022 10:44

I know perfectly mundane people who have adopted children (now adult) of a different ethnicity. I don't think its actually that unusual.
I couldn't watch it as I felt so sorry for the sb character in the leisure centre as he was so awkward.

onanotherday · 17/08/2022 10:45

Finished it. Lots of unanswered upstairs now notice is series 1, so more to come? I found it really interesting. Hard to watch at times. I thought the little observations were true to long marriage. Thought the acting was very good.

lizziesiddal79 · 17/08/2022 11:18

This was a challenging watch. Like watching a play. Definitely not something to unwind too. Thought-provoking.

Spoilers below

I think Maxine in the toilet was meant to be a parallel with Jessica’s situation. Both Maxine and Jessica are meeting their boyfriend’s mother. When Maxine goes off to the toilet, she isn’t told to hurry up. When she takes a while, her boyfriend goes looking for her out of concern and calls for her with kindness. In contrast, Adam is sharp with Jessica about going to the toilet and when she takes a while after meeting Mark, he does not look for her. If he had he no doubt would have shouted at her for taking too long.

There were different types of men in this programme … Jamie, Adam, Emma’s Dad = ones to avoid.
Maxine’s boyfriend, Mark, possibly Ian when well = the good guys on paper

There were other subtle motifs… the ketchup? At the airport, on the mirrors, during Jessica and Mark’s meeting in the cafe. The shower gel that Ian can’t find, then Emma mentioning in the same episode at the conference that some guy didn’t have shower gel in his room. Also significant events occurring whilst someone is looking for the toilet. I’m not certain what these signify if anything, but this was a subtle, well-crafted piece of TV with a lot of layers.

I think I enjoyed it.

SavBbunny · 18/08/2022 08:23

I hated it. DH didn't bother to watch episode 2. SBs trackies need binning and he needs a good slap. I think I would be jumping off a bridge if this was my life. Married 34 years, looked after parents, blah blah. Hugely disappointed.

whenwillthemadnessend · 19/08/2022 08:32

@extrapineappleonmypizza

I agree

I thought it was fabulous so well done and such an accurate portrait of character and life of ordinary folks

Dull job
Husband at home depressed bored. Feels useless I assume
Worry about adult Kids
Loss
Guilt Over time with elderly parents

But at the same time the Time shared experience and fondness (perhaps not love) keeps them together

Absolutely brilliant.

Infinitemoon · 19/08/2022 08:36

I haven't finished watching it yet but I also think it's sublime. I don't get the negativity. It really is a clever and remarkably acted piece of film/TV.

doris9034 · 19/08/2022 08:49

We've watched all 4 episodes and really enjoyed it. Definitely a slow burn though and as PP have said, lots of unanswered questions. Feels like maybe this series is a bit of an experiment with something quite deep and different to see what the response is.
The music was definitely meant to reflect the sidestepping of all the issues - but it was far too loud!!

TortugaRumCakeQueen · 19/08/2022 13:01

Hands down the most BORING thing I've ever watched on TV. If you didn't know who Sean Bean was, you'd not give him a second glance in Tesco. He came across as a creepy buffoon. I wondered at one point, whether the twist in the tail was going to be that he was nice to his wife but a secret serial killer. Can't quite believe that SB and NW signed up to this rubbish.

Coastalcreeksider · 19/08/2022 13:23

Benjispruce4 · 17/08/2022 09:57

Oh god ep2 was no better. Her swearing doesn’t seem to fit her character. Very weird and depressing.

I've watched all of it now and still really didn't like it. The conversations seemed stilted and awkward with uncomfortable silences. It didn't gel with me at all. Actually I thought they were both really weird. I liked the daughter though.

What happened to the other bloke (brother?) in dad's house in ep 1? Did we ever see him again?

Really disliked her swearing, not usually too bothered by it in dramas.

As for that ear splitting awful theme tune ... 😱

Infinitemoon · 19/08/2022 17:09

Love the theme tune! Maybe we are supposed to find it confusing, annoying and loud?!

DangerouslyBored · 19/08/2022 17:38

I think SB and NW just don’t work in this 🤷🏻‍♀️

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 19/08/2022 19:05

I've never been married or in a long term relationship so wondered if that was why I thought it was so awful.

Back2Black · 19/08/2022 19:18

I'm on episode 3, wouldn't say I'm enjoying it but finding it interesting...
@pendeen123 many married couples adopt children from a different ethnicity. Mine did & the more we see of what we as a family consider to be normal family life, the better. But there will always be the assumption that TV is 'striving to fulfill a diversity quotient' when it depicts what people consider to be not the norm ie my family.