The Catch (2023– ) User Reviews

Ignore the low rating/ Reviews. It's very good !!!

[chloegalley · 7/10 · 13 May 2023]

The catch is a 2023 family, thriller drama series which consists of 4 episodes. It was my mum who told me how good it was so decided to watch it well I was hooked from beginning to end. You have to give a chance honestly it does get better as it goes on. The storyline is gripping and it certainly gets you questioning what is actually true or not. It is a little predictable in places but it's a very good watch. Acting is superb Jason Watkins is great actor as always. In fact all the cast are good. Very well produced and directed. It's certainly is a thriller and surprisingly a good drama. I really enjoyed it didn't want it to end. If you like mini dramas like the teacher with Sheridan smith or even the Bay then you will like this. Don't go by the low rating or bad reviews it's very good give it a chance. With some twists and turns on the way you will not want to stop watching it. Very good. Get watching now . Streaming on My 5 now.

Laughable so called thriller

[nevans-48467 · 5/10 · 14 February 2023]

I guessed what the storyline turned out to be from the beginning! Love Jason Watkins and the scenery lovely, the only reason to watch. Terrible script, a child could write it. Ridiculous coincidences, weird characters, but still must've held my attention because I watched it all! Glad it was only spread over four episodes, the usual six would have been too much. Give it a chance if you have nothing else to watch, at least it's not long winded. But if you actually listen to the dialogue/ script you may laugh out loud! Makes me want to visit Ireland where it's filmed though, beautiful beaches!!!

Solid

[henderson-46129 · 7/10 · 9 February 2024]

I'm a big fan of Jason Watkins, he's a very watchable actor in my opinion. He's very safe and dependable with what I would describe as a raw vulnerability. He really carries the weight of this show although the other actors are decent too. Okay it's not the most surprising murder mystery drama I've ever seen but I found myself happy to coast along and watch to the end. A few more twists would have been good and the final episode is perhaps the weakest which is a shame but it's a solid seven out of ten. If you want to pick holes this is going to provide a few but otherwise just go for the ride.

Channel 5

[bladebk · 1/10 · 8 February 2023]

Horrible acting, dodgy accents, unlikable characters, unrealistic conversations, bad directing... I could go on.

The daughter seems intent on wandering around the docks day in day out in a white shirt, which never seems to get a spec of dirt on it. The wife needs a slap, the mothers storyline isn't needed and just there for comic effect, which comes across as disrespectful.

The copper who comes into it to investigate the lifeguards murder is about as vacant as they come.

The main character is a drip and the boyfriend is about as menacing as Donald duck.

Channel 5 through and through... do yourself a favour and run a mile.

Don't bother, read the book instead

[dyerrobyn · 4/10 · 13 February 2023]

This was most disappointing. The cast was unlikeable, the acting was awful, the whole thing was just pretty rubbish. The book I enjoyed but certainly wouldn't reccomend this! Was like some kind of mid afternoon made for tv film! The plot changes were either pointless or weren't as good as the original. The main characters didn't seem believable and wee all just a bit weird. Even the daughter didn't come across in any way that made you really care about her, it's quite a feat to make a cast all so I likeable but they managed it. That's all surprising considering the cast, I was expecting more!!

Not one I'd recommend watching.

[Leonieruth · 3/10 · 22 February 2023]

Yet another long drawn out non-thriller. As 90 minute TV movie it might have worked but I was bored by the end of the first episode. The plot was predictable with no surprises along the way and the ending was nothing but a series of pure cinematic cliches. We know what is going on, the protagonist knows it as well, but we have to endure four hours of mediocre acting and dialogue drowned out by the over loud incidental music.

Jason Watkins' talent is wasted as the protagonist whom no one believes, Aneurin Barnard is too lightweight for the role and the two main female characters were little more than set dressing. And as for the granny; is dementia the new stick to beat us with as it seems to be popping up everywhere lately.

A thoroughly enjoyable mystery series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 19 February 2023]

Still grieving for the death of his son, Ed takes an instant dislike to his naughtier Abbie's new boyfriend Ryan. Things are going wrong for Ed, but who is responsible.

I honestly have no idea what the ridiculously low ratings refer to, definitely not this four part series, without any doubt of Channel five's best offerings, and I'd argue one of the better dramas of 2023 so far.

I certainly missed Crompton's writing skills in the recent series of Silent Witness, he was missed, but his skills were out to good use, bringing this four part drama to life. Channel five dramas can be hit and miss, I'd argue this one was definitely a hit.

