I find it odd that the description for this series doesn't admit to being a 100% remake of the mesmerising film starring Juliette Binoche & Jeremy Irons from '92. I mean there is dialogue ripped from it verbatim. Its not a bad series but could've been better. And nowhere near as psychologically demented, captivating or shocking. If you want to watch a true fkd up psychosexual drama/tragedy, with two huge indie stars from the 90's in one of the true indie cult film favourites of the 90's ? Go watch "Damage". The movie is legit. Not this watered down, Adrian Lyne lite version. And although Charlie Murphy (Anna) does an admiral job, NO ONE does that watery, luminously mysterious, sucking the soul out of you brown eyed stare like Juliette Binoche. NO ONE.
170 Reviews
It's not brain surgery...
LFGabel16 April 2023
Well produced and shot, but why didn't the writers make the characters smarter? Just because you're a genius surgeon doesn't necessarily mean you know how to successfully have an affair. Here are some handy tips:
It's like the main character skipped the class on "discretion."
- Turn off text message notifications. It only serves as a way to alert your spouse that something's up. Same goes for taking calls at strange times of the day or in important meetings/events.
- Don't stare off into space like you've been dealt the worst news possible. Your spouse will ask if everything's okay and you'll have to lie.
- Avoid lying if you're not good at it.
- Don't let your phone ring until a coworker notices and asks you to answer it.
- Don't take calls from your lover in the presence of other people. One side of a conversation can still speak volumes.
It's like the main character skipped the class on "discretion."
Fun to hate-watch
CarpeFelis30 April 2023
Started watching this because Richard Armitage is in it. Quickly devolved into hate-watching two utterly reprehensible individuals selfishly causing chaos and wrecking lives.
William is a star pediatric surgeon, long married, who becomes obsessed with his son Jay's girlfriend Anna. Jay tells her he wants her all to himself, and we're also told someone once committed suicide over her. So what I want to know is, what's so damn special and irresistible about Anna? I sure don't see it. She certainly doesn't make me think "wow, I wish I looked like her" (I especially hated her haircut). So she must have pheromones that pack one hell of a punch or a gold-plated vajayjay, is all I can guess. Anna comes across creepy and manipulative. She loves to play head games to make herself seem mysterious ("learn to love the questions", seriously?). Anyone with any sense would find that annoying as hell, not irresistible.
Honestly, the most fun part of this series for me was frequently yelling "What the hell is wrong with you?" at both William and Anna. The sex scenes were laughable, since Anna is always ready to go within 5 seconds and apparently immune to both STDs and pregnancy since condoms never seem to enter the picture.
William is a star pediatric surgeon, long married, who becomes obsessed with his son Jay's girlfriend Anna. Jay tells her he wants her all to himself, and we're also told someone once committed suicide over her. So what I want to know is, what's so damn special and irresistible about Anna? I sure don't see it. She certainly doesn't make me think "wow, I wish I looked like her" (I especially hated her haircut). So she must have pheromones that pack one hell of a punch or a gold-plated vajayjay, is all I can guess. Anna comes across creepy and manipulative. She loves to play head games to make herself seem mysterious ("learn to love the questions", seriously?). Anyone with any sense would find that annoying as hell, not irresistible.
Honestly, the most fun part of this series for me was frequently yelling "What the hell is wrong with you?" at both William and Anna. The sex scenes were laughable, since Anna is always ready to go within 5 seconds and apparently immune to both STDs and pregnancy since condoms never seem to enter the picture.
What a load of ...
rich735415 April 2023
Don't really know where to start with this steaming pile.
The premise was interesting (though not very believable), but the actual series just gnaws at your gut like a thousand rats devouring you from the inside. The lead characters were not just despicable, they were something from a nightmare.
I do have to give it credit for one thing; I actually laughed out loud... a lot. The whole plot, dialog, and story line were so preposterous that it could easily have been a dark satire. Who knows; maybe it was and I'm just too dense to have realized that.
In any event, this is a complete groaner from start to finish and never even comes close to redeeming itself.
The premise was interesting (though not very believable), but the actual series just gnaws at your gut like a thousand rats devouring you from the inside. The lead characters were not just despicable, they were something from a nightmare.
I do have to give it credit for one thing; I actually laughed out loud... a lot. The whole plot, dialog, and story line were so preposterous that it could easily have been a dark satire. Who knows; maybe it was and I'm just too dense to have realized that.
