Simply by the law of averages over an entire length a series is undoubtedly going to serve up the odd viewing disappointment, those entries that, for whatever reason, fail to live up to the viewers expectations and I guess that when you think about it Survivors will undoubted be no different. So lets think about the under performers which although not totally without merit are not ones that I won’t be desperate to returning to watch…
1) Birth of A Hope
2) The Witch
3) By Bread Alone
4) Over The Hills
5) Bridgehead
1) Although pleasing enough I can’t help feeling a distinctly unsettling cosy rural everything is fine ‘soap opera’ feel purveying the Whitecross settlement from this opener which shows a much more organised easy lifestyle under the stewardship of Charles Vaughan.
2) Despite a light-hearted comic element to this the slip into melodrama and some uncharacteristically over-the-top performances from the regulars rather dilute the ‘surviving after the death epidemic’ premise of the series.
3) ‘The Survivors rediscover religion’ which is further hammered home by the passion of Daniella’s strong convictions and the trio of Alan, Jack and Hubert whom set out on a drunken trip to obtain hymn books. Couple this with the understandable but rather weak uncertainty of former priest Lewis and the irksome ‘soap opera’ feel permeating season two is clearly evident.
4) Another story which has a strong ‘settled, successful and untroubled’ community getting on with their life as if ‘the death’ never existed. With a midsummer party and Charles views on pregnancy you could almost be forgiven for thinking that you had tuned into ‘Emmerdale Farm’ by mistake.
5) A mid-season misfire, this entry is a little more adventurous in its premise than ‘Over The Hills’ however despite this being in the more earthy, challenging third season there is still that ‘Emmerdale Farm’ element on show. Whether it be Owen and Steve chasing after a missing bull, Charles searching for homeopathy Bill Sheridan or the eventual ‘Market Day’ on the platform of Highley railway station, there is still that feel of a Yorkshire soap on offer.
Again I agree fairly pedestrian and potentially harsh choices and my supporting reasoning aren’t too well thought (as you can see I am not at all interested in any soap operas whatsoever!) through however as an opener I hope it will get you all thinking about what in the series has left you feel distinctly underwhelmed with the viewing experience that has been served up.
As with favourites, if enough people join in here we could also build up a fan disappointment chart from posted opinions.
