Deadwater Fell (2020) User Reviews

Just ok

[gallagherkellie · 6/10 · 9 May 2021]

David's Tennant plays these characters all too well, he's never a let down. The rest of the acting was well done also.

4 episodes was just enough, any more would have been too many. A few little twists but maybe too much personal drama amongst the other characters than I expected, without enough background information.

Worth watching ... gripping

[rachellaray · 7/10 · 19 April 2020]

I read a couple of reviews on here after the first show, as I was telling a friend to try it, and wanted a bit more info (as they always ask). So it was disappointing to read the low reviewer comments, and see their upset about the ending. I still watched it. I still enjoyed it. Found it compelling and intense. And have no issue at all with the way the story unfolded. The acting and characters were good, and the story held me. It kept me all the way to the end. Worth watching!

Had great potential, but the unsatisfying ending ruined it all!

[exisce · 6/10 · 9 August 2020]

The show started out as a very interesting drama and mystery story with likable characters that had great development potential. So I was very looking forward to seeing the second and the third episodes. It seemed like something overwhelming was going to be discovered at some point. Alas, this never happened. And the last episode was a total disappointment.

I think "Deadwater Fell" is just another one of those shows that we are gradually getting used to: the watching is a captivating process, episode after episode, and then they bring it to some hasty flat ending. Unfortunately, the writing these days leaves much to be desired.

On a positive note, the acting is very good, I also enjoyed great views of amazing landscapes of Scotland.

Apart from the performances, this was a little disappointing.

[Avwillfan89 · 6/10 · 26 April 2020]

Normally a whodunnit consists of a lot of good and interesting turns that you didn't expect. And when the wife and children die in a fire, with the husband still alive, people always assume that he was the one who did it. And that is when the rabbit hole opens up to a whole mess of shocking conclusions.

It doesn't happen here. Instead what it does is it closely re-examines the relationship between Tom (David Tennant) and Kate (Anna Madeley) and shows that they were not the perfect, happy couple that everyone thought. Gradually, as the series goes on, Tom becomes more and and more dislikable, to the point where he can make you absolutely hate him with just a look and a few simple words.

So when it's revealed that he actually did kill his wife and children by injecting them with sedatives and set the house on fire because Kate wanted to leave him - even though he routinely psychologically abused her in her fragile state - it's like... meh, yeah I know, why wouldn't he?

Tennant's ability to at first insnare some sympathy for him with his grief scenes and then loathing when he verbally abuses his mother, his wife and social worker is really amazing and that's what kept me going. But although it's an interesting family drama, as a crime mystery, it's pretty bland.

Some people are being a little tough on this one

[muamba_eats_toast · 7/10 · 2 May 2020]

I found the opening episode a little slow but hooked me in just about enough and then it exploded with 2 really good episodes leaving me excited for the finale. Unfortunately the finale was very predictable and ultimately underwhelming but I fell that was more due to the level of the two previous episodes and this being average rather than terrible. Ultimately this was still a good series if unfortunately not reaching further heights that seemed possible.

Interesting themes but rather plain

[fraser-simons · 6/10 · 12 September 2021]

I think everyone will guess the ending quite quickly in this slightly overlong show. The real standout elements are the cast and the themes ingrained in a semi derivative mystery wrapping.

There's some good depictions of how numerous kinds of abuse, the social dynamics at play in regards to toxic masculinity, trauma, and the madness of crowds. People can't usually recognize signs of abuse nor cries for help or look beyond the performance of social respectability when it comes to men. So, on that front I think the show is a success.

The problem comes from a lacklustre actual plot and its beats. This is almost quintessential now, and it does very little to muddy the issue of the mystery it purports to be actually about. Had the mystery been overtly secondary, it might have worked better. Or the mystery having a more nested and compelling set of clues and the ways in which they are rolled out.

As is, it feels like a long time to wrap up, and the highlights of the show are merely peripheral, which almost feels diminutive for such important issues.

Started well but lots of irritating errors in plot started to grate

[pilarmurphy-67502 · 6/10 · 2 February 2020]

Core of story was good and initially gripping as the real truths started to unfold. But too many inaccuracies and holes in the plot eventually started to grate and became a distraction.