In any event, this is a complete groaner from start to finish and never even comes close to redeeming itself.
TOTALLY UNBEARABLE!!
Guanche4814 April 2023
Where do I begin to criticize such a depressing and horrible series? Nothing psychological or exciting here!!
I usually really like English series, but this one hasn't left any mark, unless depression is one of them. Boring, ridiculous, very slow, nothing exciting, more boredom, more depression... ... I couldn't see more than 1 episode, and to be able to criticize it I hit the forward button until the end.😬🙄
It's not even exciting, not even that. There is no chemistry between the actors at all, no emotions... it's like being at a funeral full of zombies for a whole day.
It is incomprehensible how it can exceed the 5 in the imdb rating, and I don't usually say something like this, but this time I will, for me it is also incomprehensible that there are critics who rate it at 7, 8 or 9. As they say, there are people for everything, and once again it is shown here.
I am frustrated! And it's no wonder, with such good actors wasting their time for nothing. Not again please! Boring and cliche sex, ridiculous dialogues and more boredom!!
It is the first time in years that I have not given even a star to a series!!!
I usually really like English series, but this one hasn't left any mark, unless depression is one of them. Boring, ridiculous, very slow, nothing exciting, more boredom, more depression... ... I couldn't see more than 1 episode, and to be able to criticize it I hit the forward button until the end.😬🙄
It's not even exciting, not even that. There is no chemistry between the actors at all, no emotions... it's like being at a funeral full of zombies for a whole day.
It is incomprehensible how it can exceed the 5 in the imdb rating, and I don't usually say something like this, but this time I will, for me it is also incomprehensible that there are critics who rate it at 7, 8 or 9. As they say, there are people for everything, and once again it is shown here.
I am frustrated! And it's no wonder, with such good actors wasting their time for nothing. Not again please! Boring and cliche sex, ridiculous dialogues and more boredom!!
It is the first time in years that I have not given even a star to a series!!!
Hate to admit I liked this
burntorange16 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Was unfamiliar with RA as an actor but he is very easy to watch. IMO his height and physique along with his blue eyes, large strong hands make him very appealing. Kept watching mostly because of him.
Did not see Damages but I definitely will now. I didn't love the actress who played Anna but I thought the sex scenes were good. The actor who played the son had no fire..couldn't really figure out why the William character would risk everything to have this affair. He seemed reasonably happy with his wife and had a great life and family. The hotel pillow scene made sense to me ( if indeed William was truly obsessed with Anna )..it could be something someone might do. The nudity was not offensive. Anna's story has been told many times before but it's unfolding did help to understand her destructiveness. In the end, William's future seemed much more uncertain than Anna's. Oh and Anna should of chosen a female therapist LOL.
Did not see Damages but I definitely will now. I didn't love the actress who played Anna but I thought the sex scenes were good. The actor who played the son had no fire..couldn't really figure out why the William character would risk everything to have this affair. He seemed reasonably happy with his wife and had a great life and family. The hotel pillow scene made sense to me ( if indeed William was truly obsessed with Anna )..it could be something someone might do. The nudity was not offensive. Anna's story has been told many times before but it's unfolding did help to understand her destructiveness. In the end, William's future seemed much more uncertain than Anna's. Oh and Anna should of chosen a female therapist LOL.
No Chemistry Between Characters, Unsettling Female Lead
gracechrista14 April 2023
This was a very unsexy letdown, due to completely lacking writing and plot. I watched this for Richard Armitage who is, frankly, too good of an actor for such a lame script: 2 stars for him alone. If you want sexy Richard Armitage, stick to the safe-for-work North & South miniseries.
I understand that it's labeled a thriller but for such ominous music to be playing during supposedly passionate scenes is just bizarre and a huge turnoff. Am I gonna be jumpscared? It's confusing. Blue Velvet, Cruel Intentions, and Handmaiden are good examples of movies that successfully toe the line between sexy and unsettling; this wasn't it.
The female lead came off as super creepy due to the unrealistic and lacking writing of the show, so it was hard to want to watch past the first episode. On top of that, there was just very little chemistry between the leads. The man had more onscreen chemistry with his wife than on the woman he was supposed to be cheating on her with.
I understand that it's labeled a thriller but for such ominous music to be playing during supposedly passionate scenes is just bizarre and a huge turnoff. Am I gonna be jumpscared? It's confusing. Blue Velvet, Cruel Intentions, and Handmaiden are good examples of movies that successfully toe the line between sexy and unsettling; this wasn't it.
