The Virtues

The music if anyone interested is

The Crowded Cell ( P J Harvey ) haunting words.

Aw granny, it was a tough watch. I absolutely loved the character Dinah and both the scene with her mother and the scene with the social worker were outstanding.

This is by far the best drama I've seen since I watched Cathy Come Home and I am sure it will haunt me in the same way. The scriptwriting was brilliant and the acting was superb, each cast member brought amazing realism (including the children), but even in such a stellar cast Stephen Graham was outstanding. He really, really deserves a BAFTA for this portrayal. I have worked with many, 'Josephs' - as a social worker and in my current role working with homeless people - and Graham got the nuances so right. I cried my way through most of it.

I just watched the final episode on catch up.

What can I say? So powerful and so very sad. Brilliant acting.

There but for the grace........

I wanted to see who sang the end song (sounded like Willie Nelson or his son Lucas?) But no musical credits .

There has to be a second series . Please.

It's my mother on screen.

I’m glad I stuck with this, it was hard to watch at times but as others have said it reflects what others have been through. I liked the contrast between Joseph being able to forgive his abuser but the female (sorry can’t recall her name) who was unable to come to terms with her mother’s betrayal. My heart bled for them both and it will stay with me for quite a while.

The most natural acting I've seen in a long time. Brilliant !

didnt think BlueBelle dohhh will remember next time.
Yes so very true nanaKate

So, so sad to think that is reality for so many people

Put the sub titles on Biker I use them for all dramas

Still had trouble hearing it at times though.

Just watched it....the music at the end is haunting isn't it!

Oh my God what a powerful drama and what an end
Fantastic drama, beautifully written, researched and acted

Last Episode Tonight....not that it really matters if you miss it as available on catch up.

Started to watch this but haven't seen last week's episode yet, felt i could take or leave it to be honest Might watch it again on catch up when the whole drama will be available in one go.

We've watched the first episode. I agree it was a bit like a documentary. I think Stephen Graham is a brilliant actor.

Ear trumpet at the ready---again.

Aside from that it's brilliant acting and more like a natural documentary. It's so harrowing to think about that children's home and it's no wonder the man's mind is shattered. I could cry for the character,
Joseph.
I'll miss it after it's finished.

The sound was awful again last night, but I did think that when Niamh Cusack was on, her diction was clear as a bell!

One episode left but really struggled with the sound again last night.

I loved tonight’s episode it was so hauntingly sad and yet it was so funny too, I loved the sisters’ “make sure those youth club txxs stay under your t shirt” I think the acting all round is absolutely brilliant I m sorry it’s only 4 episodes Its extremely well written and filmed too
First class

Just watched tonight’s episode and whilst it was quite disturbing (as I expected it would be) I really enjoyed it . I’m so glad I stuck with it. Poor Joseph I wonder what horrors he encounted in the children’s home that made him run away. Brilliant acting.

I found the first episode very uncomfortable to watch and cringed as Joseph crumbled in the pub scene. His pain and despair was palpable.
The second episode was heart wrenching.
What brilliant acting!

I got the gist of this after missing the first episode, but the sound quality is atrocious and I sat holding the damn thingamajig in case it suddenly blasted out.
Natural acting from everyone including Stephen Graham who must have got his practice from his birth-home of Huyton, a rough area of Liverpool, complete with lingo.
It's good though.

I didn’t find it at all slow and like you gilly I thought the kids were brilliant so natural no thoughts of them acting they were just inquisitive kids I think it’s really well written showing how he has completely fell to pieces inside but kept up the ‘Im ok I m great’ act outside, the life and soul of the party but crumbling inside Just the sort of man who would commit suicide and everyone would be shocked
I m looking forward to next week but keep the sub titles on folks you are not going deaf

I did find the second episode slow in parts, but the realistic dialogue is excellent (once the subtitles are on!).