Marriage - BBC1

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I've only watched one episode and I was bored shitless as well as finding it quite depressing to look at - the clothes, the houses. They've made NW so frumpy - long live the days of that amazing Sandro trench coat in The Split 😂
 
Honestly I thought it was dogshit. Just terrible.

As mentioned the writer created Him & Her which I love, also Mum which is bloody brilliant (and on Iplayer if you didn't see it - with Lesley Manville and Peter Mullan. I'd highly recommend giving that a watch). So based on that pedigree, I expected so much more from this.

The 2 main characters were completely unlikeable. I get that being married for years is about the mundanity of life. But as said the 2 of them seemed like total strangers. They didn't have that ease in each others company which people married for that long have - even the ones who hate each other!

Unlike the writer's other work, it didn't seem well observed at all, quite the opposite. The law firm where the wife worked was ridiculous, as a lawyer I can say that no firm would operate with only 1 lawyer and that many support staff, especially when said lawyer (her boss) never did any actual work, the firm would have gone bust in a week. Ditto her 'business ideas' it was all painfully unrealistic.

I persevered for all 4 episodes thinking at some point it would get better. It didn't.
 
Lalla said:
Honestly I thought it was dogshit. Just terrible.

As mentioned the writer created Him & Her which I love, also Mum which is bloody brilliant (and on Iplayer if you didn't see it - with Lesley Manville and Peter Mullan. I'd highly recommend giving that a watch). So based on that pedigree, I expected so much more from this.

The 2 main characters were completely unlikeable. I get that being married for years is about the mundanity of life. But as said the 2 of them seemed like total strangers. They didn't have that ease in each others company which people married for that long have - even the ones who hate each other!

Unlike the writer's other work, it didn't seem well observed at all, quite the opposite. The law firm where the wife worked was ridiculous, as a lawyer I can say that no firm would operate with only 1 lawyer and that many support staff, especially when said lawyer (her boss) never did any actual work, the firm would have gone bust in a week. Ditto her 'business ideas' it was all painfully unrealistic.

I persevered for all 4 episodes thinking at some point it would get better. It didn't.
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Ah I didn't realize the same writer had written 'Mum'. I thought that was brilliant. Defo worth a watch and I might start it again tonight actually.
 
I loved Mum which I think is a beautiful series and so well observed. I love the two actors in Marriage but my god what was that? 4 episodes and I do t understand what happened or what it was trying to tell me? I mean it wasn’t even an observation on marriage I don’t think. Just very confused.
 
For anyone feeling as cheated as I was there is a good video on YouTube where the writer and NW and SB discuss the show. He goes into his reasons there but I still think it was dull as dishwater and a complete waste of 2 (3 if you count James Bolam) exceptional actors. I think he's trying to say the genius of the show is in the boring day to day lives but that's not what I watch telly for (I've got my own very boring life ta very much) and I certainly don't class that as entertainment.
 
The young boss Jamie made me think of Dave Vanian from The Damned.
Honestly I think Sean Bean is brilliant in this. He portrays mind numbing tedium so well, always standing about awkwardly. I have found it very amusing. On episode 3 now.

Only in looks though re Dave Vanian who is a great guy.
 
I get that it's about everyday life...Him & Her, and Mum were both series where nothing much really happened, but the power of them was in the minor details, the little observations. And they were entertaining, funny, sad, some characters irritated, others you liked.

Whereas in Marriage nothing happens, but it wasn't entertaining just dull. The main problem is that the characters didn't seem to like each other at all, or even know each other, and as such we didn't end up liking them either. I didn't even feel any particular sympathy for their past loss, because they were such unlikeable people.

The grandparents in Mum are a far better depiction of what a couple married for many years looks like. Not this utter banality.
 
Moonflower said:
For anyone feeling as cheated as I was there is a good video on YouTube where the writer and NW and SB discuss the show. He goes into his reasons there but I still think it was dull as dishwater and a complete waste of 2 (3 if you count James Bolam) exceptional actors. I think he's trying to say the genius of the show is in the boring day to day lives but that's not what I watch telly for (I've got my own very boring life ta very much) and I certainly don't class that as entertainment.
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Interesting re the YT video.
The trouble is accurately recreating boredom and tedium, almost in real time, by definition is boring and tedious.
I didn't quite understand why every single relationship/encounter was awkward and disfunctional either.
 
Interesting that sitcoms and soaps do the day to day irritations and tedium better I think. I know they have longer to explore these things, and it is done from a different angle.
One episode of One Foot in the Grave would have covered it. Victor Meldrew was made redundant or retired and struggled with it. They also hinted at a child bereavement.
It is comparing apples with pears, but tedium doesn't have to be tedious.
 
boarddotie said:
Crikey I absolutely love it. I'm only 2 episodes in and I feel so much has happened really subtly. This is indeed about the mundaneness of married life but also that the surface chat and seemingly contentedness is hiding so much from the past.
Sean Bean playing someone so different in an anorak is difficult watching especially with the leisure centre girl. But that's the point of a good actor and storyline. It should make us uncomfortable!
Maybe I like it becoming I am fascinated by what makes long term relationships work as I am watching my own going down the pan right now!
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I’m with you! And we’re in the minority lol I agree that nothing happened and it was “boring” but it was subtle. Sean Beans character was fantastic, the way he played Ian’s struggle with being redundant and his awkwardness was really moving in my eyes. The scene in the gym bought me to tears. It was weird to see Henry Lloyd hughes in a “grown up” role lol I haven’t seen him since inbetweeners. All in all, I thought it was really good. It was for thinking, not for action.
 
Well I’m in the minority as I also liked it! I didn’t mind the family awkwardness.. my own family can be a bit like that to be honest

The theme tune though… AWFUL! I’ve been muting it!

Amyx1518 said:
I’m with you! And we’re in the minority lol I agree that nothing happened and it was “boring” but it was subtle. Sean Beans character was fantastic, the way he played Ian’s struggle with being redundant and his awkwardness was really moving in my eyes. The scene in the gym bought me to tears. It was weird to see Henry Lloyd hughes in a “grown up” role lol I haven’t seen him since inbetweeners. All in all, I thought it was really good. It was for thinking, not for action.
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Omg Donovan! I knew I recognised him!
 
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