2014 BEST TV DRAMA #8 -> Durham County

Because…

• Supremely engrossing.


• Very morbid.


• Dark and disturbing.


• Dr. Pen Verrity is one of the most twisted and manipulative characters I’ve ever seen on TV. Watching her in action is downright scary.


• Season two is very different to season one, yet achieves the exact same effect: Dr. Pen Verrity and Ray Prager are two of the scariest killers we’ve ever had on a tv show.


• Thanks to Hugh Dillon, even when Mike is being completely wrong, we still like the guy. He’s no angel, as the show made perfectly clear, but watching him get ensnared in Pen’s web makes for uncomfortable viewing.


• Michelle Forbes is so good as Dr. Pen Verrity that it can be uncomfortable to watch. Her scenes with Alex Cardillo as her young son are genuinely chilling and not soon forgotten.

[9.50]

Durham County 2.6

Almost too much story in this one, with a lot of storylines reaching conclusion in rapid succession. Supremely dark and disturbing. Dr. Pen Verrity and Ray Prager are two of the scariest killers we’ve ever had on a tv show. 9/10

Durham County 2.5

• Michelle Forbes is so good as Dr. Pen Verrity, that it can be uncomfortable to watch.


• Even when Mike is being completely wrong, we still like the guy. That said, it’s rather wonderful to see him finally starting to wake up.


• The new storyline (about the woman missing for many years) surprisingly injects new life into the story.


• Sadie Sweeney’s propensity for getting taking hostage by psychos is turning into a joke. It happened twice in this episode. Twice!


• The ending is horribly rushed, and unconvincing. Very disappointing.

8/10

Durham County 2.4

Cindy Sampson .

• First episode this season to focus heavily on characters and events from the first season. While is nice to see more of Ray and Ray Jr. (as well as Traci) our attention is now diverted to the sinister new baddie and that’s what we want to see.


• Scenes devoted to the new story arc ramp up the tension factor, as Pen gets more extreme. Scary.


• Michelle Forbes is brilliant. As is Alex Cardillo as her young son. Their scenes together are genuinely chilling.

10/10

Durham County 2.3

Dr. Pen Verrity is emerging as one of the most twisted and manipulative characters I’ve ever seen on TV. Watching her in action is downright scary.

Mike’s no angel, but watching him get ensnared in her web makes uncomfortable viewing.

I’ve always liked Geordie Johnson , and he has never been better. 10/10

Durham County 2.2

This is really scary. Uncomfortably so, as the details of the baby’s death are explained, and the wider picture of the Pen Verity character starts to come together for the audience. Michelle Forbes is superb. As is Hugh Dillon. 10/10

Durham County 2.1

Michelle Forbes. Very different to season one, yet achieves the exact same effect. Supremely engrossing and very morbid. The central relationship (two very damaged people) seems destined to bring a lot of pain. 10/10

2013 BEST TV DRAMA #4 -> Durham County

Because…

It’s like watching a nightmare, an exquisitely-filmed nightmare.

This is a very specific and disturbing world vision. More Twin Peaks than Twin Peaks! Gripping, and very dark.

The hero’s dark side.

Great visual style.

Graphic and very disturbing violence.

Louis Ferreira is simply superb at playing such a hateful character.

The viewer is left shouting in frustration at the screen.

This is really dark. And actually scary. [9.67]