Blood (II) (2018–2020) User Reviews

Somber, sad and sobering...

[boomer-kris · 8/10 · 26 March 2019]

No one does family tragedy like the Irish. The cast is superb as is everything in this series, including the traditional music.

A few holes, but not a bad show

[M0vieL0ver · 8/10 · 30 December 2018]

Great acting. Everyone. The commenter "Why?" sums up my sentiment. A few holes that don't add up in this show. Why? is right. It's as if the show plot line was going in one direction, then the writers said, "Nah, let's go this way..." But overall I enjoyed it, highly emotional. It does hit you in the gut. Worth a watch, but a bit depressing overall if you're not into that kind of thing.

Why?

[Sueps54 · 6/10 · 27 November 2018]

I was left asking "why all the lies?" Jim clearly forgot the number one rule for lying, keep it as close to the truth as possible. He could have told all of the truth apart from the fact that Mary was still alive when he found her.

Why the business with the frog? He knocked it in the pond when he found her. She had genuinely hit her head on it when she fell, so why chuck it in the other pond in the woods?

And what on earth was that business with Frank and the gun for?

Started off so promisingly

[astaknut · 6/10 · 22 September 2019]

The first 2 episodes were excellent. Intriguing and intense with surprises that sometimes unexpectedly lightened up the tone. It slowly declined from there. The twists kept coming but they started to feel a bit deus ex machina. I had a lot of sympathy for the main character but the logic of her choices got a bit slim. Not just hers actually. The ending of episode 4 is so grim it sucked the fun out of the show for me. And then the final episode (number 6) explains a lot but has no link whatsoever to the childhood trauma that set off the main character's suspicions. I would have wanted to see the characters deal more with the aftermath of that, like real people. Now the focus shifts and even though it puts events in a different light and gives some answers, it was unsatisfying. The slow pace and sentimentality of the final episode did not help. This series is not without merit but ultimately I was disappointed.

An impressive drama.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 1 September 2020]

This is a wonderful series, it manages to pack so much in, drama, intrigue, deception, it's moving and engaging.

Very well written, you will see so many minor events and incidents, all of which have significance, moat get explained.

You could be forgiven for thinking it's going to be The Adrian Dunbar show, and it's fair to say he is outstanding throughout, but to be fair this is one impressive cast, all of whom impress.

It's hard to classify this as a specific type of drama, regardless of type, it's excellent.

Loved it, 9/10.

Series Two Unnecessary and so S L O W.

[michaelr-07217 · 6/10 · 10 April 2020]

Series one was fairly interesting, and broached an emotionally complex subject. Why they brought the series back for a second round is a total mystery to me. It was also the slowest paced program I have ever seen. Watch series one and skip the rest.

Season One Excellent. ....Season Two Not Quite As Good.

[daviddunn-90653 · 8/10 · 1 May 2020]

Season One is enthralling viewing. It keeps you guessing throughout and all is finally revealed in the final episode. Season Two goes off in a completely different direction with occasional references to the first season. This is a different story altogether, but I found it held my attention nevertheless. Well written and impeccably acted. I enjoyed it, though season one was better.

Skip season 2

[ukbiffa · 6/10 · 7 April 2020]

Season 1 was was intriguing and interesting but suffered from the trope "I'm keeping this information secret for no reason". Season 2 was far worse, becoming a depressing grind.

It all makes sense in the end

[Brian7250 · 10/10 · 23 November 2018]

Unlike some recent serial dramas, this doesn't let you down in the last episode, everything that has gone before seems to fit. Why was everyone, especially the main character, behaving so strangely? Who did it and why? A logical and very emotional conclusion which will strike a chord with a lot of people. Well worth a watch and Adrian Dunbar is brilliant, as always.

Season 2 moves into new territory...

[thegulls1 · 6/10 · 5 June 2020]

First of all, you could put Adrian Dunbar on the set with 4 trained seals, and he would deliver a great story! Season 1 was concerning the death of his very sickly elderly wife, and, yes it took a while to get to the bottom of incident.

Season 2 has a brief wrap-up of those events and begins with Adrian returning home after a 'sabbatical' of sorts abroad. His extended family is supportive, but there are conflicts climaxed by the later discovery of a family member dead in the trunk of a car that skidded into a lake.

Dunbar must now serve as a sort of peacemaker & private detective, a role he nailed as the Head of AC-12 in the series LINE of Duty.

It's a departure from the specific Season 1 theme, but it's still about holding the family together. So far, so good.

Yes, below I defend the pace; however, a slow pace to s a y s o m e t h i n g is one thing--now, after finishing the series, I can't see any reason for 6 chapters--how about 4? I also dropped to 6 stars from 8. (I rarely revise these reviews).

For those who find the pace slow at times, we must compare the various mni-series from the Far East--Thailand, South Korea, etc. : the Director just refuses to be rushed--certain scenes are unfolded painstakingly slowly. If you watch the 1-hour American police shows, it's force-fed without a pause. My advice: view the Brit series as a piece of art in a museum--you dont race thru the Louvre in 30 minutes. Breath! Savor!

After full viewing, 6/10 (down from 8)

Bitter sweet drama.

[anniebrodie · 10/10 · 24 November 2018]

Great drama with an unusual storyline that had me jumping to conclusions early on. It all sorts itself out, working it's way to the poignant ending. Well worth watching.

Not so good

[kennak-92010 · 6/10 · 21 March 2021]

Starts off so well and loses the plot towards the end of the 1st season. The characters, motives, judgements and reactions do not hold the plot.

Confusing

[garretgray-668-282691 · 5/10 · 7 January 2019]

This show started off really well. The mystery was set up nicely and you really feel your're in Cat's corner trying to bring her father to justice. The show starts to feel rushed as Cat learns startling information but always plays her cards too quickly. The show goes off the rails a bit with Frank being hit by Cat's car. The how and why he did this was very confusing. The last episode (SPOILERS) is where things just didn't seem right. The dad was actually a really warm hearted guy and doting husband to his sick wife. So much so you wonder why was he such a jerk in the beginning of the series. And he was so loving there seemed no motivation to fall in love with Sarah. Everything was set in to motion with Cat's discovery of the missing frog. Why would the dad hide the frog in the first place if how the wife hit her head on it was from falling accidentally?

Confused

[gulla-70182 · 6/10 · 11 April 2022]

Season 1 is good, season 2; no need to watch.

I have no problem when there is a text saying "two weeks ago ", and then the story continues. These episodes are constantly going back and forth in time without any information, and often very short scenes. It is confusing and makes me uninterested. Season 2 is even worse.

There is a story there, and the plot in S1 is good, but in the end of 12 episodes it feels like they torn out random pages from a book, before giving us these 12 episodes, so many things are never explained.

Brilliant

[suewaterall · 10/10 · 23 November 2018]

Great cast, great acting, great story. Loved every minute.

Bloody great to bloody rubbish

[xmasdaybaby1966 · 6/10 · 5 May 2020]

The first series was an 8, the second was 4 at best. I wished I had read the other reviews before watching series 2 and saved myself 6 hours of my life. The first couple of episodes were quite good but even the return of a major character from series 1 in episode 4 could not save the second series. Slow, drawn out and characters you don't care about. Watch the excellent series 1 and pretend the second one never happened.

Don't miss this !!

[Vindelander · 8/10 · 27 November 2018]

Intriguing and well acted drama which builds to an unexpected ending. Cracking performances by Adrian Dunbar and the rising star, Carolina Main.

Excellent script and filming. My only criticism would be that the ending rather begs the question - why so much subterfuge ?

Who is sick of forced colour filters?

[eugene-219-320917 · 6/10 · 6 May 2020]

The cliched trend by DOPs and directors to saturate all modern dramas with blue or green filters is getting out of control. In this case it's green. I know this one is set in the Emerald Isle but please, give us a break and have an original thought.

Not one to miss!

[lfeltongerber · 10/10 · 25 November 2018]

Compelling plot and acting was great - especially Carolina Main who was mesmerising!

Best series I have seen for some time and I'm looking forward to seeing more by Sophie Petzal.

Well done Channel 5!

more like six and a half

[Headturner1 · 6/10 · 30 March 2020]

I've been wanting to see this for a long time. Was so excited but boy was it slow. And it's driven by Cat and she is extremely annoying. I came because I just finished line of duty and loved Dunbar in that but even he was a bit flat in this. It was very depressing through the entire series and then the end. The last episode I cried. I started 2 I'm 2 episodes in. I actually like it better so far. All in the I would have rated it a 7-8( which is high for my reviews but can't because the ending in 1 was what made it.

Very good.

[hnrysaeteren · 8/10 · 11 August 2019]

No problem giving this a 8/10 rating, but I feel thats maximum I can give. If some loose ends had been gathered it would have been an 9/10.

Very good first series

[russellharvy-39017 · 7/10 · 29 April 2020]

2nd series poorly written, no mystery here. Possibly the most disjointed series I have ever seen.. Very disappointing after such a great 1st series, what a shame - 6/10 for series 2

Disappointed

[bronwyn68 · 4/10 · 23 August 2019]

The first two episodes were very intriguing - great psychological drama. Was the father guilty of murder or was Cat unbalanced and imagining that he was? The series disappointed after that with too many whys and improbable situations and unexplained loose ends. Why was dodgy Uncle Frank invited to the funeral? And don't get me started on him standing in the path of a moving car brandishing a gun. Then he disappeared from the narrative altogether! Why did Cat take the gun to poor Barry's house when she knew about his family history and his own emotional vulnerability. And then deserted him in his hour of need. Some friend she isn't! She was shocked at the sad outcome - whereas the viewing audience saw it coming as soon as she insisted on leaving the gun there. And the mother's death - surely a doctor would have more humane medical ways of assisting rather than physical assault. And the point of the frog??? Still wondering. On a more positive note - the cast was excellent. Brilliant acting from them all. Also love the Irish landscapes. .

Not bad

[Nightmarelogic · 7/10 · 30 September 2019]

Ok first off this by no means a horrible story. It's one of those slow boil shows reminiscent of Broadchurch but maybe with a lower budget. The story deals with the lies family tells each other and the long term ramifications of those lies on the family psyche.

Catt returns home for the first time in years after her mother dies suddenly even though she has been sick. Everyone just assumes her death was caused by her illness bit Cat who has had long simmering animosity towards him suspects her father of murder. However no one wants to hear it as the rest of the family views her as hysterical and a liar.

The show is mostly Cat fighting into deep family secrets trying to find the truth. A truth that could end up destroying her family.

I have read some of the bad reviews and o e in particular is silly (the one complaining about the anti me too message like every white male has to be written as a villain or the show sends the wrong message). That is just dumb.

This show isn't perfect. The ending is a bit anticlimactic but the rest is a tight psychological thriller about family secrets and the price we pay when we blame others for our own sins.

Had me on the edge of the lounge

[michaelbranfield · 10/10 · 24 September 2019]

I was hooked from the first episode. Great acting very dark and very satisfying However I seem to be alone in my interpretation of the ending. After watching 5 episodes of the Doc lying and bullying why would anyone believe his version of events ( except of course for Cat who has been gas-lighted by him all her life