Is Bloodlands the must-see Sunday night thriller everyone hoped it would be?

Mystery: Jimmy Nesbitt as DCI Tom Brannick in new new drama Bloodlands

BBC / HTM Televison /Steffan Hil

Mystery: Jimmy Nesbitt as DCI Tom Brannick in new new drama Bloodlands

February 23 2021 06:54 AM

Yes, says Gillian Halliday

So the premiere episode of home-grown crime thriller Bloodlands has divided opinion with viewers online - well quelle surprise. After all, any topic on Twitter elicits a mixed reaction. It is the nature of the beast.

The verdict from the critics on Jimmy Nesbitt's latest leading man drama was on the whole much more positive. The Guardian gave the opener four stars out of five, while The Daily Telegraph described Bloodlands as a series that will keep viewers "on their toes".

Of course viewers and critics do not always align and while there are some (justifiable) criticisms of the plot's exposition-heavy dialogue, Bloodlands has a lot going for it. And chiefly that is James Nesbitt, who as a weary detective, clearly enjoys his cat-and-mouse chase with the deadly and mysterious Goliath.

Pacing of the first episode was too slow for some crime thriller fans. I'd say it was writer Chris Brandon getting his ducks all in a row, building tension to be paid off down the line. And Jed Mercurio (who is executive producer on Bloodlands) has always delivered on thrills.

So forget the naysayers - tune in and enjoy.

No, says Jonathan Bell

Is Bloodlands the must-see Sunday night thriller everyone hoped it would be?

But I am reserving judgment because of the ensemble cast for the moment.

Irritation set in from the moment the credits rolled. Nesbitt drives through a busy evening rush hour while Hugo Duncan plays on the radio. Yet everyone here knows he doesn't do a minute past three.

With a Sunday night BBC1 slot, producers clearly had an eye on a national audience and had to temper the script.

But who talks of the "peace agreement" continually and from multiple characters?

Opening episodes can be slow and plodding - but with Mercurio behind the camera you expect fireworks and drama from the off. About 40 minutes in there was a realisation of a story to tell and soon Nesbitt was in multiple places at once as we raced toward the episode's climax.

One can hope - and the signs and talent are there - to say this change of pace will continue on through the series.

I'll tune in, but will the rest of the UK audience follow?

Is Bloodlands the must-see Sunday night thriller everyone hoped it would be?

Yes, says Gillian Halliday

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No, says Jonathan Bell

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