Hooked

[missdonk]

I’m completely hooked already. Tense, uncomfortable (in a brilliant way of course) and had me crying 10 minutes in.

Stephen Graham is phenomenal and Shane just nails it, every time. Incredible first episode.

[Gareth]

loved it, pretty sure every alcoholic I've seen on screen up to this point has been some pensive loner swigging vodka straight from the bottle at their kitchen table, that pub scene was brilliant, as was the rest, powerful.

[Nicola Worswick]

The wait is finally over, and it was certainly worth the wait. I love it.

[Nicola Worswick]

Has anyone seen the whole series? I have just finished watching it. 

[lou]

I've seen it and I've loved it. Stephen Graham and Helen Behan were fantastic. I liked Joseph's story and his relationship with Anna. This time, compared to other Shane Meadows' works, we have less humor (and rightly so) and the tone is even more realistic than usual.
The ending of Joseph's story deeply affected me. I found it sincere and meaningful.
The only thing I wish were slightly different was Dinah's story. I understand they wanted to show two opposite ways of dealing with a traumatic past and I like this writing choice. I was just a bit disappointed by Dinah's ending because I felt it was portrayed in a too "hasty" way and it didn't have the same level of honesty and depht of Joseph's story. I understand that Joseph is the protagonist, but I would have loved to see more of Dinah (also thanks to the talented Niamh Algar). In This is England 88, Lol had a similar story but I found it more truthful, probably because her story's arc and her character had more screen time and thus more development.
Anyway, this is not really a criticism - I just wanted it to last longer because I loved those characters!

[m83]

Watched it on All4 in one go, it's probably Shane's most mature work to date and probably his first without any jokes been cracked to cut the tension as someone above said. It probably won't sadly connect to a wider audience like say This is England saga did or Dead Man Shoes. It's probably his bleakest work to date as well. Stephen Graham as always when given the right role is fantastic, a Bafta for best actor in a drama must be on his way. I liked his chemistry with Helen Behan as Joe's sister Anna, the best stuff involves their scenes together. Also good to see Mark O'Halloran as Craigy, who acted and wrote the fantastic Irish film Adan and Paul and wrote another Irish classic in Garage, films both worth checking out.

What did everyone think of Dinah's fate, I thought Niamh Algar was excellent and even though the fate of her character wasn't shocking for me, I think we were expecting Joe to be the one to carry out what she did and her to be the one forgiven. I also liked that the ending left it up to the viewer on what happened. I know someone above wished they dealt with Dinah more but I think in the 1 and a bit episodes we saw enough of what her problems were. Is it evil of me that I didn't feel bad for Dinah's mother at all.

Anyway probably going to join the ranks of Twentyfourseven and Somers Town in Shane's canon, where no one gives it love it deserves. But I put this is Top tier Meadows work along TIE, Dead Man Shoes and A Room For Romeo Brass.