The female lead came off as super creepy due to the unrealistic and lacking writing of the show, so it was hard to want to watch past the first episode. On top of that, there was just very little chemistry between the leads. The man had more onscreen chemistry with his wife than on the woman he was supposed to be cheating on her with.
C'est Dommage
dingdong-6338821 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Just the sort of escapism one sometimes needs. Watching a train wreck unfold where you really don't care about any of the main characters because they all seem to somehow deserve what they get.
Having said that, I DID really enjoy the performances of the mother and the daughter. I even teared up a bit at the mother's grief scene.
Agree with the majority of reviewers that the two leads had very little if any chemistry. I did enjoy the chemistry between William and the pillow-stand-in for Anna, though!
Couldn't understand why Anna was such a femme fatale, there are plenty of fish in the sea, surely these various men of hers could find somebody better on any and all levels!
William was a bit of a dullard, too.
Having said that, I DID really enjoy the performances of the mother and the daughter. I even teared up a bit at the mother's grief scene.
Agree with the majority of reviewers that the two leads had very little if any chemistry. I did enjoy the chemistry between William and the pillow-stand-in for Anna, though!
Couldn't understand why Anna was such a femme fatale, there are plenty of fish in the sea, surely these various men of hers could find somebody better on any and all levels!
William was a bit of a dullard, too.
Oh My God, this is terrible!
dxb-3352916 April 2023
Who ever cast these actors together must not like their job very much! The chemistry is all off! The story is terrible - how can one become obsessed by someone in an extremely short period of time? And for the other person to be very interested as well?? It's like there's a chunk missing from the story! I dont understand why make a show with sex scenes and then have the most akwardly filmed sex scenes I've ever seen! For inspiration, perhaps they should have watched Unfaithful, or Original Sin or the newly released Florida Man, or Out Of Time with Denzel - THAT'S chemistry, not only during the sex scenes, but from start to finish. The scenes where I laughed out loud (I just watched 2 episodes I think) is when he's trying to look handsome by lying down on hardwood floors lmao it just did not work. Mr. Big and Carrie did it in Sex and The City, and they actually looked like they just had sex, this guy didnt even have 1 beed of sweat. I dont know what kind of sex life the actors have, but the simulated thrusting was so embarrassing and cringe. I really had second hand embarrassment. I really dont know what's worse - the acting, casting, chemistry, story or script? Someone wanted to launder money or just loves massive loss of time and money. Awful. Just awful.
Not a family movie
lakings9717 April 2023
Obsession is a Netflix limited series based in the UK about a family who is introduced to their son's girlfriend who is played by Charlie Murphy who was also in Peaky Blinders. She makes a move on the father who is played by Richard Armitage from the Hobbit series. Charlie has a thing to connect with those individuals who looked or sound similar from people from her past. Their obsession for each other caused a riff between his son played by Rish Shah and Richard. Indira Verma played the wife who knew something was wrong between her husband and soon to be daughter in law. This latest version of the novel Damage but I wouldn't watch it again. It was good, full of rough sexual scenes, definitely not a family oriented movie.
This series is for NO ONE with any brain cells they wish to keep
hunkazine16 April 2023
I adore Richard Armitage's acting. This series popped up on Netflix and I started it right away. It is finishing as I type this.
What a waste of talent. I even disliked Richard's acting in this role. No on screen chemistry. I cared not what happened to anyone here. I wished there was a voice off the screen yelling "cut!". "This is crap. I am not doing this."
The female protagonist is totally unlikable. Totally. Unlikable. No internal substance. Nothing.
The son was without charm.
They made the wife as clueless as possible. She has been married to this man and cannot tell that he has checked out.
The only slightly interesting role, was the female best friend.
Oh-- the intimate scenes were laughable at best. I cannot believe I actually fast forwarded through them. Yes. I skipped the supposed 'juicy' parts. Not compelling. They were boring.
I could find nothing to recommend this to ...anyone. Ever.
I did not care about the ending. I only looked forward to the time when it would end. I was laughing by that time. Ridiculous.
I am going to go watch North and South again. Now that is a wonderful use of Richard's considerable acting skills.
Not. This. Mess.
