Gold Digger (2019) User Reviews

Well worth seeing.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 19 December 2020]

Could it possibly be that a younger man has fallen in love with a well off, mature woman, could his motives possibly be good, or is he simply after her for her money, is he a Gold Digger?

I've read some of the reviews with interest, it's far from perfect, but it is very good, it's worth your time. You will feel annoyed, irritated, you'll assume Julia is living in the clouds, unable to see that the young man she's set to marry is after her for her money, you'll be made to wait a long time to get the answers that you need.

It is very well acted, and deals with some pretty major themes, not just the question of inheritance, we see domestic violence, alcoholism, problems with sexuality, there's a lot here.

One or two of the episodes are a little slow, but when it's good, it's very good, the finale is excellent.

I hope they leave it here, at just the one series, it's a good story, well told, we don't need chapter two.

Very good, 8/10.

Definitely worth a watch. Ben Barnes was brilliant in this

[girlshopsalone · 8/10 · 2 July 2020]

Very well made mini-series. I found myself getting frustrated at Julia's character. I just kept thinking, "Surely a woman can't be that desperate?" Taking him back, kicking him out, taking him back, kicking him out? Julia's character kind of droned on for a while. She's a great actress, but she left me feeling very anxious, not much happiness in her character, same look throughout the whole series. However, it was refreshing to see an older woman not all dolled-up trying to get the young guy. The other side of the story was her ex-husband. I actually knew from the second episode what he had done to her. It was actually kind of a letdown to know there was not more to the story. I know there has to be a second season. I can't wait! I hope Ben/Sean turns out to be a good guy!!

Gripped by Steely Stares

[jaxetta · 8/10 · 22 March 2020]

The main protagonist was easy on the eye. Let's get that out of the way.

I was thrown into this romance. But just like any whirlwind romance the mysterious love affair asked as many questions as it answered along the way. An emotional journey as in real life. Do you really ever know someone?

Clever. Every twist was plausible. But did I want to believe? Because he was so handsome, I did.

Very cleverly told.

Enjoyable series

[abdullahsiddiki · 7/10 · 24 February 2021]

Honestly i enjoyed much. Its better than any other love story making now a days. All the character played their role very well.

"Marriage means Benjamin gets half of everything"

[Clintborari · 6/10 · 12 December 2020]

Gold digger is a six-part mini-series that focuses on a wealthy sixty-year-old woman named Julia who falls in love with a much younger man named Benjamin. Julia's children are less than impressed with their Mothers choice of partner as they are convinced that he is a gold digger.

The main story revolves around Julia and Ben's relationship and how Julia's adult children Patrick, Della and Leo are hostile and disapproving towards Ben while he is trying to win them over. However, they each have their secrets which get uncovered as the series progresses.

Gold Digger is interesting because it delivers realism with the characters having diverse and different lifestyles. They each show their demons of depression and alcoholism, are abusive to their significant others and indulge in acts of adultery.

The Acting was more than admirable. Julia Ormond was the standout but Ben Barnes, Sebastian Armesto, Jemima Rooper and Archie Renaux demonstrated fantastic support roles and played their characters with great determination and depth.

There are however some big negative points about this series that slightly outweigh the good in the show. This is quite a slow-paced drama with a lack of action or suspense. It has a poor climax after a fairly intriguing build-up. And finally, there is nothing that blows you out of the water when personal affairs and dark secrets are uncovered.

The finale was extremely frustrating and a bit of a letdown to the series as a whole which makes you feel empty and unfulfilled. As for the big finale we learnt of Ben's dark past and that in his youth he had covered for his sibling by killing an unsuspecting shopkeeper. At the time his brother was an adult and he would have faced a much more serious sentence if convicted.

There wasn't any big reveal or obvious hints if Ben was a gold digger and Julia's flashbacks turned out to be as you can suspect quite early on in the show which is Julia being physically and mentally abused by a mysterious person which is a surprise, surprise turns out to be her ex-husband.

I'd still give this show a slight thumbs up as the first five episodes did keep you wanting to know more. But this had the potential to turn into something better. I hope they would continue with a second series as there are many questions unanswered starting with the blatantly obvious is Ben after Julia's wealth?

