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

I'd like them to have spent longer on the background stuff. This was all terribly personal against the doctor treating Marnie, yet as I understand it in cases like this it's standard to get more than one further medical opinon. That was only mentioned during the trial as if it was an afterthought, and they apparently only had one second opinion. Likewise the first thing the Christian lawyers should have been doing was looking for doctors who would support the parental case, and indeed they almost certainly have some on speed dial. They only produced one inadequate witness at the 11th hour, and there was no indication that he'd even looked at her medical notes. We never really learnt what case was put forward by the guardian appointed for Marnie, either.

But, to be fair, I suppose lawyers doing their jobs doesn't necessarily make great TV.

Just started watching this. I'm
A paediatric nurse so picking holes in the plot. A ventilated child would not be kept at a District General hospital for starters.

Also wondering where the nurses are! She'd have one sat at the end of her bed.

i bet you really hate Casualty

🤣

@MrsLargeEmbodied and don't get me started in Holly city!

IMO Sharon Horgan is a fantastic writer, good comedy actor and mediocre straight actor

Just watched this and enjoyed the first 3 episodes. I thought they did a pretty good job of showing different experiences within the family and differing points of view. I especially liked how we understood the massive impact on Katie's life without her being portrayed as either a saint or devil.

But I felt really disappointed by the last episode. It felt incredibly rushed and unrealistic, both the court case and the final scene in the hospital. The mother's ultimate change of heart felt like a cop out, allowing a 'happy' ending rather than the total destruction of a family torn apart by differing opinions in an impossible situation.

On episode 3 and wondering why a child with a muscular dystrophy condition, would be on diazepam.

And doing a CVL and then taking Marnie to theatre without consent? Wouldn't happen!

did she have fits @Toddlerteaplease
i spose it had to be simply some drug that her sister could steal

My 'that wouldn't happen' moment came in the first episode where the palliative care consultant popped up without prior discussion. Maybe that has happened? I've never seen it though.

On the second episode now, my heart breaks for Katie. I think her story line is particularly well written.

I've seen in real life in extended family the healthy older sibling of a child with a life-limiting condition really suffer. An awful situation for everyone of course but siblings have all kinds of additional feelings to grapple with.

I thought exactly the sane. The introduction would not be so brutal. Also a child with a muscular dystrophy type condition, would probably be on non invasive ventilation at least some of the time. Not just oxygen.

I think the description by a PP of the siblings of disabled children as 'Glass children' is absolutely spot on. I've met families where it seems that the other children barely exist. Due to parents focusing exclusively on the special needs child. Obviously not all families are like this. And I take my hat off to what parents cope with. But some children are definitely second best.

I'm a Katie, albeit my disabled sibling is still alive. It's very easy to scrutinise parents like mine from the outside and to speculate about what we would do if we were in their shoes - but in reality so much is outside of parental control. If education, health and social care are doing a woeful job then what choice do you have but to throw all your emotional and physical resources at the more vulnerable child?

I definitely played second fiddle to my sibling growing up, lots of non disabled siblings do, but having a disabled sibling grants you an emotional maturity that helps you to understand why things are as they are - and I think they portrayed that well with Katie, her experience was painful but she 'got it' and really didn't want or expect any kind of apology from her parents, she just wanted them to get their shit together and do the right thing for Marnie.

That's the other thing that often happens with non-disabled siblings (especially if they're older) - they become slightly parentified. They are often the disabled child's closest advocate so inevitably get pulled into the decision making process. Again this was so beautifully portrayed in the series (I sobbed). I know some people will judge and say Katie was too young to carry that burden but when you've been your sibling's dearest friend and relative for the majority of your young life your voice has a right to be heard.

Thank you for sharing.
Really interesting. And quite lovely. I can feel the love in what you write

Thank you for sharing.
Really interesting. And quite lovely. I can feel the love in what you write

Bump

I think the hospital was the (non-existent) Cheltenham Central Hospital rather than the actual Cheltenham General.
Filed at Southmead maybe?