Nik Turk

Okay, so if you’re reading this then you’ve probably already got the gist of Boat Story and, more to the point, the gratuitous violence that seems to be upsetting certain viewers. Sure, the first episode is very bloody for the BBC but it’s honestly nothing you wouldn’t see in a modern 15 rated action blockbuster and this is clearly a black comedy that frequently evokes the Coen Brother’s Blood Simple. But the main question is is it any good? Well, having watched all 6 episodes I can definitely say yes but it also somewhat saddens me to say no insofar as when it’s good it’s fantastic but it ultimately falls apart with too many random hanging threads, sudden unsatisfying conclusions and an ending that feels rather formulaic and rushed. And it’s for that reason that I can only award it 3 stars. Daisy Haggard is exceptional in the lead role expertly balancing drama with comedy and making Janet a character you’ll instantly take a shine to and root for as the stakes are raised whilst Paterson Joseph makes Samuel a shifty, unpredictable sleazeball buried under a blanket of lies and deceit who is nonetheless a perfect partner for Janet. Elsewhere Craig Fairbrass delivers a typical tough hitman but subtly adds an underlying layer of humanity, Tcheky Karyo is superb as The Tailor, mixing charm with extreme menace and Joanna Scanlon utterly divine as Pat Tooh. Plaudits too for Ethan Lawrence as the bumbling cop Ben who just wants to be noticed amongst his peers … … yet despite this fantastic cast and a strong opening that’ll have you questioning twists and turns aplenty everything just seems to run out of steam come the conclusion which is a disappointing mishmash of unsatisfying character arcs, flashbacks and the oh so dreaded deus ex machina that had me thinking quite how everything could be wrapped up within the last 10 minutes only to have my expectations squashed and my sights set on The Coen Brother’s No Country For Old Men as the final moments came rather abruptly. So yes, it’s a decent enough watch but despite being 6 hours long tries too hard to pack everything in and sadly doesn’t quite gel like I so hoped it would and on occasion feels like it’s trying to be far cleverer than it actually is. It’s so frustrating to not be able to rate it higher as at its best it’s top tier comedy drama with endless potential to become a classic had it not gotten so jumbled, convoluted and somewhat inconsequential come the end. So not a glowing recommendation but, to paraphrase The Tailor, it might be worth giving it a whirl. Just don’t expect it to change your life …