What a waste of talent. I even disliked Richard's acting in this role. No on screen chemistry. I cared not what happened to anyone here. I wished there was a voice off the screen yelling "cut!". "This is crap. I am not doing this."
The female protagonist is totally unlikable. Totally. Unlikable. No internal substance. Nothing.
The son was without charm.
They made the wife as clueless as possible. She has been married to this man and cannot tell that he has checked out.
The only slightly interesting role, was the female best friend.
Oh-- the intimate scenes were laughable at best. I cannot believe I actually fast forwarded through them. Yes. I skipped the supposed 'juicy' parts. Not compelling. They were boring.
I could find nothing to recommend this to ...anyone. Ever.
I did not care about the ending. I only looked forward to the time when it would end. I was laughing by that time. Ridiculous.
I am going to go watch North and South again. Now that is a wonderful use of Richard's considerable acting skills.
Not. This. Mess.
Obsessed
karinahatem14 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Don't understand the negative reviews, which might be because they changed or drifted from the original Fatal Attraction / Damages story and had a very sad and depressing ending. I thought this was pretty good, ok not fantastic, yet decent. I got hooked right from the start, I watched the whole thing in one go. Acting was good, the sex scenes were really good, compared to Fifty Shades of Grey, this was really good and well done. Loved how the obsession gets shifted as the story goes. To me 4 episodes were too short. Casting was ok, though they could have picked up a better character who played Jay. The characters of William and Anna were great, and loved the fact that there was no chemistry between them, it was just this electrical attraction, till things blow up in the end. Ending was shocking, and was definitely looking for a different ending. Overall, good show.
This is why casting matters.
smaniatopoulos16 April 2023
Normally I wouldn't even bother writing a review over such a monstrosity.
However it's worth noting why this series failed so spectacularly: Because 1. CASTING MATTERS and 2. SCRIPT MATTERS.
In this particular case, Armitage looks like he landed the role by accident. He plays one thing and one thing only: the confused mature male. He doesn't express anything else throughout the first episode except confusion. He looks confused even when he is looking out the window. Until it's all explained: he wasn't confused, he was "passionate".
What utter crap.
But he is overshadowed in lack of conviction by Ms Murphy.
She is an actress who has played some roles in the past where she was vaguely erotic, but in this particular series, her forced and artificial transformation to femme fatale who simply looks intensely at a father twice and convinces him to fall in love with his son's girlfriend is just ludicrous.
She looks like a stalker or a person with some serious mental disorder, and not for one scene does she manage to justify or explain why an older man and especially a doctor would read her behavior as seductive or sexual.
So basically this all comes down to one simple thing: if you have such a weak script that fails miserably to explain the process through which two people fall in love, like for example the script of "the English patient", one needs to rely on the chemistry, appearance and acting skills of the two main characters.
If you cankot cast people who look the part, and on top of that you can't even give them the semblance of a decent script to express it, why even bother to film one scene?
Let alone a whole series.
This is a complete failure that should have been shelved and not released.
However it's worth noting why this series failed so spectacularly: Because 1. CASTING MATTERS and 2. SCRIPT MATTERS.
In this particular case, Armitage looks like he landed the role by accident. He plays one thing and one thing only: the confused mature male. He doesn't express anything else throughout the first episode except confusion. He looks confused even when he is looking out the window. Until it's all explained: he wasn't confused, he was "passionate".
What utter crap.
But he is overshadowed in lack of conviction by Ms Murphy.
She is an actress who has played some roles in the past where she was vaguely erotic, but in this particular series, her forced and artificial transformation to femme fatale who simply looks intensely at a father twice and convinces him to fall in love with his son's girlfriend is just ludicrous.
She looks like a stalker or a person with some serious mental disorder, and not for one scene does she manage to justify or explain why an older man and especially a doctor would read her behavior as seductive or sexual.
So basically this all comes down to one simple thing: if you have such a weak script that fails miserably to explain the process through which two people fall in love, like for example the script of "the English patient", one needs to rely on the chemistry, appearance and acting skills of the two main characters.
If you cankot cast people who look the part, and on top of that you can't even give them the semblance of a decent script to express it, why even bother to film one scene?
Let alone a whole series.
This is a complete failure that should have been shelved and not released.
A remake of the marvelous Damage (1992)
wisewebwoman15 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Frankly, I expected better with the wonderful cast. But the script was appallingly bad. And magnetic eye-holds between the two leads along with a distracting thriller type score is just filler.
