Hollington Drive: What the Must Watch reviewers think
Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.
This week Hayley Campbell and Scott Bryan review Hollington Drive on ITV. Anna Maxwell Martin and Rachael Stirling star as two sisters whose lives are torn apart when a child goes missing.
ITV
Scott says: "Intriguing, well-plotted, well-paced directed in a really unique way"
"At first, I was very concerned that this was going to be a very typical thriller about a missing child, but the fact is Anna Maxwell Martin – who’s one of the most phenomenal people – is utterly superb and makes this worth watching. She is absolutely captivating.
"Sophie Petzal who wrote this (she’s also behind 'Blood' on Channel 5) is an extremely gifted screenwriter. It starts out with a premise that you think you are very familiar with, but then she takes it in a different direction. It’s not only about a rift between two sisters and their partners, but also concerns regarding Anna Maxwell Martin’s son.
"I found it intriguing, well-plotted, well-paced and directed in a really unique way. If you’re not into these kinds of dramas I completely understand, but I think it is a Must Watch for me!"
ITV
Hayley says: "A straight-up ITV twisted-thriller"
"It’s very good at that sense of parental dread that I can imagine people have – and the idea that you don’t know who you’re raising. It touches on a lot of the same stuff that 'Happy Valley' did.
"Anna Maxwell Martin is particularly good in this role because this character has so much going on below the surface that she won’t reveal – which is sort of what Anna Maxwell Martin does in 'Motherland', except she masks it with that incredibly funny tired-mum smile/grimace. Here, it's pure drama. She’s either going mad or she’s the only one who sees the truth. She’s just brilliant at it.
"The show feels like a straight-up ITV twisted-thriller thing where everything looks fine on the surface but beneath it are secrets and lies and bitter resentments. I think the cast and their performance elevate it – but the show itself isn’t that special."
ITV
Hollington Drive starts at 9pm on Wednesday 29th September on ITV. You can catch up on the ITV Hub.
Must Watch is released as a podcast every Monday evening from BBC Sounds and all other good podcast providers.
This week, the team hear from Mel and Sue about Hitmen: Reloaded on Sky Comedy and Alex Horne about the latest series of Taskmaster on Channel 4. Plus, Scott and Hayley review Foundation on Apple TV +.
