Continuing our investigation into TV blogging in the UK, this week we’re going to compare and contrast how five of the top TV blogs have reacted to a relevant topical issue. ITV’s recent drama about British serial killer Fred West, Appropriate Adult, seemed as good a place to start as any…
Life of Wylie’s in-depth article deftly swipes aside some of the more knee-jerk reactions to the programme, choosing instead to praise the clarity of the writing, on-screen performances and the bravery in tackling such a sensitive issue.
Review in a line – “applaud all involved for having the bravery and determination to bring this story to the screen”
The Daily Mirror’s Shelley Vision blog comes to Appropriate Adult from an entirely different angle, questioning the moral implications of the programme’s existence from the very off. Without really giving an opinion on the quality of the show, Shelley seems to give it his blessing with the line “Appropriate Adult’s saving grace was it was not about the Wests, but Janet Leach.”
Review in a line – “Did they (the viewers) really feel like watching it? And – more to the point – should it have been made at all? Was it Appropriate Television?”
Interestingly, The Arts Desk offer a third point-of-view; that by striving so hard to avoid offence, Appropriate Adult actually turned out to be a bit, well, boring. The review praises the central performance by Dominic West, the programme’s lack of soap opera and decides that what was on show was well-made TV, but not terribly interesting TV.
Review in a line – “It was so intent on not exploiting the events it detailed that it struggled to be drama at all.”
Entirely enthusiastic about Appropriate Adult is Simply Television, a blog hugely impressed by the angle chosen by the makers, the writing and the performances on show.
Review in a line – “This show is the best that television can get.”
In many ways, a combination of all of the above, Dan’s Media Digest’s review heavily praises the two central performances, applauds the angle taken by the programme while recognising this to be the case due to the difficulty of the material on offer and is impressed by the lack of sensationalism on show. One thing that Dan points out is the amount of humour that comes through, even from so dark a subject.
Review in a line – “Appropriate Adult is an intelligent, well-made, brilliantly performed two-part drama of tough material”
In conclusion, it’s encouraging to see UK TV blogs reacting to a programme like Appropriate Adult in such an even manner. The only hint of sensationalism comes from The Mirror, who admittedly temper their reader-grabbing opening paragraph later in their post. It has to be said though that the variety of opinions on the programme are limited, each blog agreeing pretty much wholeheartedly with each other, the only dissenting voice being The Arts Desk.
by Paul Barnett