Also the sex scenes, seriously?
Talk of wham bam completion in about 10 seconds? And the cushion scene in a Parisian hotel deserves its very own Razzie.
Yes, Anna was troubled and there were reasons for that but there was no excuse for the father in being so besotted.
Damage was far, far better. This was a huge waste of a cast ion appalling drivel. And the ending was a limp biscuit. And the father was completely concienceless and despicable.
2/10 from me.
Also the sex scenes, seriously?
Talk of wham bam completion in about 10 seconds? And the cushion scene in a Parisian hotel deserves its very own Razzie.
Yes, Anna was troubled and there were reasons for that but there was no excuse for the father in being so besotted.
Damage was far, far better. This was a huge waste of a cast ion appalling drivel. And the ending was a limp biscuit. And the father was completely concienceless and despicable.
2/10 from me.
Sins of the father
kosmasp16 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
No pun intended - actually I will not talk about how this ends, but just about the story itself. I assume this is being talked about in normal reviews. But because I do not like to give away anything if possible, I tagged this, so people who do not want to know much .. well can decide for themselves if they want to read this.
All that being said, we have a father who really is ... well the worst. If you thought Patton Oswalts character from "I love my dad" (what a great pun by the way), then you have not seen anything yet. I mean going after the girlfriend of your son, must be the lowest of the low. Now if something happens in the heat of the moment ... maybe you can give some sort of excuse. But this is way more than that - it is as the title suggests: obsession.
Which is why you might be able to suspend your disbelief. Nudity inlcuded of course - and a lot of people hurt (again no pun intended) ... for pleasure. Characters do not act ... well sane if they can't help their urges. Both our main characters would need psychological help - the old man more than the woman ... but both are terrible in many senses.
So tough to root for them of course. Overall the characters do stuff you would expect ... you don't suspect anyone just like that ... maybe you should ... just kidding of course. Not the best tv show I've seen, but far from the bad one this is being made out to be ... voting wise.
All that being said, we have a father who really is ... well the worst. If you thought Patton Oswalts character from "I love my dad" (what a great pun by the way), then you have not seen anything yet. I mean going after the girlfriend of your son, must be the lowest of the low. Now if something happens in the heat of the moment ... maybe you can give some sort of excuse. But this is way more than that - it is as the title suggests: obsession.
Which is why you might be able to suspend your disbelief. Nudity inlcuded of course - and a lot of people hurt (again no pun intended) ... for pleasure. Characters do not act ... well sane if they can't help their urges. Both our main characters would need psychological help - the old man more than the woman ... but both are terrible in many senses.
So tough to root for them of course. Overall the characters do stuff you would expect ... you don't suspect anyone just like that ... maybe you should ... just kidding of course. Not the best tv show I've seen, but far from the bad one this is being made out to be ... voting wise.
Stolen
Roma7313 April 2023
As others have said, this story is a re-write of Damage, which was a well written novel published some decades ago, and later also filmed. I'll be honest, I didn't watch all of Obsession, or rather: fast-forwarded to the end. I wouldn't even mind it being a rip-off if it was well done, but it's not, or not to my taste anyway. The spicier scenes seem to piggy-back on Fifty Shades of Grey, which unlike Damage I'm no fan of, yet even then could've forgiven if done well, but it's all just rather lame and, at least to me, not in the least bit sexy. Lastly, the characters and their interactions feel superficial, with little depth, and if there's any chemistry I'm not feeling it.
Casting Matters...
kmwehri25 April 2023
This series kept my attention and my husband and I binged in one night. My biggest criticism was the cast. I love love Indira Varma, so no complaints for her role. I felt Robert Armitage was a good cast as well, he does deliver the sexy, mysterious older man well, but the other actors were awful. Jay's character was so off. He was annoying to look at and did not pull of a handsome, mature adult- more like a teenage boy and he and Anna did not have an ounce of chemistry. The biggest flaw was who they chose as Anna. This actress should have been a sexy, seductive femme fatale (although I hate her, I think someone like Amber Heard vibes). This woman was neither sexy, interesting or seductive and it made me questions what the dad saw in her...the sex scenes were awkward and her story line was all over the place.
