Intriguing and understated
This BBC series is very watchable with good acting, scripting and direction. It's a 'slow-burner', seemingly adding twists and surprises without relying on clichés that we've seen before in other dark dramas.The story opens with a young woman, Ivy, escaping from her captor. She was thirteen when abducted, and was kept captive for thirteen years. Initially, the police show a bit of doubt as to her authenticity because of numerous hoax calls from other women claiming to be Ivy. Eventually, Ivy is proved genuine and the story shows the struggle of both Ivy, her family and friends in trying to deal with her appearance after so many years. Pretty soon, however, everyone is back in panic mode as Ivy's alleged kidnapper takes another young girl in the same way.
This is where the series changes gear, and the plot unfolds into a tense, almost surreal chain of events, where the audience is fed subtle clues into more twists and intricacies all temptingly luring us into a story where nothing is quite as it seems.
This isn't 'in your face' drama. It is subtle, tense and quite compulsive. The shocks and surprises, when they do happen, are thrilling and unexpected. The main characters are both believable and well constructed. It all comes together to produce a fascinating tale about the desolation, desperation and deprivation of a seemingly innocent young woman. Great stuff.
score 9/10
thespookybuz 16 March 2016
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3432639/14335
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