Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

Hollington Drive

(103 Posts)
Armynanny Thu 30-Sept-21 10:57:43

Watched the first episode of this last night and really struggled with hearing the dialogue. Am I the only one who had to keep turning the sound up and down? Don’t want to give up on the programme but struggled.

Jane43 Thu 30-Sept-21 19:03:32

I often have this problem so like Curlywhirly I switch on the subtitles.

BlueBelle Thu 30-Sept-21 19:04:33

Nanak I m with you there I do like the ones that continue not he time to forget the plot a weeks a long time for my brain

Why don’t people used subtitles more I use them on all dramas and I don’t have a hearing problem

Jane71 Thu 30-Sept-21 20:11:20

I didn't watch the program, but DH and I both have problems with some programs making out the dialog. I know our hearing isn't what it was (is anything?) but I don't think we should have to use sub-titles. Is it the TV speakers/ What experience do have GN people have of sound bars/speakers?

Curlywhirly Thu 30-Sept-21 20:34:38

From memory, I think I read that the problem with modern TV sound is that TVs are now very slimline and so are the speakers; previously TVs were huge bulky things with large integral speakers to match.

seacliff Thu 30-Sept-21 20:35:14

I really enjoyed it, and was sorry I could not binge watch. It was a pleasant surprise after reading this thread. I agree it has a sort of Broadchurch feel.

Grandmafrench Thu 30-Sept-21 20:48:59

Curlywhirly

From memory, I think I read that the problem with modern TV sound is that TVs are now very slimline and so are the speakers; previously TVs were huge bulky things with large integral speakers to match.

The speakers are actually at the back of modern plasma tv's. How mad is that? The sound comes out and hits the wall, or anything else, but not in the direction of where one is sitting facing the screen.

Too many programmes are recorded with accompanying traffic or machine noise, together with awful 'muzak' sound track and on top of that we have to strain to listen to mumbling actors. There are endless complaints about many well-advertised dramas and excellent series and often based on people simply being unable to hear.

We use sub-titles a lot. We also have a Bose sound bar which is connected and sits on a shelf behind where we sit. It acts like a kind of all-around sound system and makes up for the sound loss which accompanies the purchase of a plasma screen t.v.

Lexisgranny Thu 30-Sept-21 20:54:47

Another one here who nearly always has subtitles on, have got ‘getting it in sync’ down to a fine art. Now if only they wouldn’t keep filming everything in the dark, things would be fine.

Gwyneth Thu 30-Sept-21 22:52:31

I thought it was just me having problems hearing the dialogue. The sub titles are not working on my television so I just gave up in the end. Disappointed as I was looking to the programme.

Gwyneth Thu 30-Sept-21 22:53:04

looking forward

kissngate Fri 01-Oct-21 15:38:00

Thought it was a load of rubbish. Children can walk to park but parent needs a car as its miles away; took me ages to figure out who belonged to who; why wasnt a family liaison officer with childs parents; why were media and police not outside ; a HT who didnt appear to have anything to do but gaze into space; plus a parent who thinks her child is a murderer but doesnt tell police about the phone. Sorry wont be watching another episode it was a load of ....!

BlueBelle Thu 07-Oct-21 03:43:23

Anyone still watching I m enjoying this but who did kill the little boy ?

Maggiemaybe Thu 07-Oct-21 07:01:00

Yes, still watching, even though it’s completely daft, as are both the main female characters, imho, but particularly Ben’s mum. I’ve no theory yet on the killer - DH thinks the dopey brother of Ben’s stepdad, but I can’t see it myself.

Calendargirl Thu 07-Oct-21 07:05:41

Fell asleep yet again, which tells me I wasn’t riveted, will watch it all properly later.

Yes, both AMM and Rachael Stirling seem very odd, I often think RS overacts in any role she’s in.

Charleygirl5 Thu 07-Oct-21 07:10:53

At least we discovered last night it was neither of the children but Ben's mum is or will be in big trouble with the police having told so many lies and possibly pointing the finger at an innocent man.
The speech was no better last night and another thing that irritates me is we are expected to read messages on phones etc. I am partially sight impaired so that and acting in the dark drives me crazy.

gma Thu 07-Oct-21 09:11:02

Hollington drive! Most unrealistic set ever, looked like model village, no atmosphere! What a load of rubbish! Expected more from a promising cast! Anna Maxwell Martin and Rachel Sterling. So much not right! Why did they not know child Alex was missing earlier? What is it with missing child’s father and headteacher ( she has the most sparsely furnished headteacher office ever! ) what’s happening with the permanently weepy young teacher? Etc etc etc! Probably won’t watch any more! Just last 5 minutes of final episode! ITV you must do better! But I could be wrong ………

JaneJudge Thu 07-Oct-21 09:14:59

Is the posh woman having it off with everyone? sorry to be so crude

trisher Thu 07-Oct-21 09:18:37

It is completely unrealistic and some of the acting is awful. I waded through the first episode on itv hub but I'm not sure I will bother with any more.

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 07-Oct-21 09:24:21

I was recording it as I thought with Anna and Rachael it would be good. Having read the comments I’ve deleted it.

seacliff Thu 07-Oct-21 10:15:25

I watched the second episode, I've no idea who killed the little boy. Not sure how many episodes there are, or if I will persist.

I often suspend belief a bit to enjoy programmes. However, this programme is pretty dire, shame as it could have been so much better.

LauraNorder Thu 07-Oct-21 11:25:21

Ben said he hadn’t seen the dead boys phone so why didn’t the mother ask him what it was he’d dropped in the bin.
The headteacher deleted her daughter’s messages from the WhatsApp group but the messages will still be on Ben’s phone, why hadn’t Ben’s mother looked at his phone. They’ll also be on Alex’s phone if it’s found.
Wouldn’t the water/lake/river be the first place the police would look for a missing child? No they combed the woods first while Ben’s mother was able to separate and check out the water.
More holes than a Tetley’s tea bag.
Housing estate looks very sterile, do places like that exist?
Agree the park and woods are nearby for the children but miles away for the adults.

DiscoDancer1975 Thu 07-Oct-21 11:29:45

Haven’t watched this yet, so have avoided reading the posts. We generally use subtitles now, with many things. Especially Netflix. There’s nothing wrong with our hearing in the real world, but there’s so much mumbling in the transmission world. If not mumbling...then music playing over dialogue, or just looking away from the camera. Really irritating.

So presumably it’s subtitles for this one too?

travelsafar Thu 07-Oct-21 11:33:44

I watched first episode and turned on last night to watch the second. The little boy telling his mum what happened and her not calling the police straight away was a red flag to me, then the convesation with the head teacher......i turned over!!!!

Calendargirl Thu 07-Oct-21 11:54:23

I think there are 4 episodes.

Chestnut Thu 07-Oct-21 12:34:42

I'm hanging on (with subtitles) as there is not much decent new drama lately.
Anna Maxwell Martin has the worst acting voice ever, mumbling under her breath and speaking quietly. Don't these actors go to drama school any more? She needs elocution lessons to learn how to project her voice.
What with young adventurous sound technicians twiddling with the volume knobs and actors who don't know how to act it's no wonder we can't hear anything.

Namsnanny Thu 07-Oct-21 12:53:45

I often think Rachael Stirling overcast in any role she's in

I dont think you have seen her in the wonderful 'Detectorists', then calendergirl?
Very understated.

Yes Bluebell and seacliff I'm still watching, and liking it too!
No problems with sound for me.