DON'T WATCH THIS!
chloemupata13 April 2023
I wish someone had warned me that this cringeworthy TV show was going to be the longest, boringest four hours of my life. The characters were one dimensional, stifling and uninteresting. William by far was the worst character imaginable. The lengths he went to be close to Anna is creepy and perverted. Anna was equally uninteresting; I couldn't care less about her past by episode 2 and when I found out in episode 4, it was the most anticlimactic reveal ever to grace television. They kept hunting at it and once you found out, you were left even more bewildered as to why they thought you would find that captivating. I wouldn't recommend this show to my worst enemy.
Erotic series that are better than regular porn movies.
folk_egm13 April 2023
4-episode Erotic drama series on Netflix from England, the story of "William," a successful surgeon with a perfect family life until he meets "Anna," the girlfriend of his son. They both develop a desire for each other, leading to a risky affair that ignites intense passion but also brings consequences they can't escape.
Overall, it is an Erotic genre series that is entertaining, exciting, and filled with steamy sex scenes. The actors are attractive and charming, and the characters are well-developed with plausible motivations behind their actions, unlike the shallow characters typically found in pornographic films.
Overall, it is an Erotic genre series that is entertaining, exciting, and filled with steamy sex scenes. The actors are attractive and charming, and the characters are well-developed with plausible motivations behind their actions, unlike the shallow characters typically found in pornographic films.
Cringe, oh so much Cringe
jmcrilly-1777413 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
There are no words to describe this series. I can't even really spoil this series because truthfully we couldn't even make it to the end of the second episode. What we did watch was so awfully uncomfortable it was actually laughable in most scenes. The acting was so ridiculously unemotional that even the scenes that were supposed to seem sexy just came off as cringy. The one scene that took us over the edge into being so unbearable to watch, was the Paris cushion sex scene. I suggest if you would like to watch a ranchy erotic sexy thriller, maybe similar to 50 shades or something like that, then don't watch this.
Lust and betrayal!
ejayb-9292415 April 2023
It's called, 'Obsession' so it should come as no surprise that it's not really a love story instead it's a story about sexual obsession and desire. I didn't see, 'Damage' the film (itself based on a book) which inspired this but I'm sure it told the story in a very similar way.
The acting is spot on and I never doubted the characters or their needs. I felt quite angry at points because I struggle with the concept of infidelity (just leave) and those who can put aside other relationships/ care nothing about consequences/the feelings of others in order to have what they want. But I think some of feeling angry is what the writer would expect.
I've been quite shocked by the level of vitriol this series has attracted; the leads have both proved their acting chops repeatedly and I really couldn't see where the criticism of them was coming from. They both convince as people acting on want rather than sense. As for the sex scenes, they are, essentially... sexy and didn't feel false to me at all. I know some people get hung up on the intimacy coordinator's role but surely it's akin to a stunt coordinator or choreographer? I hate to think what 'Nobody' would have looked like without the former or 'Westside Story' without the latter.
Basically, if you fancy a dark tale of lust and betrayal then this will probably float your boat. If you don't then it's probably not for you!
The acting is spot on and I never doubted the characters or their needs. I felt quite angry at points because I struggle with the concept of infidelity (just leave) and those who can put aside other relationships/ care nothing about consequences/the feelings of others in order to have what they want. But I think some of feeling angry is what the writer would expect.
I've been quite shocked by the level of vitriol this series has attracted; the leads have both proved their acting chops repeatedly and I really couldn't see where the criticism of them was coming from. They both convince as people acting on want rather than sense. As for the sex scenes, they are, essentially... sexy and didn't feel false to me at all. I know some people get hung up on the intimacy coordinator's role but surely it's akin to a stunt coordinator or choreographer? I hate to think what 'Nobody' would have looked like without the former or 'Westside Story' without the latter.
Basically, if you fancy a dark tale of lust and betrayal then this will probably float your boat. If you don't then it's probably not for you!
I've seen worse
Jim_Screechy13 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This one was OK though beware if your not prepared to give it some considerable latitude in how it's laid out.
As clearly stated in the opening credits, 'it's based on the BOOK "Damage" by Josephine Hart" and NOT the movie 'Damage' which was ALSO based on the book by Josephine Hart. So the people with reviews stating this is some kind of rip-off, as though someone tainted their claim to rights on entertainment propriety need to get a grip.
That said, I liked this one enough to watch all four episodes and though the adaptation needed strengthening in quite a few places, it was certainly entertaining enough to watch... if you could get past the shortcomings.