Four episodes worked well, it allowed it to nice up through the gears quite quickly, it never felt slow or laboured, and whilst the mystery may be a little obvious, the journey is a very good one.

It's a very well produced drama, it looks great, Dublin looking fantastic.

The acting was excellent, Jason Watkins did a great job, I thought Aneurin Barnard was fantastic, I'm so glad he's been cast in the next series of Doctor Who, what a talent.

8/10.

A mixed bag of tricks.

[daveditch-53291 · 2/10 · 13 February 2023]

A strange one. Some top talent cast in it but wasted. Not wonderful direction or acting.

It really is murder mystery by numbers. Its that bad that I guessed 100% who the protagonist was and why they were doing it . I also managed to guess the course of the final 10 minutes. It was almost comic to be honest . I'm not normally good at that and usually bounce between multiple potential conclusions . That certainly suggests how one dimensional the plot was.

Yet I still kept watching . Why ? Well in the first 2 episodes I wanted to know who Ryan was. He clearly wasn't who or what he claimed from the outset. Once I'd made my mind I was wanting to see if my theory was correct.

A filler of a program when there's not a lot on. It's certainly an easy watch . I've given it 2 stars simply because overall ot entertained me.

Some good actors wasted.

[iambillrichards · 2/10 · 13 February 2023]

Who said give it time? Watched this from beginning to end. The first episode was like wading through porridge while they tried to make it dramatic. I gave it time. I watched it to the end. It just got worse and now I'm struggling to find the words to describe why I persevered. I don't know whether it was the bad writing or the terrible directing. It just wasn't credible and none of the characters had any depth and for that matter nor did the story. The whole plot motive lacked any drama, the great crime they committed was the murder equivalent of not putting enough postage on your Christmas cards. The plot line with the police could have been better managed by Postman Pat. I'm not finished. It felt like it was produced on the cheap, all the characters were no more than a couple of hundred yards from each other at any time.

Not every drama can be Happy Valley but they sure as hell can be better than this.

Bad script, ham acting, four hours I will never get back!

[mgould23 · 1/10 · 16 February 2023]

This so called thriller turned out to be awful. The acting was bad, the script was dire. We figured the creepy boyfriend was the a nutcase seeking some sort of revenge....but the plot was so hackneyed and obvious I was praying it had a twist which never came. And why were they all speaking in accents that ranged from a mix of a weird West Country to East Anglia with a bunch of other dialects thrown in at random, I am glad Brenda Fricker stuck to her native Irish to make at least one character realistic.

My wife gave up after two episodes but I persevered and watched the whole thing, four overlong episodes of what could only be described as an amateur dramatic group meets a rookie writer and Channel 5 give them a bundle of cash a film crew and a beach holiday.

Absolute Total Rubbish

[bryan-16440 · 1/10 · 7 March 2023]

Tried to give it Zero but couldn't.

This program is Unbelievably awful in every aspect.

The Script. The Acting. The Direction. The Realism. The Irish "Cornwall" setting.

Worse than poor.

I cannot believe that I sat through the episodes - I suppose it was sheer amusement to see how the end was played out.

I wasn't let down it was complete and utter tosh.

However much people were paid for this it was far too much. It was tantamount to legal embezzlement.

The adverts between are the best bits.

I am off to paint a wall and watch it dry...I suggest that you do the same, you'll feel better for it.

Channel Five make a thrilling crime drama

[peterrichboy · 8/10 · 9 February 2023]

That is not a headline I ever expected to write. Channel 5 Have had a few attempts at making crime dramas in the past, but it's fair to say most haven't worked. In their defence they don't have the high financial backing of channels like Netflix or ITV but in the case of the catch, They have managed to pull off A really enjoyable four part drama based on the bestselling book by T. M. Lawrence.

It helps when you can get one of the countries current leading actors in Jason Watkins on board to play the lead role about a fisherman Who seemingly has a sinister past which he has kept hidden from his family for many years. This finally comes back to haunt him and this is the premise of the show.

The performances for all the cast are solid but it's a stunning glorious Cornwall coastline which is the real star of the show.

8/10.

the boyfriend acting is the most laughable acting I have ever seen!

[mandygodbehear · 1/10 · 15 February 2023]

Starting with the fact that the boyfriends acting is the most laughable acting I have ever seen! The plot is so obvious that I watched till the end hoping to be proved wrong, A laughable plot, unbelievable over the top acting and basically a joke! I cant even believe that I stuck it out, but you live in hope! I think they showed the photo evidence of the 4 guys about 20 times (yes we got the message). Then they really believed they had to get the villain to tell us (or ED everything he had done as if we didn't even know. I think the worse thing of all was the boyfriends quick OTT changes of expressions trying to look evil, chin down looking through his lashes then suddenly looking sweet and good. Well at least it was a laugh!

