Hollington Drive (2021) User Reviews

Slow initially, but develops well.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 31 January 2022]

The live of sisters Theresa and Helen, and their families are turned upside down when a young boy, Alex is found dead.

It's a slow burner it's fair to say, it improves as it goes on, and ends with a cracking episode, unfortunately episode one is a real clunker. You wouldn't be blamed for switching it off after fifteen minutes, the opener is painful.

It's very well made, smart looking, and features some wonderful acting, Anna Maxwell Martin and Rachel Stirling give amazing performances, particularly in Part four.

It's a clever murder mystery, a whodunnit, you'll guess and wonder, I'm not sure you'll get it, I certainly didn't.

This would have been better over two nights. It's a slow burner, but ultimately rewarding in the end.

Overall, pretty good, 7/10.

Strong premise but a disappointment overall

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 5/10 · 30 September 2021]

From the writer of 'Blood' for C5, which was great, so was looking forward to this one.

Pros: the premise when it was eventually revealed at the end of episode one after a very slow start, is an intriguing one. There's also a fairly decent ensemble cast led by the excellent Anna Maxwell.

Negatives: the Protagonists family setup was very confusing - the Direction was weak - lots of pointless drone shots and static chat scenes and the tempo was way too slow. The Score was busy and intrusive with some of the dialogue inaudible. I agree with other reviewers that the parents of the missing child bizarrely didn't really seem that bothered..

For me it needed more sympathetic and interesting characters and more pace. I gave up on it.

Deliberately alienating

[gemmaemsden · 7/10 · 20 October 2021]

For those who don't appreciate this drama or give it a chance, look up Brecht or 'verfremdungseffekt'. It is slow moving and the characters are unlikeable - set against a stepford housewives backdrop - but I think this is deliberate. You are supposed to be forming a moral judgement about the characters, their behaviours and role in the story. It is a snapshot of modern middle-class living from the writer/ director - presenting their viewpoint/ opinion.

Bit of Mystery.

[beekayknight · 6/10 · 5 October 2021]

Seems unfairly reviewed so far. If your expecting superheroes and capes you wont find them in Hollington Drive. Its a UK drama. I've seen far worse examples of the genre. Watchable.

A Fair Review After Watching ALL 4 Episodes

[mistermurphy · 6/10 · 21 October 2021]

Many of the poor reviews here, were posted before the final episode aired.

That frequently makes for an unreliable review.

I recorded all 4 episodes and watched them over two evenings. (It's easier to follow the characters that way). I normally make a decision as to whether to continue viewing a 4-5 episode show by mid episode 2. In this case I chose to stick with it to the end ..... and I'm glad I did!

It has an unpredictable outcome that on reflection, I should have seen coming. Watch carefully - there are clues as well as red herrings.

Poor

[ajhmacleod · 2/10 · 30 September 2021]

The first episode is mystifying. It seems to be trying to be the next "Broadchurch" but there is a distinct lack of drama. The relationship between the characters is impossible to work out, even by the end of part 1, I couldn't work out which family was which or whether they were all some sort of strange cult, especially since the headmistress visits the missing boy's father and immediately jumps into bed with him. Throughout there is overly loud and discordant incidental music, presumably attempting to raise the drama level, however it only serves to make it difficult to hear what the actors are saying. The acting is weak, even from the usually good Anna Maxwell Martin. Rachel Stirling seems to be playing her character as if she is a reject from "The Stepford Wives". The mother of the missing boy doesn't seem at all upset by the fact she hasn't seen her 10 year old son for many hours and hasn't bothered to contact the police. There seems to be no urgency to find the missing boy.

Extremely BAD

[liaflower-82721 · 20 October 2021]

I got 32 mins into the first episode and gave in . I could not suffer the pain of watching such garbage !

Possibly the worst thing I have seen in a long time .

Bad acting , Lousy script and what was that background in the bizarre driving scenes when looking for the missing child ... I mean com on !!

Rubbish I had to switch off , I'd rather just go to bed and stare at my wall .

Don't waste your time please !

Great TV drama (despite weird reviews to the contrary)

[loveagoodstory · 7/10 · 14 November 2021]

I watched all four episodes of this series, twice now. Once on my own, the second with others.

The story is strong, the acting across the cast excellent and the programme well directed. I enjoyed watching it and I've watched a lot of these domestic crime dramas, as there's a lot of them on the telly these last few decades.

There's a couple of gaps in the plot. There's dozens of non-gaps, of solid and logical storytelling so that's a fairly normal ratio.

I don't get the many negative reviews here but not everyone likes the same stuff so that happens. The pacing and tension were great. The acting, with particular note to the child actors, was solid and top quality.