There is a lot of good production here. The leading cast is great, the sex scenes are powerful and... enticing, script is pretty good. Direction is a little wanting in places and well, the screenplay... read on.
I have read a few reviews from people who hated it, found it unpalatable or just plain ludicrous, and I totally get it. It's difficult to get past the context of a Father cheating with the girlfriend or fiancé of his son, and given the environment, setting, and circumstance portrayed here, I don't believe the series pulls this off with anything near the degree of acceptability required for this to work.
The Girlfriend Anna played by Charlie Murphy, isn't captivating, gorgeous or beautiful. She's nice, yes, even sexy, but not stunning by any measure. She doesn't seem to be particularly alluring, and if getting William - the father played by Richard Armitage, to put an olive in her mouth on the first meeting is her 'playbook' she has some serious shortcomings as a temptress. In fact there is very little to her character other than this over exaggerated allure. Why this leaves William so spellbound is a bit of a mystery, and is somewhat problematic since given his portfolio has to have had some familiarity with 'female availability.
She has no intellectual or conversational qualities to speak of, no loveable quirks or qualities, nor does she seem to display any favourable characteristics beside those of a sexual nature. Actually they don't really do much outside love-making at all. Their conversational history reads like a recipe for a quickie after an online encounter... every time. There is nothing to their conversation outside their sexually driven connection.
He, on the other hand is an esteemed surgeon with a wife who even at twenty years the senior of the girlfriend, is arguably more physically emotionally and intellectually appealing. William meanwhile, acts like an adolescent schoolboy with a girl crush for most of the series. He's a fit, good looking, very accomplished wealthy man, and given the prestige and sex appeal that tend to accompany such individuals, it's hard to fathom the level of ineptitude and emotional immaturity he displays. It's difficult to get past these character shortcomings given the circumstances of the whole series revolves around his sexual and emotional entrapment.
A lot of foolish things happen here, and it's more or less ok since you can generally get away with this in a drama, but you need a firm footing on which to stand if you're going to start shaking the scaffolding, and here it's put together with bubble gum and sticky tape.
Charlie Murphy does a great job with the material, but her character is the very epitome of one-dimensional... and in truth all the characters are. There is no chemistry or depth between any of the characters at all. William and his wife, the children to the parents, every relationships seems superficial, so it's difficult to grasp anything more than the flimsy narrative we're given as foundation.
I actually laughed out loud a couple of times with the ridiculousness of what unfolded, but ultimately it's not terrible. It's more like a badly written romance novel that you expectedly have to fill in the gaps for. If you can do that, you'll be fine. For the more discerning amongst you, give it a miss as you'll probably hate it.
I think the real problem with this one is it is too short. I'm inclined to think much of the substance that acted like good filler in the cracks had to be left out from overrunning, and this is the result. It doesn't stand well as is and should have been another two episodes in length to work properly. That's an educated guess, because they've done too good a job with the good aspects to be that incompetent with the issues I've highlighted.
As clearly stated in the opening credits, 'it's based on the BOOK "Damage" by Josephine Hart" and NOT the movie 'Damage' which was ALSO based on the book by Josephine Hart. So the people with reviews stating this is some kind of rip-off, as though someone tainted their claim to rights on entertainment propriety need to get a grip.
That said, I liked this one enough to watch all four episodes and though the adaptation needed strengthening in quite a few places, it was certainly entertaining enough to watch... if you could get past the shortcomings.
There is a lot of good production here. The leading cast is great, the sex scenes are powerful and... enticing, script is pretty good. Direction is a little wanting in places and well, the screenplay... read on.
I have read a few reviews from people who hated it, found it unpalatable or just plain ludicrous, and I totally get it. It's difficult to get past the context of a Father cheating with the girlfriend or fiancé of his son, and given the environment, setting, and circumstance portrayed here, I don't believe the series pulls this off with anything near the degree of acceptability required for this to work.
The Girlfriend Anna played by Charlie Murphy, isn't captivating, gorgeous or beautiful. She's nice, yes, even sexy, but not stunning by any measure. She doesn't seem to be particularly alluring, and if getting William - the father played by Richard Armitage, to put an olive in her mouth on the first meeting is her 'playbook' she has some serious shortcomings as a temptress. In fact there is very little to her character other than this over exaggerated allure. Why this leaves William so spellbound is a bit of a mystery, and is somewhat problematic since given his portfolio has to have had some familiarity with 'female availability.
