Liar, ITV review: ★★★★★
Liar on ITV: The emotional thriller examining gender, family life, and the consequences of deceit...
Liar, ITV review: [STAR:3]
Liar writers, and brothers, Harry and Jack Williams are arguably the most powerful small screen screenwriters in the UK. Alongside writing The Missing and working as executive producers on Fleabag this Monday the Williams brothers' two latest dramas, Liar and Rellik air at the same time on different channels.
Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd star this British drama about a rape case. The soft English feel of the show has tones of Broadchurch about it – but instead of a twisted 'whodunnit', Liar gives us a horrifying 'did it happen?'.
Laura (Froggatt) is a dedicated teacher who has just come out of a long-term relationship with a man she's known since she was 13. Following an initial attraction between Laura and Andrew (Gruffudd) – a dad at the school-gates and a local surgeon who works with her sister – the two go on a date and seem to have a wonderful time. That is, until the moment that Laura can barely remember.
The ambiguity that so often haunts real-life accusations of rape has appeared on our screens a lot recently – from Broadchurch to Poldark, for example. Indeed, this is actually the second time that Joanne Froggatt has played a potential rape victim, following her portrayal of Anna Bates in Downton Abbey.
There's a fine-line between creating dialogue around an uncomfortable subject and exploiting violence against women for voyeuristic satisfaction. Thank goodness, Liar stays on the right side of that line. But the show has other problems: the acting in Liar is often off-beat, and there's an absence of the joyful British humour that could have given us a more enjoyable show.
Liar is a tense and well thought through drama, but it is not outstanding. If you're looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat, try Strike on BBC One.
Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd star this British drama about a rape case. The soft English feel of the show has tones of Broadchurch about it – but instead of a twisted 'whodunnit', Liar gives us a horrifying 'did it happen?'.
Laura (Froggatt) is a dedicated teacher who has just come out of a long-term relationship with a man she's known since she was 13. Following an initial attraction between Laura and Andrew (Gruffudd) – a dad at the school-gates and a local surgeon who works with her sister – the two go on a date and seem to have a wonderful time. That is, until the moment that Laura can barely remember.
The ambiguity that so often haunts real-life accusations of rape has appeared on our screens a lot recently – from Broadchurch to Poldark, for example. Indeed, this is actually the second time that Joanne Froggatt has played a potential rape victim, following her portrayal of Anna Bates in Downton Abbey.
There's a fine-line between creating dialogue around an uncomfortable subject and exploiting violence against women for voyeuristic satisfaction. Thank goodness, Liar stays on the right side of that line. But the show has other problems: the acting in Liar is often off-beat, and there's an absence of the joyful British humour that could have given us a more enjoyable show.
Liar is a tense and well thought through drama, but it is not outstanding. If you're looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat, try Strike on BBC One.
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| What | Liar, ITV review: |
| When |
On 23 Nov 17, Air time and date tbd |
| Price | £n/a |
| Website |