The other commentator asks why TV Drama always portrays life in Britain as grim? Well most of it doesn't however sometimes the subject matter requires it and this is one such occasion.
Essentially this drama starts as an exploration of debt and the people most often in debt - the poor. But it grows into so much more over both parts.
Before I go on in a past life I briefly worked for a "Home Improvements" company who used all the sales "techniques" so expertly demonstrated (quite disturbingly actually) by John Simm.
John Parlour (Simm) is an agent for RS Manors a credit come catalogue company who specialise in lending to people who normal creditors wouldn't touch with a barge pole- Low income, unemployed etc. Even when they cant afford the repayments they simply extend another line of credit to cover the one in arrears.
Jo Weller (Sophie Okonedo)is one of his best (i.e. most indebted) customers, whom he also has a bit of a shine for- a sentiment not missed on Jo.
Things however turn nasty when Jo finds herself penniless and John just this once decides he cant lend to her anymore. Desperate Jo plots with her brother to have John robbed after he has collected his money from his clients. As a result of the assault - which almost costs John his life - he now finds himself in the position of his clients penniless and jobless and moving from a flash penthouse to one of the flats in the same poverty hole as Jo.
John reforms his ways and immediately takes interest in the fledgling credit union encouraged by his former enemy the Community Support Officer who realises the Union needs John's wits and charisma if it is to succeed.
Succeed it does and all goes well until John begins to question Jo's motives leading her to reveal her secret to him. This coupled with the re-emergence of John's ego and ambition threatens all they have since shared together.
Ultimately we end up almost where we started with John now king of a greatly expanded Credit Union having driven off the other founding members and Jo coming cap in hand to him for an emergency loan.
However the goodness in Marchants script is that it makes no judgement in its resolution, John is not portrayed as evil or bad as his credit union is still a million times better than RS Manors. Equally Jo simply decides to stand up for what she wants too. The decision as to who is right or wrong is up to us the viewer.
This two part drama is highly recommended, its expertly written and directed with a lot of nice humour for a serious script. John Simm and Sophie Okonedo are brilliant in the lead roles and the supporting cast are also given their moments to shine. At times it feels more like a fly on the wall documentary than a drama such is the honesty of the execution.
It is only let down by the niggling failure to resolve John's battle with his former employers RS Manors. Aside from that this is a credit to all involved.
Essentially this drama starts as an exploration of debt and the people most often in debt - the poor. But it grows into so much more over both parts.
Before I go on in a past life I briefly worked for a "Home Improvements" company who used all the sales "techniques" so expertly demonstrated (quite disturbingly actually) by John Simm.
John Parlour (Simm) is an agent for RS Manors a credit come catalogue company who specialise in lending to people who normal creditors wouldn't touch with a barge pole- Low income, unemployed etc. Even when they cant afford the repayments they simply extend another line of credit to cover the one in arrears.
Jo Weller (Sophie Okonedo)is one of his best (i.e. most indebted) customers, whom he also has a bit of a shine for- a sentiment not missed on Jo.
Things however turn nasty when Jo finds herself penniless and John just this once decides he cant lend to her anymore. Desperate Jo plots with her brother to have John robbed after he has collected his money from his clients. As a result of the assault - which almost costs John his life - he now finds himself in the position of his clients penniless and jobless and moving from a flash penthouse to one of the flats in the same poverty hole as Jo.
John reforms his ways and immediately takes interest in the fledgling credit union encouraged by his former enemy the Community Support Officer who realises the Union needs John's wits and charisma if it is to succeed.
Succeed it does and all goes well until John begins to question Jo's motives leading her to reveal her secret to him. This coupled with the re-emergence of John's ego and ambition threatens all they have since shared together.
Ultimately we end up almost where we started with John now king of a greatly expanded Credit Union having driven off the other founding members and Jo coming cap in hand to him for an emergency loan.
However the goodness in Marchants script is that it makes no judgement in its resolution, John is not portrayed as evil or bad as his credit union is still a million times better than RS Manors. Equally Jo simply decides to stand up for what she wants too. The decision as to who is right or wrong is up to us the viewer.
This two part drama is highly recommended, its expertly written and directed with a lot of nice humour for a serious script. John Simm and Sophie Okonedo are brilliant in the lead roles and the supporting cast are also given their moments to shine. At times it feels more like a fly on the wall documentary than a drama such is the honesty of the execution.
It is only let down by the niggling failure to resolve John's battle with his former employers RS Manors. Aside from that this is a credit to all involved.
