PLAYING Nice is riddled with plot holes and unanswered questions so where did the ITV drama go wrong?
James Norton plays Pete, a father who, along with his wife Maddie played by Niamh Algar, face the ultimate nightmare of discovering the baby they brought home from hospital wasn’t theirs.
Set against a lavish Cornish landscape, two couples discover that their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up.
They are then faced with a horrifying choice – do they keep the sons they love or reclaim their biological child?
The other couple are played by Mare of Easttown’s James McArdle and Downton Abbey‘s Jessica Brown Findlay who play Miles and Lucy Lambers.
It’s every parent’s nightmare and it’s inconceivable to even think about what you’d do in their situation.
But if a strange man came knocking at my door asking to see my son I wouldn’t be letting them in – no matter how charming they might seem!
However, Pete and Maddie do so without even asking Miles how he’s able to get their address or personal details. Data protection anyone?
Soon, the couple are popping over to Miles big house to meet David, their biological son and to let the other couple have some time with their son Theo.
Hang on a minute. Pete is meant to be a writer – hasn’t he read any thrillers?
Everything about their visit is as creepy as hell and riddled with red flags.
From the way Lucy hardly speaks a word to the way a strange nanny whisks both boys away as soon as they arrive.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Happy Valley’s James Norton comes to blows with rival in first loop at gripping new ITV drama Playing Nice” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6365462440112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]And don’t forget the cameras that are in every single room watching everyone 24/7. No danger signs there huh?
But Pete is more Mr Bean than Happy Valley‘s Tommy Lee Royce and he plays things nice with Miles. Even agreeing to go surfing with him.
By the way, where are the Social Workers and supervised contact visits in all this?
Anyway, it’s clear to the viewers that Miles is a control freak who wants both boys and soon he takes Pete and Maddie to court for custody of them both.
What follows is a host of dirty tricks to make Pete and Maddie look like unfit parents.
It’s tense and one can dispense their sense of disbelief but you’re desperate for Pete or anyone for that matter to fight back with some passion.
He does at one point but it all feels too lacklustre and Pete and Maddie continue to be crushed under Mile’s thumb.
Despite all this the series is still bingeable but after finishing it all you’re left with a sense of dissatisfaction.
Mainly because the reason for the initial baby mix up is ridiculous and stupid and doesn’t make sense.
There is also no real depth behind Mile’s motivation which leaves you feeling cheated.
James created a great villain in Miles and he played the part brilliantly but we needed to understand why he was the way he was.
The answer given is way too simplistic – if there even was an answer!
Still the show’s a good way to while a few hours of the January blues – just don’t expect a high drama Happy Valley style showdown.
Playing Nice is available on ITV1 and ITVX.