Single Father, ep 1

[caz963]

It's been a gorgeous day today - sunny and warm and more like July than ... er... July actually was. So we've been out and about and I'll post some pics tomorrow when I get a chance.

It's late, but I can't go to bed without a quick mention of the first episode of Single Father.



Needless to say I enjoyed it a lot. Which is probably the wrong expression to use when you consider the subject matter, but I was gripped from the start. Not just because of the presence of the delectable Mr T, but because of the way we were introduced to the family - there were situations there that were very familiar, and which I'm sure were to most parents. The opening chaotic breakfast scene - it's bad enough with two kids, let alone four! Getting the kids to tidy their rooms... going a bit ga-ga over cute pics of your kids... calling the old man a wanker when he buggers off out when you don't want him to!

The accident scene was absolutely horrific. No blood or guts but - BAM! Okay, so I knew what was coming and was waiting for it, but even then it was incredibly shocking.

People who were lucky enough to see this episode in advance had posted about how good David was in the scene towards the end where his character finally breaks down. It's like he's held it all in for ten weeks - because with four kids in the house, what else can he do? (I can identify so closely with that; being able to be upset and/or cry or scream or let off steam when there are kids in the house to take into consideration is well-nigh impossible, and so you bottle stuff up and set it aside, telling yourself you'll "deal with it later".)
He is amazing in that scene - someone asked him in an interview how he's able to plumb the depths of despair like that, and he did admit that sometimes he has to go to "a very dark place". He's not afraid to go for it, or to look a total mess (complete with tears, drool and snot!) - and he does, and it's brilliant.

But you know the scene where he really got me? The bit where he rushes to school to pick up his kids, and he finds out what's happened to Rita. I can't do justice to it - but watching his reaction - when he literally has to sit down before he falls down - made me feel like I'd been punched in the gut.

And then there's the scene where he gets pulled over for speeding - the scorn and loathing on his face...

So that's the fangirling done with. I can see why David was so enthusiastic about the kids - they were all fantastic. The part where the little girl, Evie, was planting the cut flowers in the garden because her mum only liked flowers that were growing was a real lump-in-the-throat moment.

I know I've missed out plenty of stuff, so I'll try to marshall my thoughts better when I'm more awake!

Comments

[longtimegone]

I absolutely agree with everything you've said here. That scene in the lobby of the school was gutwrenching. I cannot wait to see episode 2!

[caz963.livejournal.com]

:-)

If he doesn't win shedloads of awards for this, then there's no justice in the world!

[kathyh]

I can't do justice to it - but watching his reaction - when he literally has to sit down before he falls down - made me feel like I'd been punched in the gut.

It was really hard to watch that moment. Beautifully and powerfully done.

My husband hated the subject matter, but I found it compulsive viewing.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

That moment was the highlight of the episode for me. The breaking-down scene is probably "flashier" in the sense of being something that people will perhaps regard as being more "difficult", but he pitched that earlier scene perfectly and that's the one that I think will stay with me from this episode.

[sensiblecat.livejournal.com]

I have to pay DT the ultimate compliment...within a few minutes I was so involved I was watching Dave, not him. He became invisbile. It was good to see him tackle a more naturalistic style of acting. Family life was all very well done, showing the relentlessness of young children's demands for things that appear to be trivial to adults going through the mill but are in fact all about badly needed comfort and reassurance. It would be invidious to single anyone out but Lucy, the troubled teenager, was an especially note-perfect performance.

However, I really didn't like the motorbike scene. It slipped into cliche and, as at least one reviewer has pointed out, it seemed OOC for Dave to do something so dangerous, maybe borderline suicidal, when his kids had just lost their other parent.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I read a review earlier today that said something similar about the motorbike scene, but I see it slightly differently. I'm not sure he was borderline suicidal; I thought that rather he needed to get out of the house and away from everyone because he'd not had a chance to let it all out - all day, he's had to be strong for the kids and for others around him. As I'm sure you know, it's impossible to have a row or a good cry or whatever in a house where there are young kids around - and I admit, I've legged it myself on a couple of occasions recently where I couldn't be in the house any more and needed to get out to calm down! (Long story...)

What struck me as odd about that scene was that they'd just leave this distraught bloke sitting on the edge of the motorway without attempting to get him home safely.

But other than that I completely agree with you :)

[ms-lilith.livejournal.com]

Yes. I was like 'you killed his wife this morning so thats alright, leave him alone to get himself killed? Take him home to his kids, you idiots!'

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Well yes, exactly.

[sue-denimme.livejournal.com]

But you know the scene where he really got me? The bit where he rushes to school to pick up his kids, and he finds out what's happened to Rita. I can't do justice to it - but watching his reaction - when he literally has to sit down before he falls down - made me feel like I'd been punched in the gut.

I just got done saying something like this on the tennant_love thread, but the look on his face, like the earth just dropped out from under him, put me back in time to when I found out about my mom's death 2 years ago, and my dad's last January. Because that's the sensation I had. Of course, DT also lost his mother within the last few years, IIRC, so naturally he's not just guessing how he would react, he's been there. :-(

Like you, I found this *the* standout scene, though I was as blown away by the bathroom meltdown as anyone else.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I'm so fortunate that I haven't (yet) gone through that, but I absolutely FELT it with him. It wasn't like I was watching someone experience that shock and horror, I was there, too, and it was horrible.

Of course, we knew that David was going to be fabulous in this role, but what I'm finding so amazing is the fact that he looks so different - and yet he doesn't. It's more than a different hairstyle and different clothes and accent... gah, I'm not expressing myself terribly well, but I'm sure you understand what I'm trying to say!

Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to next week!

[radiantbaby.livejournal.com]

This was definitely full of excellent, meat, emotional stuff. I am so glad to see David sinking his teeth into a role like this. I mean, things like St Trinian's are good for a laugh, but I truly love when that man angsts!

I really, really can't wait until next week. While the episode was full of emotional punches, I really enjoyed the journey (I've even seen it twice so far) and want to see where the rest of it takes me/us.

It was also good to see all of the awesome actors in this. I'm a big fan of Suranne, so I've been bouncing about her being in this since it was announced. I am also looking greatly forward to the ever-lovely Rupert Graves. Plus, it was nice to see Neve McIntosh without her Silurian make-up (even if I'm a bit unsure if I like her character or not). And the kids? Wow, they really surprised me. They were amazing!

Anyway, can't wait to see more! Yay for David being on our screens again! :)

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I confess, I'd never heard of Suranne Jones before - I don't watch soaps so never saw her in Corrie. And I hadn't realised who she was when she was in SJA last year as a superbly northern Mona Lisa!

BBC dramas do tend to attract the big names; they're one of the few places that make drama any more even though they're doing less than they used to.

I've just posted some further thoughts on the episode as there was stuff I forgot because I was knackered. But yes, very much looking forward to next week.

[radiantbaby.livejournal.com]

I actually don't watch soaps either (plus, being in the US, it might be harder for me to, even if I were curious), but I saw her recently in something called Five Days with David Morrissey and I thought she had a stellar performance in that. I actually didn't put together she was in SJA until recently, but I thought she was great in that as well. :)

I admit to being a bit weak for BBC Dramas. Anytime I see one pop up (such as with Five Days, actually), I try to check them out. I mean, not only do I usually recognize a majority of the actors, usually the writing is infinitely better than most stuff we have on US telly.

Anyway, enough babbling. I'll have to check out your other post. I'm thinking of actually rewatching the episode for a third time (this time with subtitles, in case I missed anything!) after that. I just can't get enough of having something new of David's to watch again.