A good investment of three viewing hours.

Like it was made by A Level students

[StarGP · 2/10 · 7 October 2021]

This is absolutely terrible. It's like some A Level media studies students somehow got Anna Maxwell Martin to perform in one of their school dramas. This is amateur, badly acted and directed, box-ticking nonsense. I knew it was going to be awful within about 2 minutes of watching and gave up after 20. The UK TV industry is absolutely screwed if the next generation of writers and directors cannot come up with anything better than this absolute tosh.

Quite liked it, reviews ruined it

[CharlieSilver1980 · 7/10 · 4 May 2022]

Found the series quite good and I have seen virtually all British murder series there is. I don't know why this series got so many bad reviews, usually I agree, and it sort of ruined it for me, watching the series. Was really intrigued with who committed the murder and if it was a murder. The plot was really good I believe.

ITV DRAMA ..... NO THANKS

[rnf100 · 1/10 · 3 October 2021]

How on earth do these programmes get past the planning stage ... same actors... same story..... dreadful script... predictable storyline...is this really the best all these so called talented people can come up with ?

This is prime time TV ? Hang your head in shame ITV ABSOLUTE DROSS.

I don't understand the bad reviews over here, I loved it

[bpoerwoatmodjo · 9/10 · 12 March 2023]

I just finished watching the entire series and I don't understand the bad reviews over here.

The story is a slow burner, so of you are into high suspense like Line of duty, then this one is not for you.

The story really gets under your skin and you can almost litterally feel the sufficating tension in your gut and neck as the storyline progresses.

The acting, also by the young cast, really fits well with the storyline. The awkward and wooden "acting" by the two leading ladies fits stylisticly into the story. These are two top actresses, they and the director knew what they were doing, so the acting is top-notch.

Every single detail, the pristine styling of the wardrobe, hair and houses, screaming that there is something brewing under that calm surface is on point!!

The cinematography is beautiful and enhances the tension of the story very well.

I agree that there were some loose ends and strange plot twists, but all in all this one is worth to watch. Just get into relax mode and undergo the experience.

Excruciatingly accurate portrait of suburbia

[framersqool · 6/10 · 30 November 2021]

Naturally, of course, nobody can really afford to live this way, certainly not an inconsequential restaurateur and a primary-school principal, the two sisters in the story, whose menfolk don't look to have any means of earning an income at all. Just add up the costs of the mortgages, the brand-new cars, the high-fashion household goods (that stove in Theresa's kitchen costs at least three grand in USD, more than I make in the best of months...) and of course the latest model of phones for each and every person, and there is no way these people could ever even dream of being financially solvent someday.

And of course, that is the whole point of the nightmarish social-engineering project that is suburbia: keep the artificial 'middle class' so permanently mired in debt that there is no way out but to keep on acting the part and paying the bills. Which of course makes for an appallingly fallacious character type which by and large is the 'middle class' itself is and always has consisted of. The demand for everything to appear perfect at all times is so overwhelmingly consuming of everyone's energies that they become just like these people: passive-aggressive, duplicitous, adulterous and thoroughly dishonest. These are the kind of people for whom normal life is to uphold their polyester delusions by lying continually to themselves, each other, the children and the authorities in pretty much every situation.

And of course this nightmarish and thoroughly fantasist way of life produces on a steady basis the kind of cynical cruelty we see in the two children who are at the heart of the story. Never does it even occur to either of them that they are first cousins who will be in each other's lives for decades to come; at the first sign of trouble each one turns against the other and tries to shift all the consequences onto their own kinfolk just to stay out of trouble or have to admit to any wrongdoing of their own. And the 'adults' are even worse.

I manage to enjoy this kind of drama because it so vividly portrays the reasons I knew I had to escape suburbia forever and repudiate for a lifetime the addictions to debt, duplicity and the spendy whims of fashion such a life breeds. I bought my house and paid it off for less than what it takes one household here to have a change of clothing for one week. Every time I see people wallowing in the inevitable swamp of chaos and lies and bottomless despair such as these people get caught in just by trying to live this way, I think to myself, thank God I got out while I still could.

And this is the life people pay a million dollars of some bank's money for in places like Palo Alto, to live a life of ongoing lies and secrets that one cannot possibly afford or ever hope to have paid off? You can have it, if you're that lacking in self-respect. No, thank you.

Oh dear....

[Casino-Royale · 1/10 · 8 October 2021]

I really wanted to like this but the acting in the vast majority is wooden in the extreme. The only character I felt any sympathy for was Alex's mother, she was believable. The rest.... how on earth do they get the roles?

