The best thing about this five-episode mini-series is its structure: not exactly confusing, but it does require full attention - and a strong memory - as three separate time periods (1968, 1987, 2010) crisscross and several characters are played by multiple actors at different ages. The acting by everyone is fine, and the moody atmosphere is reminiscent of the later "The Returned". The stories move slowly; the 4th episode teases us about the same things that the 1st episode teased us about. By the time we get to the resolution, it is questionable if it was worth the investment of 225 minutes. Well-done, but only tentatively recommended. **1/2 out of 4.
6 Reviews
Excellent, full of human depth
Agnelin11 September 2011
"Marchlands" starts as a story with supernatural and mystery elements. It follows three families, each in one different decade -the 60s, the 80s and 2010- who live in the same house at different points. The drama unfolds when a little girl, Alice Bowen, is found dead in a lake, leaving distraught parents, Paul and, especially, Ruth, the mother who cannot let go of the memory of the lost child because she suspects something is left to be explained about her daughter's death. The ghost or presence of the dead little girl seemingly cannot find peace either, as she starts to inhabit the house and keep the mystery alive for all three families who live there.
The ghost or presence of the dead girl will serve as a guiding plot motif as we slowly learn more and more about the circumstances of her death. But "Marchlands" wouldn't be the excellent story that it is if it were just that. The ghost of Alice also serves as a driving element for the non-supernatural part of the drama to develop: how the Bowens cope with the loss of their child, and the several conflicts that arise between the parents as well as with the father's parents; how the 80s family, the Maynards, try to solve their own problems and their declining marriage, especially when their little daughter finds a "secret friend" in the new house whom nobody else can see; and how Shelley and Elliot, the young couple who have just moved in, find new challenges in their relationship as well as within each one.
The human drama is the richest element and the most thought-provoking, but it is, above all, so true and full of emotions and situations that anyone can probably relate to.
A special mention goes to the setting in each of three different years. You can tell that they took great care in making it look and feel as realistic and possible. The 80s setting got my attention most, as it was especially well done down to the least detail.
My score is 10/10.
The ghost or presence of the dead girl will serve as a guiding plot motif as we slowly learn more and more about the circumstances of her death. But "Marchlands" wouldn't be the excellent story that it is if it were just that. The ghost of Alice also serves as a driving element for the non-supernatural part of the drama to develop: how the Bowens cope with the loss of their child, and the several conflicts that arise between the parents as well as with the father's parents; how the 80s family, the Maynards, try to solve their own problems and their declining marriage, especially when their little daughter finds a "secret friend" in the new house whom nobody else can see; and how Shelley and Elliot, the young couple who have just moved in, find new challenges in their relationship as well as within each one.
The human drama is the richest element and the most thought-provoking, but it is, above all, so true and full of emotions and situations that anyone can probably relate to.
A special mention goes to the setting in each of three different years. You can tell that they took great care in making it look and feel as realistic and possible. The 80s setting got my attention most, as it was especially well done down to the least detail.
My score is 10/10.
A gripping chiller
Tweekums4 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This five part ITV drama is set in a house in rural England; three families live there in three different time periods; one in the sixties, one in the eighties and one in the present day. The family in the sixties are having difficulty coming to terms with the loss of eight year old Alice who drowned; in the eighties a girl has what her parents think is an imaginary friend, also called Alice and the present day couple find a mural behind the wall paper in the room that will house their new baby
they decide to name the child after the girl in the picture
Alice. As time passes it looks as if Alice is trying to communicate from beyond the grave although not everybody believes this leading to rising tensions in each of the families.
This series turned out to be a lot better than I expected; the ghost story was suitably chilling but the real highlight was the family drama seen in each time period and the acting was good through out. The different times were well handled; at first each switch in time was accompanied by clues but once the characters have been properly introduced these clues are dispensed with. As the story comes to its conclusion we learn just what happened to Alice all those years before; I was expecting a twist concerning her death but didn't predict what actually happened.
This series turned out to be a lot better than I expected; the ghost story was suitably chilling but the real highlight was the family drama seen in each time period and the acting was good through out. The different times were well handled; at first each switch in time was accompanied by clues but once the characters have been properly introduced these clues are dispensed with. As the story comes to its conclusion we learn just what happened to Alice all those years before; I was expecting a twist concerning her death but didn't predict what actually happened.
Hidden gem.
ajunkind12 July 2020
Loved It!
kgh177323 May 2022
We really enjoyed Marchlands. I wasn't sure to begin with as it jumps between the years it's set, but it flows brilliantly! The cast is amazing & act it out well. We were gripped by it & really didn't want it to end, it's very cleverly done & we're now going to try Lightfields which apparently is the next one so here's hoping it's as good.
Ghost story done really well.
bendipa12 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Most of the time I can't be bothered with fantasy dramas, but here's one that is a jewel of an exception. I have only seen this recently, despite the drama being broadcast over a decade ago.
It's a ghost story that takes place over three time periods, featuring 3 different families living in a large house known as Marchlands. The strange happenings that only certain family members over the time periods seem to experience, relate back to the first of these families when a tragedy strikes down the young daughter of a couple living in the mid '60s with the husband's parents, who then owned Marchlands.
It's the acting and writing that makes this ghost drama convincing enough to get totally immersed in it. A lot of the story is hinged upon how the daughter of the first family died. We know that she drowned, but we don't know the circumstances that led up to it. Her father believes it was an accidental drowning, and wants to move on with his life. His wife believes there may be more sinister reasons for the cause, and refuses to let go until she discovers the truth.
Highly reccommended.
It's a ghost story that takes place over three time periods, featuring 3 different families living in a large house known as Marchlands. The strange happenings that only certain family members over the time periods seem to experience, relate back to the first of these families when a tragedy strikes down the young daughter of a couple living in the mid '60s with the husband's parents, who then owned Marchlands.
It's the acting and writing that makes this ghost drama convincing enough to get totally immersed in it. A lot of the story is hinged upon how the daughter of the first family died. We know that she drowned, but we don't know the circumstances that led up to it. Her father believes it was an accidental drowning, and wants to move on with his life. His wife believes there may be more sinister reasons for the cause, and refuses to let go until she discovers the truth.
Highly reccommended.
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