Smother (2021–2023) User Reviews

Slow start but worth sticking with it

[BaronVonKolisch · 8/10 · 14 March 2022]

Considering that the cast is not exactly star-studded, the acting is reasonably good, and the tale unfolds in a fairly convincing and believable way, at least for the most part.

The slow start may leave a few viewers cold, but it was worth persevering with for the dysfunctional family drama aspect, which pulls no punches.

The murder mystery aspect largely plays second fiddle, but I found the final revelation to be a decent fit and was surprised at how it brought the whole story to a comprehensive and largely unguessable conclusion. - 7.8/10.

If You Can Get Past the First Few.......

[zorroaca · 6/10 · 29 June 2021]

At first there is just too much put on the plate so it comes off a bit confusing. It gets better as it goes along but it never does bring you out of your seat... but the acting is good and it is somewhat entertaining.

Good drama

[bangel3322 · 8/10 · 14 June 2021]

Surprised at these low ratings. I thought this was a very well acted and thought out drama.

As well as the murder mystery, it had interesting sub plots throughout. I agree with some other reviews that it was a slow start and not everything was clear; it was a bit confusing as to what the characters were talking about, however everything is explained but the end. And the ending was good, never guessed who the killer was. I recommended!!!

Too much whispering

[franmgates · 12 May 2021]

I like this series, good story, actors and location - BUT - a couple of the actors talk in whispers, Dervla Kirwan.in particular. Why or why didn't the director encourage Dervla to speak in a normal tone when not shouting? Her voice lacks clarity and it is annoying to keep having to adjust the volume control during conversations involving her.

The World's most dysfunctional family

[gailmck-62224 · 6/10 · 11 April 2023]

I binge watched this series as I found it to be compelling viewing. This has to be the most crazy, mixed up, co-dependant family I have ever seen. Just when you thought there could not possibly be more secrets and lies more appear. There are no endearing traits about any of these people, they manage to create drama after drama, lie through their teeth, and undermine each other. They seem to thrive on their way of life. Of course there are always the tables groaning with food and the huge glasses of wine, most of them are never in a scene without a glass of wine. Having said all that it was very watchable.

Promising so far

[darepng · 7/10 · 21 March 2021]

Enjoying so far up to episode 3. A real air of suspense generating. The acting is mixed with some average and also some good performances but overall enough to keep you watching out for the next instalment.

rather beautiful

[chantalvanderende-465-646091 · 9/10 · 25 July 2022]

I genuinely think this is a beautiful series. Crime and family drama interwoven. Some people saying that this is so boring and slow-paced is such a sign of the times. Everything has to be fast, full of action and solved within a 30-minute episode. This isn't that. This takes time to percolate, to show different sides, to reveal memories, to cleverly create many suspects, to show beautiful scenery in all kinds of weather, to build characters. Very, very atmospheric, well-acted and beautiful.

Good show, but Anna sucks the life from me

[aussybearoh7 · 7/10 · 24 May 2022]

I liked the show- takes a bit to figure out who each person is in season two. Good twists; the family is a mess & come season 2 Anna becomes unbearable (for me at least). Worth a watch, but she stinks & is infuriating. Her character almost ruined it for me honestly.

C'mon. It's better than the reviews

[Jackie_Pressley · 9/10 · 29 June 2022]

I want more seasons of Smother! I don't know why the reviews aren't higher. It's not on the Breaking Bad level but it's definitely good enough I binge watched both seasons in a week.

Too many characters

[kristhebass · 6/10 · 9 June 2021]

After the end of 2 episodes I'm a bit confused as to who is who.

There are some characters whose relevance to the story isn't clear. Who is the woman with the long grey hair? Why do the two boys call the dead man granddad as he clearly isn't a blood relative?

How is a clearly mentally disturbed woman allowed to drive a car let alone she run a café?

Clichés? Of course there are some, not easy to write drama without them these days. At least they haven't ticked the usual boxes, no gay couple (Yet) not really and people of colour, other than Cathy Cregan, who is a bit diluted (Again, yet)

Maybe I'll understand more about who is who in episode three.

Great scenery

[jcareycarey · 4/10 · 5 April 2021]

Too many secrets for one show. Not one character to care about. The scenery is the best part of this show.

What a family!

[eeric-32425 · 8/10 · 19 August 2022]

I really enjoyed the twists n turns in this, well written well well acted. Really looking forward to season 3.hopefully it won't be to long before it's on our screens again.

Too predicable, Too unbelievable

[russellharvy-39017 · 7/10 · 20 April 2022]

1st series entertaining enough then downhill for 2nd series..too predicable & not believable... This much drama just could not happen. A shame as looked promising early on and thought good be another very good Irish drama series.

Angry folk and dreadful weather

[verna-a · 5/10 · 26 May 2021]

I found this drama watchable, but never found it genuine or credible, it's just a soap really. The characters all take their turns at being savage, sulky or regretful. They all seem to have something to be angry about, and specialize in blaming each other without restraint. So this is family life? The most impressive things about the series are (1) the fabulous family house, and (2) the dramatic coastal scenery of Western Ireland. I doubt the latter will do anything to boost tourism, though, as it appears the weather is unrelentingly dreadful.

Not bad

[MickeyTheConstant · 10 August 2021]

Quite an enjoyable watch. A few twists and turns. Nothing really original but decent. Nice setting and good cast. A bit bleak.

Surprising whoddunit?

[tahir-ismail · 6/10 · 4 March 2022]

Not a bad whoddunit, actually ... a bit too long ... could have shortened it down to 3 or 4 episodes ... many unnecessary plots/scenes. The beginning/opening crime scene has a misleading clue ... it gave away muffled men's voices during the struggle at the top of the cliff ... but, the killer is not a man!!! Ha ha.

