Flies, seething maggots and overpowering stench. And that was just breakfast *picks up drumsticks for drum roll and cymbal crash*
I can't invest - I'M OUT
Mashed-up body parts smeared across ceiling and walls appear to be the new woodchip. Not sure it’ll catch on in B&Q.
Right from the start the unfortunate actors were burdened with overly technical language – if you want that stuff to sound like proper acting, get Holly Aird in to do it (she was just masterful in Identity). Plus she has previous – she’s even appeared in a few episodes of Waking the Dead.
Keith Allen was the real revelation – not only did he just about manage to keep a straight face, but he UNDERPLAYED the role – slight flicker of an eyelid here, half shrug of a shoulder there. He was the centre of calm in flurry of technobabble.
Not sure about the US-style yellow police tape and the convenient diagnosis given to an anxious family around their loved-one’s hospital bed. “The doctors tell us stuff… but they just use all that jargon.” “Do you want me to translate it for you?”
No – I want you to go away and write a more believable script.
All of the above might be grossly unfair as the episode could well have picked up dramatically after the 25 minute mark, which is when I bailed. I’ve just not got the stomach for all that gore.
The Guardian Guide review suggested the first episode was just trying too hard. I think maybe it didn’t try hard enough. Is this really the best the BBC can do? I’m sure a lot of people worked very hard to make this programme (it looked good) and I wouldn’t want to dismiss their efforts – but someone needed to step back and do some quality assurance testing.
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Like you, I think it’s a case of ‘must try harder’ not so much for the actors, because they can only work with what they’re given. Will you watch the next one????
Might record the next one and watch at x4 speed – everything looks like Benny Hill when you do that…
Trust me – it did not pick up after the 25minute mark.
The bit that got me was why they called it ‘The Body Farm’ and then told us NOTHING about the body farm or why it existed or how it was funded (poorly, by the looks of it). All we know is that it’s the least hygienic laboratory in the history of modern medical science and, apparently, one needs no stated qualifications or official vetting to be called in to help the Met with very serious murders.
Tara’s hair looks better that length, though. (My grandmother always told me to say something nice.)
I’ve not been tempted by 2nd episode, though I might take a quick look on iPlayer. I agree the Body Farm dimension did seem a little overlooked. Maybe it gets clearer in subsequent episodes…