Are you looking for a watchlist but overwhelmed by online recommendations? Hannah Bradfield breaks down everything she’s watched recently and delivers the verdict on what’s worth the watch, what isn’t, and what she’s planning to watch next.
What I’ve loved
Kin
While this isn’t a super recent release, it’s had a resurgence after landing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this year, having aired previously in Ireland. Created by Ciaran Donnelly (Camelot) and Peter McKenna (RED ROCK), Kin follows the Kinsellas, a hardened Dublin crime family, as they navigate a gangland war. Think of it as the antithesis of Line of Duty. If you liked Jed Mercurio’s high-stakes police drama, Kin will be up your street. The only difference is that your loyalties will lie with those on the other side of organised crime. Amid speculation that the show is based on the real-life Kinahan and Hutch cartels, McKenna told the i Paper the Kinsellas “are a made-up family in a made-up world”.
It’s edge-of-your-seat stuff, but the action doesn’t detract from the intricate and often heartwrenching storylines linking each family member. It’s also a real ensemble cast piece, starring the likes of the well-known Charlie Cox, Aidan Gillen, Emmet Scanlan, and Francis Magee, as well as the perhaps lesser-known, but equally brilliant Clare Dunne, Sam Keeley, Ryan Lincoln, Mark McKenna Jr., and Yasmin Seky. Fun fact: Seky decided to keep her bank job amid uncertainty surrounding Kin’s future.
A standout performance in season two comes from Francis Magee, who is terrifying as Bren Kinsella; the wayward, cutthroat uncle who has just returned from prison.
This Town
At the time of writing, I’m only halfway through this series, but I can already tell it’s a gem, with an absolutely banging soundtrack. Created by Steven Knight, the brains behind fan-favourite Peaky Blinders, the show’s core story thread follows the formation of an 80s new wave band. Taking place in early 80s Birmingham, it’s set against the tumultuous backdrop of race riots, IRA bombings, and football hooliganism.
This Town brings all this together to tell a story from many perspectives. The show stars Levi Brown, a relative newcomer, as poet, musician, and self-proclaimed anarchist Dante Williams. Another ensemble piece, other characters include Dante’s older brother Gregory (Jordan Bolger), a British soldier who’s just returned from service in Belfast; their cousin Bardon (Ben Rose), and friend and band member Jeannie (Eve Austin).
The Williams brothers are reunited with their cousin Bardy after news of their Nana’s death sees the whole extended family attend her funeral, bringing together two sides of Dante’s family — Irish rebels and Jamaicans. Bardy’s father, Eamonn Quinn (Peter McDonald), is the ‘King’ of the Irish rebels in Birmingham, which makes Gregory the enemy.
As I said, I’m only halfway through at the time of writing, but This Town has already managed to be funny in dark moments, and I always think if you can laugh and cry within the space of a few minutes, it’s a sign of very good writing.
I will flag that it needed an episode to set everything up: the characters, the location, the feeling. The same way I suppose Peaky Blinders also did. So give it a minute, you won’t regret it.
Boarders
A coming-of-age comedy drama from BAFTA-nominated Daniel Lawrence Taylor, Boarders is joyful, hilarious, and poignant. Over six episodes, we follow five talented Black Year 12 students from inner-city London as they embark on a scholarship programme at St Gilbert’s, one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the country. Not only is it survival of the fittest, but it’s survival of the whitest and the richest. It’s a hostile environment that Leah (Jodie Campbell), Jaheim (Josh Tedeku), Femi (Aruna Jalloh), Omar (Myles Kamwendo), and Toby (Sekou Diaby) have to navigate individually and collectively.
You physically wince at some of the stuff the students say to the scholars, and then you wince even more when you realise people actually have to endure that. With the cast and setting, Lawrence Taylor has created a space to explore incredibly important, pressing, and complex issues in a comical way. The incisive, funny dialogue cuts through any noise, so you can’t help but face the realities head-on. It’s got all the warm fuzzy moments of the best offerings in this genre but with an added edge. If you liked Sex Education, you’ll enjoy Boarders and will no doubt be left wanting more.
It’s also got a really great soundtrack, with a mix across genres and some bangers from Black artists including Little Simz and V V Brown. I adored this song by artist Duccbod, which has just been released on the original soundtrack.
What I’ve ditched
Passenger
There’s some good acting in ITV’s recent supernatural drama, but we did ditch Passenger after two eps. Maybe we could have persevered a little longer, but there was just too much going on.
Passenger is a police drama with a supernatural twist. Set in a small town, it follows D.I. Riya Ajunwa (Wunmi Mosaku) who, unfulfilled by cases involving stolen wheelie bins, wants to pursue the case of a missing girl. Strange things keep happening, including a weird forest where another girl goes missing, only to turn up the next day not knowing where she’s been.
We were confused despite being able to fast-forward the adverts. With full ad breaks, you would be even more confused.
The Gentlemen
It’s probably unfair to put this here as we haven’t ditched and intend to return to it, but Netflix’s The Gentlemen has taken a bit of a backseat. It’s super well-cast, and there are some proper laugh-out-loud moments. Daniel Ings is hilarious as Freddy, the always-goes-rogue sibling, Theo James is suave as his sensible yet surprising brother, and Kaya Scodelario is perfect as razor-sharp Susie Glass; the daughter of a notorious London gangster.
It just didn’t hit quite the same as Kin for us. However, if you like the more operatic, violent stuff, you might prefer it.
Other things I’ve enjoyed
I’ve never been a soap girlie until this Christmas and the wild ride that was the Eastenders special. I’ve been dipping in and out since, and wow, the drama. Just as you thought they might bury (no pun intended) the Keanu storyline for a bit, they find the body. Diane Parish deserves an award for her Lady Macbeth-style performance as Denise experiences a guilt-ridden breakdown. Even if you know nothing about Eastenders, it’s a fantastic midweek watch.
The Beautiful Game on Netflix, starring Bill Nighy as the coach of England’s Homeless World Cup team, is brilliant. It’s heartwarming and funny, and highlights the nuanced experiences of homelessness. The ensemble cast is brilliant, but a special mention goes to Michael Ward (Empire of Light) as Vinnie, a former West Ham academy player.
What I’m looking forward to
I cannot wait for the return of BBC Northern Irish police drama Blue Lights. From the trailer, it looks just as tense and emotional as the first series.
It goes without saying that I’m buzzing for Ncuti Gatwa’s return as The Doctor in May. In case you missed it, the latest trailer dropped a few weeks ago. New duo, new outfits, new creatures. I can’t wait!
Words by Hannah Bradfield
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