Complex and Enthralling Series

[daviddunn-90653 · 9/10 · 28 June 2021]

This was a fascinating drama that had me gripped from start to finish. It required a lot of the viewers attention as the plot was very complex with so many characters involved. But it was all very well done. A well written story, occasionally very moving, and well acted by all.

A shattering perfect storm for a complex family.

[peterjaird-642-891399 · 8/10 · 21 June 2021]

Indeed this is a complex drama about a tight knit family with a multitude of secrets. If you can keep up with the often muted dialogue, the excellent acting and plausible script will carry the day and reward you in the end. Stunning scenery, and excellent directing outweigh the few incomprehensible conversations but like so many dramas the principles live way above their means. 7.5/10.

Let's throw in every thriller trope we can think of...

[rob-12117 · 4/10 · 8 April 2021]

I wanted to like this show. There is a good cast, beautiful West of Ireland locations, however the story just lets it down so badly.

Every episode seems to be be written in a formulaic manner to point the blame at a different family member. The sub-plots are so numerous and dramatic that it appears as if the writers just threw every possible trope into a blender, thinking "the more, the merrier".

It leads to a rambling show, with too much going on. You find yourself not caring for even one character. They've even ruined my image of "The Irish Lamb Man".

Watch for the scenery. The story is dreadful.

S1 - A Very Bingeable Drama!

[mouldypeach · 8/10 · 8 May 2023]

Each episode ends with a nice cliffhanger, the acting is uniformily good.

Absolutely solid storytelling.

Agree that there are a lot of clichés in it, but I certainly didn't guess the killer in S1, but also I didn't find it contrived when they were revealed (which can often be a problem with 'twisty turny' dramas).

It definitely doesn't deserve the low ratings that people have given it, in my opinion. Although I can see that Dervla's whispering could get on people's wick easily enough - thankfully I use subtitles so that doesn't impinge on my enjoyment, selfishly!

Perfectly diverting for fans of family dramas and rainswept cliffs.

Smother me please!!

[daraghmccabe · 2/10 · 28 March 2021]

Awful show. Has squeezed in as many cliches as possible. Some very talented actors working with an awful script. Avoid.....

Whats with the bad reviews... i loved it

[kerriewillman · 9/10 · 13 May 2021]

Great series. Has you hooked from the first episode. Stories within the primary story.. loads going on. I loved this. Smashed it out all in one day.

Such atmosphere and suspense quality series

[tm-sheehan · 8/10 · 18 July 2021]

My Review - "Smother." Streaming on ABC Iview

My Rating 8/10 Smother is an Irish thriller drama series written by Kate O'Riordan and directed by Dathaí Keane and filmed in one of my favourite parts of Ireland which has the most austere but spectacular rocky Coastline I've ever visited. It includes The Cliffs of Moher located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region in County Clare, Ireland Dervla Kirwan who I remember as the lovely Assumpter Fitzgerald in "Ballykissangel stars as Val Ahern, a mother who is determined to protect her family at any cost.

The series is produced by BBC Studios and Raidió Teilifís Éireann, and premiered on 7 March 2021 on RTÉ One. It aired in the UK by Alibi in June 2021. A second series was announced in April 2021 and will premiere in early 2022.

No spoilers from me as usual except to say the series gets off to a great start when Val Ahern's husband Denis is found dead at the foot of a cliff the morning after a family party that breaks up dramatically after Denis informs the guests including his three daughters that their parents have decided to separate.

There are of course plenty of suspects as Val finds out when she delves deeper into her husband's affairs.

This Six part series I enjoyed very much it has a similar atmosphere to "Broadchurch " and "Deadwater Fell." (It's far better than "Deadwater Fell.") There are no Ace detectives like DCI Vera Stanhope investigating though if she was I'm sure "Smother " would have had a different conclusion. The Irish Garda in this story really take a back seat. However there is just as much suspense and mystery as we explore the deceptions and resentments of three Irish families as their actions collide with each other and their secrets are uncovered.

The actual village that the series was filmed in is Lahinch a small town on Liscannor Bay, on the northwest coast of County Clare, Ireland with a popular surfing beach.

It's a very impressive ensemble cast most of the actors I'm not familiar with and couldn't pronounce their names . I'm glad a second series has been commissioned as this series is well worth viewing .

After a few episodes I got the double meaning of the title just swap the "S" of Smother to the end of the title and you get "Mothers" it's very clever as is the Screenplay by creator writer Kate O'Riordan..

Yet another disappointment from RTÉ

[anglrberts · 4/10 · 15 March 2021]

I'm all for unlikable and or flawed protagonists, but they have to be written well. These characters are hardly written at all. The audience can't find meaning in your show if you don't write one in! Any interpretation of the show past the very uninteresting plot is a stretch because of this. One character in episode two tells another character, after they said something objectively self-centered and bad, if they're bad for it and character B says that they are the kindest person they know. They really must not know many people...

It gets better as it progresses

[Rupert17 · 8/10 · 28 May 2021]

I enjoyed the drama in Smother surrounding a troubled Irish family falling apart after the apparent accidental death of its patriarch, Denis Ahern. Naturally, like similar narratives all is not what it seems and the patriarch's relationships with those in his life are gradually exposed as less than perfect.

Dervla Kirwan heads an excellent cast and the tension throughout the six episodes is maintained until and unexpected denouement.

Not sure about some of the criticisms. If you want to a show where the participants have morning tea and afternoon naps, and then fall asleep in front of the television at night, maybe regular visits to an aged-care facility is for you.

Life is sometimes violent and unfair and many writers try to depict these plot lines in various ways. We don't always enjoy them all, but the word drama must come to mind and by that definition we know not to expect everything to be wine and roses and the characters a lovable bunch of fun seekers.