PLAYING NICE - sun&mon 5/6Jan ITV 9pm a TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

New 4 part psychological thriller series

On Sunday 5 and mon 6th

And

Sunday 12 and Monday 13

mes Norton (www.digitalspy.com/tv/a63102573/james-norton-bbc-period-drama-2025-release/)'s intense drama follows two couples – Pete Riley (Happy Valley (www.digitalspy.com/happy-valley/)'s Norton) and his partner Maddie Wilson (Niamh Algar (www.digitalspy.com/tv/a60668764/iris-niamh-algar-tom-hollander/)) along with Miles (
James McArdle) and Lucy Lambert (
Jessica Brown Findlay (www.digitalspy.com/tv/a26376159/downton-abbey-jessica-brown-findlay-show-success-unexpected/)
) – as they make one of the most heartbreaking discoveries any parent could make: that their 3-year-old sons, Theo and David, were switched at birth.

When pete and maddie find out that their son Theo was swapped at birth they try and ‘play nice’ with Theo’s birth parents

Not knowing what the other couple are planning

Haven't seen the series a I normally absolutely hate series based on War and Peace (I'm from Russia originally and love the novel and normally the way it gets changed in various series is diabolical). But I will try with this one just for James Norton's sake 😂

The only War and Peace film I enjoyed was with Audrey Hepburn as Natasha, Mel Ferrer as Prince Andrey and Henry Fonda as Pierre. It left out a lot of the novel obviously but it did capture the spirit of it and the acting was wonderful.

I did wonder about the obvious casting. My DH and I are both dark and all of our DDs are blonde.

The pool did look pretty cold! We’ve been in Summer a few times and it’s wonderful.

Your relative probably knows my DB's partner, who swims in Newquay harbour practically every morning! DB brings her hot drink down in a flask. I think it's coffee rather than tea though.

@XelaM I knew nothing about the novel so I was watching it with no expectations! I do know that the Russian actress who played James Norton' s mum in McMafia said that she had seen him in War and Peace as it had been shown on Russian tv. I took the fact that the Russians were willing to broadcast it as a good recommendation!

Agree! It was unrealistic, predictable and just dire. Too many stupid events.
Scenery was nice though.

cheapskatemum, you’re probably right! I know they took a couple of lovely pictures of them all together.

I am sure professionals would be involved in the meet up and child Psychs.

Not just a random wine session at the big house

I saw that one, the girls/young women became close friends.

It also reminds me of the plot of the first Sophie Hannah novel, "Little Face".

James Norton's character in this is a prize idiot. Naive, doesn't think anything through, doesn't seem to understand consequences or other people's motivations

He needs to ignore miles who baits him

Absolutely baiting him. That side of him absolutely reminded me of our old neighbours who harassed us. They absolutely were exactly the same. Pushing and pushing and pushing cos they wanted a reaction they could use against us. There are absolutely those types of people in real life

As others have said, it's not realistic at all - how on earth can they claim they should take both children (only episode 2).

Mikes claiming as he rich tho better imo

Obv pete and maddy have counteracted and said want both to piss him off

She parked on a double yellow line right by the beach.

😂

Might stop watching because Peter is such a moron.

I'm enjoying this. I watched both episodes before reading this thread and did think people would probably be saying it was a load of crap as that happens a lot. I sometimes start dramas and don't really get in to them so just stop watching.
It would have been nice to see the Cornish scenery in summer but it's probably easier to film with less tourists around.

Hated it. It was awkward and uncomfortable to watch. Full of plot holes and a feeling of 'how much more can the baddy possibly do to the very nice couple' to almost pantomime levels. You felt like booing every time Miles came on screen. I got through episode two before feeling it was so uncomfortable but also having to watch for the inevitable ending because it had been so unsettling. So I skipped episode 3 and went straight to 4. I didn't feel like I'd missed anything.

The black and whiteness of the characters is it's biggest downfall.

Series 2 plotline: The restaurant closes down due to Maddie being so utterly feckless as she falls for an obvious scam by the ever so friendly helpful colleague. Pete manages to unblock the toilet in a triumph for reversed stereotypes and every raves about how wonderful he is for it whilst simultaneously the point is made by the scriptwriter about how badly he is treated for being a stay at home dad. Lucy stands there in the background for the whole series looking on with a faked smile whilst clutching child before eventually having some lines in the final episode. Miles turns up at an opportune moment to wreck yet more havoc in an implausible plot twist. Meanwhile the police waste everyone's time pursuing vexatious accusations based on fuck all evidence, on total here say and make everyone wonder what the hell they were thinking. Each episode comes with a disclaimer that no child or fluffy animal was hurt doing it's making. The series earns praise from everyone for representing the inability of the family courts to see the fucking obvious and making effing ridiculous rulings which aren't remotely in the best interests of the children concerned.

Si both Pete and Lucy gave up amazing artistic careers, why? Peter could easily work as a freelance journalist from home. Lucy used to travel the world 'promoting her work', she says. What sort of artist was she? It's a bit vague and surely a talented, successful artist wouldn't want to stop painting.

Guessing Lucy gave up her career as David had issues

Tho equally they have a nanny

I've watched all four episodes now and really enjoyed it. I've found with many of these itv/channel 5 dramas, that there can be an enjoyable first episode, then it starts to go off and it's rare that I'm still interested enough to watch it 'til the end. I enjoyed this series all the way through.

Also, I don't understand people who hate it, but still watch all the episodes. If I'm not enjoying a series, I switch it off. Why make yourself sit through something that you're not enjoying when you don't need to?

I've watched the first two now. I like it. I don't think the plot holes are that awful, there are people who are that nasty and manipulative.

He probably didn't like her being successful and making money independently of him.