Not a bad mini series

[pilot1009 · 7/10 · 28 April 2022]

Quite surprised by the poor (low score) reviews. Watched this on a local streaming service and whilst it started slow and was a bit woke in places actually got quite engrossing toward the last two episodes. I can understand that some may have wondered off during episode 1 as it did start a bit well slow and sort of soapy like. I think if you can watch it all at once as against over several night/weeks it would redeem itself to some of the lower score pundits.

Strong cast, clunky but overall worthwhile

[CrazyArty · 6/10 · 12 November 2021]

Fairly clunky thriller about a missing child. Two sisters investigate the mysterious & perhaps sinister involvement of their own two children in the affair.

Really strong main cast and an enjoyable enough watch but the storyline doesn't always flow somehow. I think the behaviour of the characters is not always that believable.

However, a good ending and still worth a watch.

Abysmal

[skyhawk747 · 4/10 · 29 October 2021]

I managed to watch all four episodes hoping it would get better but sadly it deteriorated with every episode. As the saying goes, this is time in my life I will never get back.

Apart from the nice scenery and houses that's all you will get that's pleasant. The acting at times is pretty bad and the plot which could have been played out much better ends up being hollow and weak.

Underwhelming yet enjoyable

[samtimoney-79758 · 7/10 · 30 December 2021]

I enjoyed this little series. I liked how bland and cold it all was. The houses, the schools, the streets, the people, shops, atmosphere. It all had an empty and cold feeling to it, which I believe was the intention. It looked beautiful and had a dark and good story, I just think it was executed poorly.

Too slow with some unintelligible dialogue

[BurnhamTV · 3/10 · 7 October 2021]

It's like watching paint dry. Anna Maxwell Martin mumbles a lot of her lines. As it's panning out after 2 episodes (of 4) ITV would have been better broadcasting H. D. as a 2 hour whodunnit.

Average drama

[itnash · 6/10 · 9 November 2021]

Fairly obvious script. Always going to be one of two people that did it.

Acting was good all round, but all to silly. As always the was no reason not to go the police right at the beginning even knowing how it all ended.

If you have nothing better to do this will pass your time ok.

If I want to be depressed I'll watch Channel Four News....

[ianlouisiana · 2/10 · 17 October 2021]

Not one interesting or sympathetic character. A lot of uncomfortable - looking thesps trying not to fall over the scenery and the usual middle - class drivel with horrible mini - me kids sending their horrible smug parents into paroxysms of guilt.

That about covers it.

An end - of - the - pier police sergeant who would have been promoted above his abilities running Cycling Proficiency Tests for 12 year - olds is the icing on this completely unpalatable cake.

Unless you are the sort of person who enjoys picking the wings of butterflies I guarantee 'Hollington Drive' will send you into the depths of despair.

An alternative crime - well done too!

[dakjets · 8/10 · 18 July 2022]

This series has far too low score here!

The English series is based on events in a successful housing association. A crime is happening. There are children involved. Unlike other crime series, the focus here is on how those involved choose to relate to the incidents, and not a subsequent investigation. Here the police and their investigation are in the background. Here it is parents, friends and neighbors that we follow closely, and how wrong it goes when loyalty and emotions block truth and self-examination. Especially how dangerous lies and covering up the truth can get for the innocent. As the series masterfully reveals, lies that are meant to be helpful only bring with them even greater strains. Also for the children who may be involved in the crime. It all ends in a very surprising and good ending. You probably can't guess this solution! Recommended! But do not expect a type of traditional crime series, here the main characters themselves reveal the truths in their constant circles of avoidance and eventually confrontations.

Nice crisp series.

[prashant-63677 · 6/10 · 20 May 2022]

Well made crisp mystery. Just the right length also...only 4 episodes. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Nothing brilliant, just good old mystery the way it should be. Cant understand the low rating though! Was it not woke enough?

Very Bad

[carolynocean · 2/10 · 21 October 2021]

Oh Dear ... I hate to say it ,but this is probably the worst drama that I have seen in a while , I can't believe how bad the plot was !

Who wrote this ? And how on earth did Rachael Stirling and Anna Maxwell Martin , who are excellent actors agree to this ? Their acting was stilted, forced and at times awkard .

There were scenes where I felt embarassed for both actors !

I really cannot say much more , only to repeat that it is very bad !

One of ITV's better dramas

[samthejudgeamos · 7/10 · 23 April 2022]

Having watched a few dramas of late, I wasn't holding out much hope for this one and picked it because for the rarity value of a drama not having sheridan smith in it.

Echo some of the other reviews, episode one was a clunker, but the last episode was super. It was clinical and cold in its setting, which I suspect was purposeful given the subject matter.

All in all, a pretty good watch.