That's 4 hours of my life I won't get back.

[felshampo · 1/10 · 12 February 2023]

Bad acting, poor script, shallow characters make this an excruciating watch. They don't appear to have rehearsed the dialogue enough for it to sound genuine.

The editing has dramatic silences when nothing dramatic has happened.

Lots of plot holes. Why are they living in such a brilliant house. Why would the life guard be planting a photo of a secret he can't possibly know about. Why no forensics on Ed. How could the detective be so stupid. How did Ryan get Eds car and dump it without anyone noticing. How could he get to the house to catch Ed putting the medal back.

Corny set up so Ed looks guilty to everyone even though he isn't anywhere near the killings. Easily telegraphed ending. Haven't seen anything this bad since Trigger Point.

Music too loud and drowns dialogue

[Janet1612 · 2/10 · 25 January 2023]

I'm sure it's very good. Anything with Jason Watkins in is good. He is such a good actor and his accent here is spot on. Unfortunately it's difficult to hear over the ridiculously loud music.

I've heard the book is very good and it will be great to see how this progresses.

Sadly at times the music is just so loud - what's the point of having it at that volume when it drowns out the dialogue.

Scenery is beautiful- scene and shows how beautiful coastal resorts in the UK and Ireland are. With life guard and Ed in the beach hut has boom boom boom music that drowns out the conversation. What happened?

It seems this is the norm for films and TV programmes these days. I need to find out who to complain to.

Silly Plot

[cuckoopen · 5/10 · 17 February 2023]

It was OK until the main character found a Victoria Cross medal in a drawer at Ryan's house. At this point it should have been obvious to everyone that Ryan was a complete fraud. Very few VCs have even awarded since the end of WW2 and anyone who served in the RN would have known this. Surprised the script writers did not pick this up Referring to it as "the medal" was a nonsense and spoilt the programme for me. Ridiculous ending. Daughter rushing in like some form of Guardian angel was laughable. The potential for something better was here but I think viewers sussed who Ryan was quickly.

Disappointing.

Intriguing story.simple yet interesting

[jefferons · 8/10 · 26 January 2023]

I've just watched the first episode.and found it intriguing .I want to know who ryan is. I like the trawlermen part.alway interesting to see into a trade you know little about. Scenery is beautiful and the unusual house is interesting. The story is mysterious.why are certain things happening.whos responsible and why. I'm looking forward to next week's episode. The family feel like a normal one. So it's easy to sympathise with them. I like the writing. Nice and simple. No silly stuff just straight forward story. If u like a mystery.then this is the show for you. Jason Watkins is a great and flexible actor. He carries the story.

The Dad-liest catch

[nathanhogan-58651 · 1/10 · 20 March 2023]

This show didn't seem to know what it wanted to be and what it did try to be it didn't seem to have the budget for.

The review will contain spoilers so be warned.

One of the first scenes we get is the fisherman's daughter introduces him to her new boyfriend, Ryan, the boyfriend is nasty to the father and its clear we shouldn't like or trust him. The problem here is that this remains the case for the rest of the shows 4 episodes, Ryan remains a nasty character and turns out that the father and the audiences opinion of him from the first 5 minutes was totally justified.

A better show would have started by making us hate the character of Ryan and then slowly revealed him to be a good person who we misjudged. Or someone who while being nasty isn't the true threat of the show. But we get none of that here.

Secondly in the very first scenes of the show we are treated to one of several nightmare sequences in which the father imagines the death of his son that drowned. These nightmares are vivid but play fast and loose with the exact details and seem to suggest early on that there is more to the child's death then meets the eye, perhaps even Ryan was involved?

But at the end of the 4 episode run this has gone nowhere and ends up being about 5 minutes of each episode that was a waste of time, it has nothing to do with the mystery at all.

The acting in the show runs from decent in some early scenes with the father to downright mediocre when it comes to the supporting cast and particularly Ryan who seems to spend the whole show glaring at people which makes you question why anyone would like him?

The worst acted characters of the show are definitely the wife and the detective, the wife seems to spend every scene yelling that she doesn't believe the husband or making a poor attempt to seem to care for her mother while the detective can be described as an empty suit that never seems to be doing anything, questions suspects without cautioning them and pulls warrants out as if they would be that easy to obtain.

