Us - New Sunday night BBC 1 drama.

Watched the first episode but didn’t bother with last nights. Not great acting and I’m not keen on Tom Holland as an actor. Always find him a bit daft.

Just posted this on the What are You Watching thread re: “US”.
It is intriguing me,
Is Albi the natural son of his ‘Father’?
He shares blonde hair and creative traits of his Mum
but maybe she had an affair (bored with hubby?) and Albi was the result?
or was his father a ‘sperm donor’ and isn’t his real father? Perhaps that’s why there is no real empathy between father and son?
Their first born was a girl who didn’t survive but we don’t know why yet. They both said they “still miss her” in the first episode.
I could “binge watch” but don’t know how to ?

LullyDully, you’re right about the chronology - they’re too old to have such a young son, unless the next episode (episode 3) explains everything (without “spoiling” the plot for those yet to watch). I enjoyed Us more than I thought I would because, TBH, I occasionally like to watch something that’s undemanding and entertaining and takes my mind off all the issues of the day which are so depressing and worrying - COVID, Brexit, climate change etc etc.

I watched it last night but for me, it is bordering on dire. I did enjoy seeing Amsterdam. I could not stand Albi's newfound loud girlfriend Kat and I am none too keen on the mother.

Loved Sofie Grabol though. Didn't recognise her at first because she wasn't wearing a jumper!

I didn't recognise her either! I'm finding the mother harder and harder to like, the son I can forgive when he's a bit obnoxious- he's young, but the mother is impossible.

Yes, I am "team husband", definitely not "team wife". He is trying to make changes to please her, she is not prepared to compromise at all. When she said she couldn't go on with the holiday any more because it had "become unbearable", she should have had my marriage ... that was unbearable!

I think it's the perpetual inability to enjoy anythng the husband does that is making me dislike her. I try to see things from her point of view but when he was on a boat on the canal I couldn't see why you would rather sit in a cafe getting drunk than enjoy that boat ride. When you are 17 maybe but once you are past 40?

trisher

I think it's the perpetual inability to enjoy anythng the husband does that is making me dislike her. I try to see things from her point of view but when he was on a boat on the canal I couldn't see why you would rather sit in a cafe getting drunk than enjoy that boat ride. When you are 17 maybe but once you are past 40?

Is it because that was the life she put aside to marry him in the first place?

I'm trying to see things from the husband's angle but I really wanted her to shove him in the canal.

I feel sorry for the husband, she knew what he was like when she married him! He's not a bad guy, just quite irritating. Mind you we don't yet know the whole story of the years from 2000 to today.

It was forgettable, but more substantial than Harlots and A Suitable Boy. Will watch it again if nothing betetr to do.

In my opinion Douglas is certainly a bit on the Asperger s scale but very sweet and tries hard to make amends He’s precise. a number cruncher, a bit of an old bore but loving and kind and tries to meet his wife’s needs

I don’t see why you say they are too old perhaps they haven’t worn so well anyway Albi was their second child making them maybe in their early 40 s

I agree with Lully Dully- they’ve been married twenty years and we’re obv quite young when they married which by my calculation puts them or her ( wasn’t she at art school?) in early to mid forties. I’m enjoying it but can’t ‘get past’ the wife looking much too old.Tom H s age seems indeterminate

Pittcity Maybe, but in the back flips she seemed to be having a pretty good try at partying, even though he never enjoyed it. Perhaps she just feels she's getting old. If that's the case she's on a loser for a start-nothing worse than an older person partying with a younger crowd and pretending they can keep up. (I'll wait for the brickbats that will attract )

On balance I’m team husband. Yes, he’s predictable, but he’s caring and means well, and if it wasn’t for him spending ruddy hours on Tripadvisor (yes, I’ve been there ) I doubt Mrs Spontaneous would ever even get a holiday. And all he gets from her are supercilious smirks.

On the other hand.....she was dead right about the breakfast incident - Douglas was a complete embarrassment there. And the university discussion, oh dear. I can’t understand anyone who can afford to not encouraging their children to go forth and do what they love.

Maggie
Still don't like the wife any more this week. Apart from the breakfast incident where he should have supported his son he's trying so hard to please her. What 17 year old and girlfriend wants his mum with him on an evening out. I haven't read the book so I'm curious as to what will happen.

I'll give it another episode. A bit disappointed that some of it is a bit of a stretch: surely the almost dolly bird, Connie, couldn't have morphed into someone's Nan in just 20 years? To me, she just looked too old - not just as Albie's Mum but also Douglas' Wife. Hopefully we'll see more clearly what her problem is as the story progresses, rather than a certain vague whiney-ness and a habit of encouraging a joint attack on Albie's Dad at any opportunity. Location shots enjoyable, non-stop background music and noise not so much.

I'm with poor Douglas all the way. The bit where he was crying at the dump was heart breaking. He's trying so hard!
I would be extremely embarrassed if a guest of mine behaved the way Cat did at the breakfast buffet and doubt if I could stifle my urge to tell her where to go.

US didn’t do it for me. I may watch in when they go to Venice just to see location. Singapore Grip tv production I’m not sure about really but the book is excellent.

Started watching it last night but, as usual, nodded off so need to rewatch it. I was in an unhappy marriage: we took the teenage children on a grand tour of Europe:: my ex is a bit borderline asbergers (sp) etc etc. so I feel I should relate to the series but, thus far it isn’t working for me. And why does his wife look so haggard?

After watching the first 2 episodes DH said he wasn’t watching anymore.
Douglas to my mind was OTT.
I watched the last 2 episodes and I’m glad I did, it improved and Douglas ‘calmed down’ .

I was so pleased with the way it ended.

The scenery was amazing!

I’ve just watched the whole lot and, due to my nodding off will have to rewatch it. It did actually grow on me and has made me do a lot of soul searching about my first marriage. We did love each other (still do) but, in retrospect our interests changed as we got older and we’re now with partners that share our interests. Quite a few things annoyed me though eg the wife constantly leaving and rejoining her husband and being able to get the dog into boarding kennels at short notice. And what happened to the dog at the end?

I am really enjoying this series, for the first time in ages I really want to see the next episode. (Many have said that since lockdown that they cannot concentrate on reading. I identify with that in spades and bizarrely find the same with TV).
Having just watched the second part I am firmly on team husband’s side. Good old Douglas, yes, he may be boring and predictable but he is also loving and loyal. He wants the best for his much loved son, just cannot understand him as he has inherited his wife’s artistic talent and has no love of scientific detail.
Although I read the book I cannot remember the ending so whatever happens will be a surprise to me. Also loving the scenery and yearning for and end to COVID restrictions so we can travel through Europe by train. Tom Hollander isn’t bad either.

Not keen on Tom Hollander really. Found the family all irritating especially her, she is just miserable and always putting her husband down, he should cut and run. Love seeing all those lovely places they visited though, made me feel so nostalgic for foreign shores.