National Treasure (TV Mini Series) Episode #1.1 (2016) User Reviews

A hugely promising start

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 17 July 2017]

Paul Finchley is a national treasure, a funny man, and one half of a legendary comic duo, has his world turned upside down by a knock on the front door.

It's a very good, powerful first episode, it feels pertinent at a time where celebrities are being accused and arrested for all manner of obscene crimes.

The opening moments are light and funny, the appearances of Alan Carr and Frank Skinner. That lightness lasts all of five minutes, then the tone changes, a dark story, relevant in this day and age. Superbly acted by all, Coltrane and Walters make for an outstanding pairing. Andrea Risborough also worthy of a notable mention.

Very promising start to this mini series 9/10.

National Treasure 1

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 21 September 2016]

They mention Jimmy Savile a few times but the real inspiration for this drama are the men who were convicted when they were alive such as Rolf Harris, Max Clifford and Stuart Hall.

Robbie Coltrane is Paul Finchley, one half of a comic partnership who shows get regularly repeated on television and he presents a daytime quiz show.

In the first episode we see him at an awards show where he presents a lifetime achievement award to his comedy partner Tim McInnerny, a man who got himself a knighthood and a reputation in straight acting. Here we see Finchley mixing with actual comedy stars such as Frank Skinner and Robert Webb.

The next day he is arrested for an allegation of rape, the police cynically leak the arrest to the press. They want more potential victims to come forward and look for similar fact evidence.

His wife's (Julie Walters) Christian faith is severely tested. She has known of his infidelities but this is something else.

The first episode does not portray Finchley as a saint. Walters tell him that the police found porn in his mobile phone. When he visits his grown up daughter Andrea Riseborough who is recovering from drug addiction, it is hinted that her trauma could be related to sex abuse when she was younger.

At the end of the episode Finchley gives out a loud scream in the shower flowing upwards.

Strong performances from Walters, Riseborough, Coltrane and McInnery but some of the dialogue looked like it belonged in a stage play than in an actual TV drama some of which was artily displayed with purples and blues.