And finally we come to the budget issues with the show, it's clear to see that a considerable portion of the shows budget may have gone into location and the principal casting. Its just unfortunate that they seem to have had no money left for things like a police station for interrogation scenes (one character is questioned in a shed on the beach in one of the worst scenes of the show.) They also appear to have had no funding for night time shooting as very few scenes occur at night, even when it would have been expected like the few times the father actually takes his fishing boat out to sea.

What a load of pony

[danielleb1 · 2/10 · 17 February 2023]

Thanks for taking 4 hours of my life that I'll never get back.

Poor storyline, saw it coming from a mile away. Acting was atrocious and the lead characters were completely ridiculous and annoying.

Haven't read the book so can't comment but this was as corny as they come. How they didn't catch him when he was on the run around his house and local area, I'll never know.

Hated all of the actors and characters without even a ploy to try and make you second guess who was causing all of the trouble towards the family.

Poor poor poor. Typical channel 5 crap, boring, second rate rubbish. Don't bother.

Dismal and dull with risible accents.

[Drumcheeny · 4/10 · 30 October 2023]

I read the book which wasn't great and this is worse. It amazes me that they get pretty good acting talent who must all be wincing at the accents they deliver their very poor dialogue in. I like several actors here but I felt sorry for them to be honest. The characters are really flat and the story just doesn't flow. Brenda Fricker wanders about providing some low level peril which is just irrelevant and feels like filler, much like the luckless George and lots of other peripheral characters who have no purpose or character. No one speaks like these folks, and it's just a comedy accent which makes every sentence sound like a Two Ronnies sketch. Give it a miss, and probably don't read the book either which wasn't much better.

Nothing like the book

[nataliebracken · 3/10 · 10 October 2023]

This series is terrible. It's nothing like the book, which was so much more gripping and a lot less predictable than this programme. The characters are all unlikeable, the acting is terrible, the dialogue is awful and the storyline is different to the story told by T. M Logan, and not in a good way. I agree that with the other reviews in saying it was long drawn out and could have been condensed into a film or 2 part drama. I don't really have any positive things to say, unfortunately. Even Jason Watkins can't save this series. Such a shame as I was really excited to watch the portrayal of a book I enjoyed reading!

Well presented drama -apart from the music

[robdavistelford · 8/10 · 19 March 2023]

I had no choice but to put on the subtitles, as the music background was swamping 50% of the dialogue.

And there was no need for the foul language. Are scriptwriters so lacking in vocabulary that they need to add such contamination?

The scenery and locations added much to the plot, and the general presentation was well above standard. Brenda did well as the dementia-stricken grandmother.

I'd say that the origination of Ryan was rather too obvious, and his story, once revealed as the plot unfolded, was no surprise.

Well done to the production team in concealing the location - carefully not showing any boats' sterns, where the harbour 'home' would have been visible.

Jason Watkins fan, but...

[flintymaguire · 4/10 · 12 October 2023]

Jason Watkins (great actor) did his best with an inadequate script and direction. The storyline and acting were exaggerated and stereotyped. Ryan was nasty and obvious from the start and yet the mother and daughter seemed stupidly blind to the mad ripple of red flags. The mother, Claire, throwing the wine bottle against the wall was horribly over-the-top and so was her unpleasant portrayal as a frustrated wife. The daughter, Abbie - if Ryan, the boyfriend, had told her he was a Major on Mars she would have believed him. Painful.

It could have been cracking - subtle, brooding, sinister - but it felt like it had been written by someone who experienced life with the blinds drawn, the doors locked and a faceplant on Tiktok. Lovely seascapes and countryside though.

Absolute Raspberry

[berniek-10588 · 1/10 · 18 February 2024]

That's a few hours of my life that I will never get back.

Lunchtime productions, unconvincing acting, plot holes.

Why was a beach life working in a harbour?

A fishing boat that was out of commission with a single net on the deck.

In fact I don't want waste anymore time on this review In fact I don't want waste anymore time on this review In fact I don't want waste anymore time on this review In fact I don't want waste anymore time on this review In fact I don't want waste anymore time on this review In fact I don't want waste anymore time on this review In fact I don't want waste anymore time on this review.

Not bad, not great.

[blackbirdben · 4/10 · 12 October 2023]

The acting is sub-par. Characters do unrealistic things when faced with realistic situaitons. The setting is pleasant and the drone camera work makes the coast look beautiful. It doesn't make fishing look very desirable as a career, but I guess that's just the state of the world today.

There's nothing new here at all. Very predictable, the wife and I guessed the twist in episode 1. They gave away too many clues so the big reveal wasn't a surprise at all. You'll get more twists and turns in an episode of midsummer murders and that's the length of just one of these episodes. Save yourself the time.