But I think you are meant to imply many of these answers for yourself and so I felt that the season finale while having a somewhat happy ending left me feeling unsatisfied and like I deserved more.

6/10.

Gold Digger or maybe not!

[andreajh070362 · 9/10 · 14 November 2019]

Loved this story, an older woman meets a much younger man. They get along but it's clear from the beginning things are not all that they seem. Her grown up kids are messed up & hostile. Benjamin has secrets but hes not the only one hiding something. Worth a watch.

Great watch!! Ignore the bad reviews!

[sandiesh-86719 · 7/10 · 19 November 2019]

It's an amazing in depth drama yet again by the BCC, ignore the bad Reviews give it a watch it's well worth it!

Great acting, gripping story

[cathyannemoore-66196 · 8/10 · 13 November 2019]

Julia Ormond was brilliant in this role. Very convincing that the younger man would fall in love with her. She wasn't glammed up just a natural beauty. Well written as episodes focussed on the point of view of a different main character each time. The lover, Benjamin was the subject of the final episode when we finally got the answers to why each character behaved and felt as they did. It was also a pleasure to see the beautiful Devon countryside as a back drop to the story.

I hate the ending

[jjsoltis · 6/10 · 1 October 2020]

Good story. Good characters. Great story. But I hate hate hate the ending.

What was going on in the writer's room?

[bowieec · 5/10 · 7 December 2019]

It had a promising first few episodes. I was still in for the long run in the middle. And then it went full-on to hell in a hand basket in the last few episodes. I only have so much suspension of disbelief to go around. The script quickly became utterly ridiculous and unbelievable. Such a shame. Julia Ormond is consistently good throughout - but some of the dialogue and situations she's given, it's amazing she could keep a straight face. This was a wasted opportunity to tell a realistic story about love (or even just a tense thriller) revolving around a woman in her second act.

A really wonderful gripping thriller/romance/family drama

[kimmgould · 8/10 · 7 February 2021]

I am another one who can't understand the bad reviews. This is a high quality drama with many layers of plot and character, lots of unanswered questions, and at the heart of it, romance. I am a single woman of the same age as Julia. In the past I've had to juggle new relationships and young adult children and it's hard, and so similar to the balancing act here, needing your own life, not wanting to upset your children. It's tricky and hard to navigate even when there aren't all the questions about a clearly secretive and much younger lover. I thought it was wonderful that Ormond was stylish but ordinary, a bit overweight, didn't try to make herself younger.

The ending was superb, a triumph in many senses. I was concerned about Leo obviously struggling and neither of his parents noticing, and how conveniently that was cleared up, but overall, I wish I could do a memory wipe and go back and watch it again. I would love to see a second series, we need to know how Patrick and his gorgeous Irish wife get on. We need to know how Leo matures after all these experiences. We need to know if Della can find happiness. We need to find out if Ted destroys himself or gets his act together. So much more to see here!

Suspense!

[karianne-96276 · 7/10 · 19 November 2019]

The way that it ended seemed there could be another series? I didn't like the way he was smirking in the mirror almost whilst getting ready for the wedding and why was he in contact with Ali his ex ?? Mmm are they cooking something up together which they needed money for?

Slowly gets worse and worse.

[robgeen · 2/10 · 30 November 2019]

I had high hopes after half an hour and although it just gets worse and worse I kept on watching. It desperately tries to create a sense of mystery and intrigue but it's all much too obvious and contrived. The characters all over act and behave in a way that is unrealistic just to try and create further drama. And this will undoubtably be unpopular but the main love angle is cringeworthy in the extreme and neither acts well at all. I don't believe this was thought through at all but just thrown together to complete some contract or other. Still, I kept watching which says more about me than the programme.

Good but disappointing end

[cameronjames-56978 · 6/10 · 17 November 2019]

Enjoyed all the way through and the series keeps you interested right from the start to the end but the ending is very disappointing and feels like most of mysterious speculation could be for nothing.

So bad it's good!