I absolutely loved it.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 7 March 2020]

I am very surprised to see so many negative reviews for the series, none of them seem to relate to the drama I watched. Clock developed very well over the four episodes we get the harrowing scenes in the first episode, and the next three episodes are spent solving the mystery.

The acting is first rate, Tennant does genuinely steal the show, but when is he anything less than brilliant? Cush Jumbo and Matthew McNulty are excellent also.

This isn't slow, it's measured, the characters and story are given depth, and chance to grow.

I thought it was excellent, 9/10.

A Sad Story of an Unhappy Man

[anitalansing-40-581915 · 6/10 · 3 January 2021]

This series had potential, but it did indeed fall short as some of the other reviewers indicated. However, it was worth watching. I don't understand why the good doctor was so sad and miserable. He had a wonderful practice, three beautiful children, and a wife that appeared to love him. If the marriage was failing, they could have simply divorced and allow life to move on. He didn't have to kill his family, and also attempt to kill himself. What made him so unhappy? The story did not reveal the reasons behind his anger and rage. Better writing and story telling was needed.

Too slow for such a poor ending

[Ssshhadow · 4/10 · 2 February 2020]

Firstly, I don't believe people should give such high reviews when they haven't seen the full series. Secondly, I wish people would give realistic reviews....so many 10 out of 10s, wow, is this really the best show some people have seen, even without the ending there are so many better out there. As for the series, it is slow to start off and the jumping from past to present is a little confusing. The acting is reasonable, but the story is just one dimensional and pretends to be more than it is. I kept watching expecting a twist or something less predictable for a finish, but this didn't happen! Very flat, perhaps worth watching for some, but not for me!

Intriguing

[jordanelisemorris · 10/10 · 19 April 2020]

Fascinating insight into abuse and the intricacies of adult relationships. A refreshing perspective - you cannot be sure of any one characters innocence in the broader scheme of things. Everyone is guilty in one way or another - though not in ways you'd expect. Character development across the board for all protagonists was rich. I do think that only a particular audience will appreciate this kind of series. There are definitely twists throughout and anyone who says different is missing the point. Fantastic acting.

Had potential

[River225 · 6/10 · 11 September 2020]

The plot and the cast had so much potential but both fell short. It seems like they ran out of funding &/or too many compromises were made that diluted the plot. Too bad.

Waste of a good cast!

[biddles-48993 · 3/10 · 4 February 2020]

Have to agree with those reviewers in the disappointed category. Amazed this poorly constructed plot and screenplay made it to the screen at all.

The motivations for the (extreme) actions by key characters were largely unexplained or lacked credibility and the plot lacked any subtlety or depth.

Why on earth was it felt necessary to offer a helpline at the end of each episode!? Perhaps to assuage disappointed viewers?

Outstanding

[CrimeTimeOG · 20 January 2020]

Absolutely outstanding drama from C4 with superb performances and a killer script. Nuanced, emotional, relevant and urgent, this drama grabbed me from the outset. Two episodes in I am totally gripped.

A bit of a damp squib

[Vindelander · 6/10 · 25 September 2020]

I watched all 4 episodes in one evening and have to say it was a disappointing experience. Even Tennant couldn't bring it to life and I found the constant flashbacks distracting and unhelpful. Nowhere near as good as Broadchurch or Happy Valley as the story does not flow or even give a twist at the end.

I wouldn't watch it again.

Average but not convincing

[tm-sheehan · 6/10 · 6 June 2021]

My Review - Deadwater Fell. On SBS Iview

My Rating 6/10 Not much to say about this 4 part Mystery Crime Drama series except it was very predictable so the mystery was missing and I thought the story while dramatic the character that David Tennant plays Tom Kendrick while well acted was not very believable.

I've really enjoyed David Tennant recently in Des where he was cast as the serial killer Dennis Nilsen and Alec Hardy in Broadchurch ,which is head and shoulders above Deadwater Fell .

The first episode got me in so I persevered but as the story developed I found the characters too contradictory their motives didn't match their actions .

I can't say why because I don't put spoilers in my reviews.

