Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

The Girl Before.

(69 Posts)
Calendargirl Mon 20-Dec-21 06:54:56

Anyone else watch this last night BBC1, 9pm?

Thought it quite intriguing, it’s on over 4 nights, but suspect like so many other similar dramas, may descend into farce.

tanith Mon 20-Dec-21 07:36:58

I enjoyed but suspect as you do it may deteriorate like so many others.

henetha Mon 20-Dec-21 10:27:50

I liked it very much, but yes, such series often do become disappointing. Hopefully not this one.... we'll see.

BigBertha1 Mon 20-Dec-21 12:18:44

The book was very good. I shall watch the TV prog later today and hope they haven't ruined the book.

MayBeMaw Mon 20-Dec-21 13:29:32

I glanced at it and glanced away as quickly.
Good review in todays DT. though, if I may quote a bit
In horror films, it is standard procedure for characters to follow a course of action that no sane person would consider. Head into the woods in the middle of the night, with a madman on the loose and no batteries for your torch? Sure thing
And so it is in The Girl Before, a new psychological thriller on BBC One which is running on four consecutive nights this week and boxsetted on the iPlayer. Single woman Jane (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and young couple Emma and Simon (Jessica Plummer and Ben Hardy), go to view the same house for rent. Even before the weirdness starts, you may be wondering why these people are keen to live in a house with all the warmth of an NCP car park, but there are bigger concerns.
The estate agents explain that the house comes with a set of rules imposed by the architect. No pictures, no ornaments, no carpets or rugs, no coasters (so far, so Grand Designs), no plants, no magazines, no books. They are only allowed one cupboard’s worth of possessions. Nothing must ever be left on the floor or the bed, and all of the above will be checked during routine inspections. Oh, and prospective tenants must fill out a questionnaire filled with such posers as: would you sacrifice yourself to save 10 innocent strangers ?
Any normal human would have run like the clappers and started looking at nice Victorian flat conversions with Lucinda from Foxton’s

She puts it well. It looks eminently missable! grin

Aldom Mon 20-Dec-21 13:40:31

I watched about two thirds before deciding it wasn't my cup of tea.

Caleo Mon 20-Dec-21 14:59:54

The development of the theme was too slow.

Doodledog Mon 20-Dec-21 15:04:34

I watched it (and also thought the place was like a car park!).

I'm not gripped. The people are all beautiful, the flat/flats is/are hideous (are they both in the same one, in different time zones or something? I was only half watching), and the plot is thin, but I will probably continue if there is nothing better on, as I'm ready to veg out by 9.00.

TerriBull Mon 20-Dec-21 15:43:27

I read the book a while back, I wasn't overly enamoured with it. I thought I'd give the drama a go though because occasionally they can be better than the book, Normal People for example. Bloody hell this one was slow and dreary, didn't draw me in at all, only sought to remind me why I didn't like the book much.

trisher Mon 20-Dec-21 15:54:04

I thought it was interesting. It was a very oddly constructed and you had to go with the confusion about what was happening for quite a while, eventually the times of the couple and the single woman ocupying the flat became clear. There are a lot of unanswered questions I hope the next episodes reveal more.

SpanielNanny Mon 20-Dec-21 17:30:08

My dil lent me the book as part of a care package during the first lockdown. I quite enjoyed it, and had been looking forward to the series. I watched the first episode last night, and was a bit disappointed. I’ll give the second one a go, but not sure I’ll stick it out to the end.

Teacheranne Mon 20-Dec-21 18:15:07

I really enjoyed it and toyed with the idea of binge watching on iplayer but have decided to watch it over the four nights. It didn’t take me long to work out the time lapse between the tenants and I’m looking forward to seeing how the plot develops.

I love psychological dramas and books if they get me thinking and I’m not affected by violence or dead bodies!

lemsip Mon 20-Dec-21 18:51:57

wathed for a while but too long winded and mumbling for me so gave up

Curlywhirly Mon 20-Dec-21 20:13:19

I too watched it - can't say I enjoyed it; I found it rather far-fetched and quite depressing. Not sure I will carry on watching it, I just didn't find it entertaining.

merlotgran Mon 20-Dec-21 22:01:04

It’s soooo slow and I keep getting the two women muddled up.

trisher Mon 20-Dec-21 22:02:18

It is very slow. I suspect they could have made it in 2 episodes if they had cut out all the long scenic views of London.

Charleygirl5 Mon 20-Dec-21 22:13:16

merlotgran I also kept getting the woman muddled up this evening. It is really weird and I agree, 4 episodes are too long.

dragonfly46 Mon 20-Dec-21 22:18:44

I go on the colour of their dresses ?

merlotgran Mon 20-Dec-21 22:29:22

I’ve tried that, dragonfly but by the time it cuts to another scene I’ve forgotten what they’re wearing. ?

tanith Mon 20-Dec-21 22:32:44

I decided today not to bother watching anymore, I think there is so much depressing news at the moment I want to watch or read something lighthearted and cheery not another murder mystery.

cc Tue 21-Dec-21 10:54:02

Maybe
"She puts it well. It looks eminently missable! "
Yep, I started to watch it. I did persevere to episode two but eventually decided that life's too short to watch all the episodes of this unbelievable dross.

slightlyvixed Tue 21-Dec-21 10:55:19

I'm actually quite gripped by it, after watching two episodes, despite all the questions 'why on earth?'. But would love to see this filmed with the genders of the characters reversed - female architect and male tenants. Can say the same for the majority of crime/thriller dramas.

Trisha57 Tue 21-Dec-21 11:11:05

I've just watched the conclusion, and must say I enjoyed this series!

cmcpne Tue 21-Dec-21 11:11:31

Not watched it yet but it’s on my list. Loving “You Don’t Know Me” which is on iplayer and last week we watched “ “Outlaws” also on iplayer and thought that refreshingly funny.

Twirlie Tue 21-Dec-21 11:15:53

I have watched the two episodes so far & it has me confused. I will have to watch it to the end as I haven't read the book so need to know how it plays out.