Marriage

The TV channels have to keep turning out drama series just to survive, and some of them roll off the production line with very little impact. “Marriage”, though, is a bit special. It’s very different, and as a result has divided reactions - with a load of people dismissing it as slow, uneventful, boring.

It’s a four-hour exploration of a family, and a marriage in particular, without huge dustups or dead bodies, and some have turned off as a result. I think its brilliant. I’m biased, because I loved “Him and Her”, and “Mum” - each very different, but warm, detailed studies of relationships. And as usual, good writing attracts great actors, so Sean Bean and Nicola Walker aren’t there by accident.

There isn’t showy dialogue, because a lot of what’s important is what isn’t said, what might be thought but for various reasons remains unexpressed, which might or might not be a good thing. There’s a wonderful moment when their teenage daughter complains about them holding stuff in, not being honest - which leads to two separate outburst of truth-telling, each devastating in their own way. Necessary maybe, but certainly not a simple moral lesson which doesn’t carry a cost.

No, it’s not for everyone, but it’s certainly worth a try, and I’d be amazed if anyone watched all four hours and then thought it wasn’t worth it.