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Alice and Jack tells of a relationship which starts strong between two great actors in Andrea Riseborough (Crocodile: Black Mirror) and Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker).
When we first meet them, it’s their first date, with him revealing he’s in biomedical research, researching an autoimmune disease, while she’s playfully grilling him.
However, things move very quickly for the pair, so is it love at first sight? Well, no time to assess that, since she wants him to leave her fancy apartment in the middle of the night, which isn’t fair to kick him out early doors. Plus, she makes it sound like she’s praising him, but still wants him to leave? Strange woman.
Meanwhile, he wants to text her so they can take things forward, but it doesn’t make sense that while she told him not to, why did she give him her number? That does make her come across as a bit of a dick.
The premise states their relationship covers 16 years, so I was expecting an epic romance, but having just seen the opener as I type, it all feels a bit of a mixed bag, since circumstances lead to them meeting up again 3 months later, and he has a beard!
Even within the first episode, we move on again a further 18 months, while – and this is known from the premise – he’s now with Lynn (Aisling Bea – Eve Of The Daleks: Doctor Who), yet it’s time for a connection to be made, as Alice and Jack’s unconventional relationship resurfaces.
Even in the first episode, without giving spoilers, you could say “Oh, what a tangled web we weave!” in so many ways, but while Alice does comes across as a bit odd, I will check out a second episode, so you can consider this ‘initial thoughts’ in the meantime. I’m certainly interested to hear what others will make of this, too.
Alice And Jack begins tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm, and continues weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Once broadcast, each episode will be on All 4.
The series is not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD.
Director: Juho Kuosmanen
Producer: Tracy O’Riordan
Creator/Writer: Victor Levin
Music: Stephen Rennicks
Cast:
Alice: Andrea Riseborough
Jack: Domhnall Gleeson
Lynn: Aisling Bea
Paul: Sunil Patel
Rachel: Thalissa Teixeira
Maya: Aimee Lou Wood
Louise: Ella Bruccoleri
Donna: Rachel Adedeji
Young Alice: Megan Lindsay
Baby Celia: Octavia Wirdman
Franny: Muireann Bird
Dr. Feldshue: Amanda Lawrence
Reporter: Sam Naz
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.