I Watch Television: Patrick Melrose

So anyway, child abuse and drug abuse. How to approach Patrick Melrose? The first episode opens with Patrick’s father dying. The last opens with his mother dying. In between he falls apart, puts himself back together, flashes back to being raped by his father, goes to an extremely posh and hilarious birthday party and tries to do better by his children than his parents (not hard) and be a genuinely good father (much harder).

Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant. No, I am serious about this. By ensuring that the tragedy and groundedness is present in the most farcical comedy scenes it ensures that no joke is uncomplicated, that all the brightly lit sets know there are shadows. And, except for the darkest and most serious of moments, there’s an underlying sense of irony at the ludicrousness of life.

Also Hugo Weaving as James Melrose, the villain of the piece, is pretty good too.

Watch This: For jokes, for darkness, for addiction and trying to break cycles and maybe succeeding, or maybe not.
Don’t Watch This: If child abuse, drug abuse or scenes of excruciating embarrassment are not for you.