BEST INTERESTS - BBC 1 9pm - Mon 12 and Tue 13 and wed after - TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Awww this will have me in tears

The emotional series tells the story of married couple Nicci and Andrew, whose daughter Marnie has a life-threatening condition.

The doctors believe it is in her best interests to be allowed to die, but Nicci and Andrew disagree, leading to a fight through the legal process as they struggle to contemplate the decision.

The official synopsis for Best Interests says: "This a story of a family driven apart by having to make choices no parent would ever want to make.

Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen play married couple Nicci and Andrew, they have two daughters: Katie played by Alison Oliver and Marnie played by Niamh Moriarty.

"Marnie has a life-threatening condition. The doctors believe it is in her best interests to be allowed to die, but her loving family disagree.

And so begins a fight that will take them through every stage of a legal process, as they struggle to contemplate this huge decision. Who decides? And in whose best interests will it be?"

as usual sure all will be on iPlayer but this will be tv paced

be interesting seeing sharon in a drama /serious role rather than usual comedy /sex roles she plays

Ah no I haven't watched that.
It's really annoying me and I can't think when I saw him 😭

There is a barrister with experience of cases like this, Ian Browhill, who tweets along to this. He's very insightful.

Excellent series. It reminded me of the recent Archie Battersby case and the behaviour of his mum towards medical professionals

that was excellent seeing Katie's point of view

I have a lot of sympathy for the Dad. The writers have made him behave in quite a selfish way to try to redress the balance. I have said it before, but acting is excellent.

What is the age gap between Katie and Marnie? In the scenes in the first episode when Marnie is a baby, Katie looks about seven. However, we were told last night that Marnie is 13, and Katie is still at school, and was described as underage. That means she can not be any older than 17, giving an age gap of about 4 years.

Yes I believe Marnie's 13 and Katie's 17

I think Katie's grief and loss have been overlooked by her parents who seem focused on their own feelings. I have more empathy for dad, but Martin Sheen is a subtle actor. Sharon H can't really act imo. Good in comedy but this not so much.

is it the last one tonight?
interesting to see what happens if so

Yes last one tonight. Mr blondes wants to watch itv and my other thread with Litvinenko

So will leave this thread at 9 and watch it tomorrow in peace

As May need tissues

I think for Marnie best interests is to turn the machine off but as a parent I would find that so hard and maybe I wouid go to court to stop it happening as mum has here

Yes sister been very overlooked and hard

It is very thought provoking and really suprised how well sharon comes across as a serious drama

Hard to watch him tearing apart the doctor

This lawyer is relentless

God he's representing himself 😭
He wants to tear him to pieces

This is painful to watch

Harrowing watch but excellent acting by all. Michael Sheen is always good, nuanced and finely observed; Sharon Hogan was a pleasant surprise - having only seen her in comedic roles I thought she exemplified the pain and desperation brilliantly. Definitely one of the better BBC dramas.

absolutely a better drama
no criticism at all - unlike me

It was Katie that changed her mother's mind though in the end, and she made the decision to donate Marnie's organs - though IRL I'm not sure how much use they'd be, bless her.

It was Katie but she was doubting herself in the end.
I think she needed Katie to voice it

I'm glad this gave a balanced and realistic view. It was particularly striking when the mother admitted that, though she'd clung on to what the American doctor had to say to bolster up her case, actually she wouldn't trust Marnie with him. I get the distinct impression from some of the high profile cases that unfortunately there is a mini-industry of lawyers and experts who make a living out of giving the advice that distraught parents understandably want to hear, when it would be much more responsible to give an honest medical or legal opinion. And it really isn't helpful when the pro-life Christian groups get involved.

I loved the first couple of episodes but was very annoyed at the one last night.
I'm not sure how many couples come out from their DD's deathbed looking so unruffled. That part was very badly scripted and acted imo.

And it annoyed me intensely that they made Cheltenham General out to be uber glamorous when it's an absolute dump that should have been knocked down 30 years ago!!

Those scenes felt really rushed. And it bothered me they were saying their final goodbyes wearing coats.

Oh. Sobs

Even tho we knew she would die it was sad

I was right in court agreeing with hospital

It was a fantastic drama kinda based on real life and sure there have been similar cases

I think maybe they had said goodbye to Marnie a long time ago in their minds hence the abrupt ending going to get food

Or maybe just showing that sadly life goes on

Would have been nice to show maybe few months later with then reading a letter from a family who got her donated organs

Might have given them peace

Said before was good to see sharon's on serious drama

Completely agree about the coats - that really puzzled me. As if you wouldn't be given hours to say your goodbyes beforehand.... and having experienced a very wonderful Cheltenham hospice earlier this year, it just didn't ring true.

I think they portrayed the Christian people as vultures, and to a certain extent, the American doctor too

I thought that element was rather accurate, at least in relation to the lawyers. In the high profile cases in recent years there has been one Christian organisation pushing the parents on with little obvious regard to the human rights and dignity of the children involved, and it has been plain that they have had much more interest in their own agenda. They have on occasion been guilty of some very dodgy practice. The doctor was a bit of a caricature, because his only suggestion essentially seemed to be "Let's keep her breathing in the vague hope that someone might come up with a cure and a way to reverse brain damage" and, to be fair, most medical witnesses in these cases aren't as bad as that.

I agree about the goodbyes. Surely the hospital would have left them on their own to say their goodbyes in privacy and in their own time, without the doctor and nurse hovering around in the background.