The Tourist: What the Must Watch reviewers think

Wednesday 5 January 2022, 16:25

Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.

This week Hayley Campbell and Scott Bryan review The Tourist on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Jamie Dornan, Shalom Brune-Franklin and Danielle Macdonald star in the latest drama from the creators of Baptiste and The Missing. Dornan stars as ‘The Man’ who is lost in the Australian outback, with no memory of who he is and why someone wants him dead.

BBC/Stan/HBO Max & ZDF/Ian Routledge

Hayley says: “A great setting for a psychological thriller”

“I’m enjoying it. It is dangerous to watch something with Australian accents in January when I am homesick, but I’ll make an exception for this one. I thought it was fun, quite silly, and it lulls you into this false sense that it is just a comedy until something very violent happens. I know it's lazy to compare everything Australian to Mad Max, but the opening of this show is like something straight out of Fury Road.

“It also reminded me of this really strange film I saw long ago: a cult film called Wake in Fright starring Donald Pleasance. It’s a psychological thriller from the 70s about an English guy lost in the outback. It’s Nick Cave’s favourite movie. I love this idea of plonking someone from the other side of the planet in the middle of Australia, which is this bizarre, alien world. I think it’s a great set up for a story, and a great setting for a psychological thriller or whatever The Tourist is. It’s funny, dark, and worth a watch.”

BBC/Two Brothers Pictures/Ian Routledge

Scott says: “A rather silly and enjoyable caper”

“Yes, it’s a Must Watch for me. When amnesia is usually being portrayed on TV, it is normally done as a sort of crude plot twist (such as when Harold returned on Neighbours). It doesn't usually reflect what it is like for those who experience amnesia at all. You don't tend to forget your own name.

“So when I heard about this plot I thought ‘really?’ Yet, it sets itself up for a rather silly and enjoyable caper. A lot of Harry or Jack Williams’ previous work, such as Baptiste, it was very grounded and set in the real world, which at times resulted in the twists and turns feeling rather unbelievable. This show has never felt believable! So in that sense, the twists and the turns work because you know it can’t really be real. You just enjoy how far-fetched it is.”