Since this only just became available in the U.S. , I’m going to bet not many here have seen it yet. To you, I recommend it highly. To our U.K friends (especially Welsh), if you’ve seen it I’d love to hear what you think.
The story takes place in a small Welsh town (fictional but possibly someone here recognizes what is being portrayed?)and delves into the the aftermath of an accident that occurred at a new construction site after a gang of the town’s rowdier kids broke in and an explosion / collapse resulted.
Holy cow; the performances, the heartbreaking circumstances, each person’s own living hell . . it’s definitely hard to watch at times but I couldn’t look away. Plus the gorgeous Welsh locale.
As always, will wait to see if anyone responds before I blather on :o
Oddly enough, I was just reading about the Aberfan disaster on Wiki, quite possibly on the day this show was released. It occurred to me there might be a connection. Also, one of the characters mentions it so I do think this film is in some ways an homage to that. Perhaps the the town of Glyngolau is an amalgamation of many small, working class towns.
I got about half an hour into episode 1 and had to stop because of a depiction of violence. I’m not knocking the show - I’m saying it was too strong for me. I find ‘domestic’ violence much harder to watch than guns etc. as I can relate much more easily to say, having a door slam on my fingers than being shot.
I am welsh and did lament the small number of welsh actors in the significant roles. Sarah Lancashire is of course an amazing actress as Happy Valley and Kiri alone will show; but personally I’d have liked to see a welsh actress in the part. The town is an amalgamate of many south wales former mining towns, I’m sure. Incidentally, the new series of The Crown deals with Aberfan (and the monarchy’s response) really well.
Jack Thorne who wrote The Accident and the above mentioned Kiri, is also the writer of the adaptation of His Dark Materials currently showing on BBC which I am not enjoying as much as I’d hoped. The pacing is off somehow and it made me wonder about him adapting for the screen rather than writing. Much of his tv work have been 4-part drama series. It may just be me of course.
Yes, the violence you’re referring to was both (to me) unexpected and really hard to watch.What was even harder was Polly’s complicity (probably not the right word; by no means am I saying she deserved that treatment). I’m sorry to say I understood it in a way and it was both weird and yet recognizable at the same time
As I watched I wondered which actors were actually Welsh (I have since looked it up). I can generally pick out the accent when I hear it, but not accurately enough to tell if it isn’t someone’s natural one.