[grahambuckle · 26 November 2019]

Update: having watched the final, appalling two episodes since my initial review I've seen sense and taken the rating down from 3/10 to 1/10. Zero was not possible. ========================================== Have given this 3/10 (and that's very generous) based on the fact my wife and I were kept entertained by how bad this is! So bad in fact that it's weirdly addictive as it just gets worse and worse. The script is terrible and extremely predictable. If you want to see some clichéd rubbish then definitely give this a go. The main character sums it up best when she says the line "it's all just ridiculous isn't it". Yes Julia, it truly is. Awful.

Really enjoyed this!

[vikimitr · 7/10 · 24 August 2020]

Ben Barnes is something else.. and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed from his work in this series..

Good story

[Samcro1113 · 8/10 · 17 November 2019]

Ignore the bad reviews and give it a go , I thought it has a good storyline and good acting too !

Ok

[evans-15475 · 6/10 · 15 November 2019]

Probably the most disappointing drama I've ever watched kept waiting for it all to kick off and basically nothing until the last episode indeed you could just watch the 1st and last episode and enjoy it just as much and why put in sex scenes filmed so dark that it's impossible to tell who's at it

What a story!

[imaxdboss · 10/10 · 30 November 2019]

Great story. Rich cast. Captivating acting. Beautiful locations. It just keeps you guessing and glued to your seat.

Better than the 6.5 rating

[Vindelander · 7/10 · 18 December 2019]

I enjoyed it overall. Plot is good but a little overdone at times and I think six episodes was probably one too many and with a bit of editing it could have had more punch.

Good acting by a strong cast and well produced and directed. A good twist towards the end but poor old Alex Jennings role was trashed in the final scene. I doubt he was very happy about it !

Worth seeing.

Very disappointing ending...

[jjobrienm · 4/10 · 17 December 2019]

Intriguing all the way then a GOT ending. Feel like I wasted my time watching all the previous episodes.

Depth and intrigue.....

[adeysmith · 8/10 · 13 November 2019]

Not all TV drama has to be Merchant Ivory, it can just be good and interesting, without the need for every reviewer thinking they're writing for Rolling Stone.....

This is not a unique story, young guy is after rich older woman (or is he?), but, I really feel the main actors worked hard to embody their characters, especially the children (though they're not kids). I'm a fan of Julia Ormond and at times, I'm not sure if she was just acting naturally, or so embodying the character she's a genius. I binge watched, which I never do, and I really enjoyed it. I would love to see another season, there's definitely scope character-wise, with perhaps a different storyline. I'm currently watching the last ep, and it hasn't disappointed so far.

..is he.. or not

[bjarias · 7/10 · 17 December 2019]

..it's really a series cannot be reviewed w/o seeing all the episodes... Ormond is her usual brilliant-self.. hope she continues with more major-work.. they wanted for the age gap to be one of the main parts of the story-line.. yet there's lots else going on in this 6-part production.. and the glances.. looks.. and slight-smiles tell a story never fully revealed

Tepid story that goes nowhere

[somethingreal81 · 3/10 · 21 November 2019]

Maybe if this had been pitched as a straightforward family drama it would have been less disappointing. But since everything about the show is framed as a thriller, it winds up being a complete letdown. First, there are almost no surprises or interesting reveals. The one reveal we do get is so relentlessly teased that one expects a major revelation. Unfortunately, it's a somewhat irrelevant plot point that amounts to a major shrug instead. The biggest problem with the show, though, is that Julia is a completely bland character with no discernible personality. As a result, one almost hopes Ben actually is a gold digger as it's the only reasonable explanation for him being with such a wet blanket.

The Grey Filter Is Back (Again!)

[dgjones-62258 · 12 November 2019]

Why oh why do directors insist on a grey filter? It doesn't add atmosphere, it just drains any life and colour from the screen.

Even when the sun was shining through the train windows, it was dull and grey inside. In the five-star hotel where the lighting was vibrant, the filter ruined the scene.

The scenes of London from high up were dull, even though the sun was reflected in the windows of a distant building.

Okay, enough of that moan, here comes a bigger one - There is absolutley no chemistry between the two lead characters. They don't have any likeable characteristics.

For the female audience, it was no coincidence the lead actor looks like Jamie Dornan from 'Fifty Shades of Grey'.

The script was totally predictable, so how this got made is beyond me. I almost forgot, it's the BBC and they give their friends plenty of projects.

As Vivian stated in 'The Young Ones' many years ago: "Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored."