Rolling UK drama thread - "Paul Abbot, do you have David Simon's number by any chance?"

Because I really enjoyed the first episode of Any Human Heart last night, thought it was almost note-perfect in fact, and there doesn't seem to be anywhere to discuss that sort of thing.

I predict this will be somewhat less busy than the comedy thread.

I quite enjoyed the McGovern-by-numbers thing last week, because McGovern-by-numbers>>>>>>>>>any one-off drama usually drummed out on a Sunday evening (which I always get suckered into watching because I think they'll be good, even though years of watching has shown they very rarely are). I meant to watch Any Human Heart but completely forgot about it because I was, er, watching the X Factor. I might catch up on 4oD.

Have you seen The Street, Ailsa?

Yes, it's mostly very good. I am a right sucker for those things (The Street, Moving On, Clocking Off etc), as they do it properly. I'm not so fond of the one-off star vehicles which always promise and rarely do. Actually, I might be doing the BBC a disservice here, it's usually the ITV ones which are cack.

very keen to see any human heart, the trailer looked v good.

so tonight shall be walking dead-boardwalk empire-any human heart...nice!

The book of AHH is also excellent.

Can we talk about old stuff here? I watched State of Play recently and wasn't too taken with it (aside from Nighy), but I was curious what people thought...

<3 <3 <3 it. Ranks alongside Takin' Over The Asylum as one of my favourite standalone British drama series ever.

I really WANTED to like it, and it was very well made, but I think I just didn't find myself getting too involved with any of the characters? I'd heard such good things that I was wondering what people saw in it...

Acting, storyline, writing, characterisation. The usual.

Fair enough!

Oh, I realise it's all subjective. I just reckon it hit a whole ton of right buttons for me.

enjoyed any human heart. is the theme song consciously similar to the philip glass theme from mishima: a life in four chapters? the use of a repetitive motif like that coupled with the way the story is told reminded me of that film a bit.

Kim Cattrell surprisingly good in AHH this week. Lots of moving moments this ep.

did anyone watch all of AHH, just finished it and thought it was unbelievably good. close to tears by the end.

Yeah me too! Thought the final Waterstones shot was a bit on the nose, otherwise phenomenal, and tearjerking in a positive way.

yeah the waterstones thing was silly, the moment of his death was simultaneously shocking and beautiful. i just felt it said so much about life.

(i mean the entire show)

Have you read the book? It's very good as well. The programme didn't miss out anything major, but there was more depth.

downton abbey is heading quickly towards the unwatchable

just started episode one then etc

ya i know but

Very promising first ep of London Spy.

Second episode, and it's already gone off the rails a bit plotwise. Worth watching still for Wishaw, Broadbent and paranoid atmosphere.