She has no intellectual or conversational qualities to speak of, no loveable quirks or qualities, nor does she seem to display any favourable characteristics beside those of a sexual nature. Actually they don't really do much outside love-making at all. Their conversational history reads like a recipe for a quickie after an online encounter... every time. There is nothing to their conversation outside their sexually driven connection.
He, on the other hand is an esteemed surgeon with a wife who even at twenty years the senior of the girlfriend, is arguably more physically emotionally and intellectually appealing. William meanwhile, acts like an adolescent schoolboy with a girl crush for most of the series. He's a fit, good looking, very accomplished wealthy man, and given the prestige and sex appeal that tend to accompany such individuals, it's hard to fathom the level of ineptitude and emotional immaturity he displays. It's difficult to get past these character shortcomings given the circumstances of the whole series revolves around his sexual and emotional entrapment.
A lot of foolish things happen here, and it's more or less ok since you can generally get away with this in a drama, but you need a firm footing on which to stand if you're going to start shaking the scaffolding, and here it's put together with bubble gum and sticky tape.
Charlie Murphy does a great job with the material, but her character is the very epitome of one-dimensional... and in truth all the characters are. There is no chemistry or depth between any of the characters at all. William and his wife, the children to the parents, every relationships seems superficial, so it's difficult to grasp anything more than the flimsy narrative we're given as foundation.
I actually laughed out loud a couple of times with the ridiculousness of what unfolded, but ultimately it's not terrible. It's more like a badly written romance novel that you expectedly have to fill in the gaps for. If you can do that, you'll be fine. For the more discerning amongst you, give it a miss as you'll probably hate it.
I think the real problem with this one is it is too short. I'm inclined to think much of the substance that acted like good filler in the cracks had to be left out from overrunning, and this is the result. It doesn't stand well as is and should have been another two episodes in length to work properly. That's an educated guess, because they've done too good a job with the good aspects to be that incompetent with the issues I've highlighted.
Predictable and unconvincing
hellopurpleclouds14 April 2023
As others have commented, this is a cheap rip-off of Damage in which Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche gave a much more competent performance. I watched for Richard Armitage who is a fine actor (his NT performance in The Crucible is spine-tingling) but this watery mish-mash, with set piece sex scenes to titillate those who thought 50 Shades was super-erotic, is beneath his talent. There is zero chemistry between the leads and if there is anything admirable in the writing and direction, it's that it makes a refreshing change for the male actor to spend more time with his kit off than the endless gratuitous female-centred nudity that is still awash in TV and movies. In summary, a moderate amount of sex, a thin plot and characters that just don't gel.
Embarrassingly Awful Remake of Superb 1992 Movie Damage
StellaGibson-197-60628514 April 2023
Oh my!!!
Good gracious what absolute garbage this is.
Thanks to my sexy toy fast forwarder I got through this.
This is just as sexy as the thought of getting a root canal.
This series/movie is just so so so so so so so Bad Bad Bad Bad Bad.
It is laughable how this script got made as is and even more bellyaches that it got air time as is.
Cringeworthy is an understatement. It is beyond cringe.
This is worse than it could have been.
Nothing worth watching here other than actors embarrassing themselves.
I agree with critic who said the actors in the supposed sex scenes had stomach-ache faces on.
Poo Poo all over this show.
Good gracious what absolute garbage this is.
Thanks to my sexy toy fast forwarder I got through this.
This is just as sexy as the thought of getting a root canal.
This series/movie is just so so so so so so so Bad Bad Bad Bad Bad.
It is laughable how this script got made as is and even more bellyaches that it got air time as is.
Cringeworthy is an understatement. It is beyond cringe.
This is worse than it could have been.
Nothing worth watching here other than actors embarrassing themselves.
I agree with critic who said the actors in the supposed sex scenes had stomach-ache faces on.
Poo Poo all over this show.
Read the book instead!
theresacurnow-1285716 April 2023
As others have said, this version tried too hard to be 50 shades of gray as well, and in doing so lost all the depth of Josephine Hart's original work. I still remember reading the first page of the book 25yrs later and being consumed immediately. Jeremy Irons version was also a letdown but somehow a bit less offensive. Respect that the actors were willing to do scenes many would not but in this case I think less would have been more. Guide the viewer but let them fill in the blanks. I love Richard Armitage in all series (and particularly as an audible narrator!!) but this just tried too hard.
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