The bones of the story like Broadchurch is set in a fictitious rural village in Scotland when a seemingly perfect and happy family is murdered by someone they knew and trusted, cracks appear on the surface of a supposedly idyllic community.

Filming began in June 2019 in Dunlop, Ayrshire, which stood in for the fictional village of Kirkdarroch.

Some may enjoy Deadwater Fell more than I did but for me it was just average and quite watchable but these type of Crime Dramas are churned out like sausages in a meat factory . The competition is intensely competitive and it's fine to have a big name Star in the role but if the script is just average and not convincing it's a big investment to ask viewers to spend 4 hours watching something that has an unconvincing conclusion.

Great cast. Great scenery. Um...

[lm_work · 6/10 · 2 December 2021]

I tried to like it. The characters developed in the 1st episode had depth. Their flaws/strengths developed in ep 2 were interesting. I liked the cast. Sociopaths and compulsive liars can be difficult to spot at first, I get that. But by the 3rd ep Tennant's character was so clearly self-obsessed, it became impossible for me to feel any kind of sympathy for his character, who was innocent of absolutely nothing and abusive of everyone in his life. Classic manipulator. It's the most one-dimensional role I've ever seen him in. I was shocked at that. I wouldn't mind not having seen it, sadly.

A well-acted disappointment

[lewis-51 · 6/10 · 26 July 2022]

I love British mystery series. I loved David Tennant in Broadchurch. I was prepared to really like this one. I liked the first couple episodes a great deal. Nice and puzzling, good group of characters. Lovely scenery, great acting.

But it is ultimately disappointing. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I was hoping for something more imaginative. Guess I'll wait for the next Nicola Walker series -- those have all been great!

Wonderful - realistic and ultimately optimistic, despite the tragedy at its centre

[jabber12 · 10/10 · 7 February 2020]

This was a thought provoking drama, brilliantly acted, gradually revealing over 4 episodes the true horror of bullying and "gaslighting" in a very unhappy marriage. What I found truly moving was seeing the story unfold through the eyes of the policeman, the basically good man who tried to save everybody, only to end up punishing himself when he thought he'd failed them all. Beautiful ending, full of hope and redemption and not a "surprise, last person you thought" type thriller. Excellent. Will look out for more from this writer.

Poignant drama vs Traditional Mystery

[katherine-daneen · 7/10 · 4 March 2022]

Good drama and mystery acted VERY well by the cast, but also poignant. Wasn't prepared for how sad the ending was and felt a little bereft that there wasn't something more; some explanation for it all or at least a punch of happiness there at the end. Good as it was, wouldn't give it a second watch.

The twist is there is no twist

[stephen-36356 · 2/10 · 1 February 2020]

Three hours of nothingness really. You think he did it, then a teenager gives a false statement making you think he definitely did it. Then you find out he definitely did it. It just a very unsatisfying conclusion. You don't even grow to intensely dislike the guilty party - so when justice is served it is all a bit meh.

Ignore the warnings of "too slow"

[mariellealien · 8/10 · 9 April 2020]

..this isn't an action movie, it's one of BBCs miniseries. They're not known for high speed, but for quality heart-tugs and slow-paced brilliance. David Tennant plays his part to perfection, and that's all you really need to get started.

Finally someone wrote about a manipulator

[thejdrage · 7/10 · 20 December 2021]

Want a handbook on recognizing a manipulator? Watch this series. Holy crap! It's brilliant. And scary - because they are out there - both male and female. I have met these people and run the other direction as fast as I could. Was ill at ease seeing him on the screen knowing what was happening, wondering if people would ever smarten up and shut him down! You'll have to watch to see. Worth the watch for several actors, including some of the littler ones (good on you, Lewis!!)

Love David Tennant, but...

[sijaha · 5/10 · 1 February 2020]

This was a bit of a let down. The story was too all over the place and the ending just didn't do anything for me. I would actually say it all was quite boring and never really came to any peak.

Worth Watching

[arunkumaraqm · 7/10 · 20 September 2020]

I've been watching a bunch of British miniseries lately and there's nothing particularly different about this. Wouldn't call it slow. I liked the ending. But there were some plot points I wasn't clear about. I still don't know what the title of the show means.