You. Series 4, Part 2: I am not sure that the series now knows where it is going…

https://youtu.be/EvwvHrtL1xY?t=4

I found this a rather odd set of episodes. The previous set (s4/Pt 1) did have some coherence although I was never fully convinced by the setting (the depiction of the British social group seemed awkward, not successfully falling into the ‘black satire’ category, which it seemed to be wanting to do). There was at least, however, some dramatic coherence – although, as often with this series, the events of violence and the aftermath and clearing up seemed to be implausibly rushed.

In this set of episodes, I found the first one (6) very uninvolving as too often the focus moved from Joe to a variety of the university and social group in which he now moves – and my doubts about the effectiveness of the purportedly satirical writing were confirmed. In subsequent episodes, with the focus going more back to Joe, the series became more involving but the plot twists that were made seemed to be bizarrely implausible, as if the writers were trying too hard to avoid treading the path they had already trod. This was an understandable fear, as that was always a danger, certainly after the second series. But other plot ideas and developments such as the hallucinating, the lengthy Marienne narration and, most of all, the ‘split personality’ idea at times made me think that the series was going to go down Riverdale levels of crazy. Thankfully, by the end, this did not seem to be the case.

In the final episode, there was a degree of very efficient tying up of loose ends (but again, rather glibly and rapidly) and the possibility of continuation but I am not sure now to the extent that I am still as involved in the story of Joe as I once was. But even if there was not another series, the conclusion could, just about, work.

 

 

 

Succession. Season 1: Remarkably gripping saga that never lets up for one moment.

Happy Valley Season 3. More than maintains the power and brilliance of the previous two series