Episode #1.1

The BBC's adaptation of the David Nicholls novel, and once it warms up isn't half bad at all.

I thought this was an understated, charming first episode with some lovely moments of pathos.

It's a bit slow, yes, but certainly enjoyable enough.

Douglas and Connie's marriage is in the rocks, they begin one last hoorah, a trip across Europe with son Albie in toe.

Douglas is a very straight laced chap, it's little wonder that poor Connie has reached breaking point.

I'd say it's a charming start, I was hooked after a few minutes, such an engaging story. I love the complexity of their relationship, I love how we learn of their present, and past.

You can't argue with Hollander or Reeves, I thought the pair were absolutely exquisite, so, so good, with a true chemistry.

Paris looks divine as always. Terrific use of music.

It's great, 8/10.

I wonder if Us was meant to be the prestigious autumn drama for BBC1 on Sunday nights.

I suspect that due to the Covid pandemic, it was something that was available to be broadcast.

The first episode really reminded me of some of the more underwhelming Screen Two productions from 30 years ago. Middle class naval gazing. It did not help that the opening scenes had two characters in bed. There was the danger that the audience might doze off as well.

Adapted by David Nicholls from his own novel. It starts with Connie (Saskia Reeves) telling her husband Douglas (Tom Hollander) in the middle of the night that she wants to leave him once their son Albie goes off to university.

Douglas is left dazed and confused. As he had planned an elaborate European tour for the family, Connie suggests that they have this one big trip together.

The scenes of the middle aged couple who marriage has disintegrated is contrasted when they were younger and got together.

This was not the most riveting of opening episodes. It's saving grace was the foreign jaunt, something denied to a lot of us this year due to Covid. The family's first stop is Paris where they visit the sites and museums. Their son Albie plans to busk and he quickly acquires a girlfriend.

There was something hard to believe about all this. I did not buy that the family had never been to Paris before. Also Connie and Douglas looked too old to have a son of that age given that we see them when they were younger.