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Reunion sees Daniel Brennan (Matthew Gurney) leaving jail after a 10-year sentence for murder, so it marks rather a change that a deaf actor and character takes the lead in a prime-time drama.
He’s initially seen upon release by new parole officer, Anna Shenford (Olive Gray – Dark Mon£y), who’s forgotten to book a sign language interpreter, thus highlighting what I can imagine is a frequent problem, and it can lead to conflict as it’s applied to a high-pressure problem, although Daniel seems remarkably restrained for someone who’s getting out after a such a sentence.
His victim was the husband of Christine Mokhtar (Anne-Marie Duff – Suspect), who’s now seeing Stephen (Eddie Marsan – Midas Man), and she also has a deaf daughter in Miri (Rose Ayling-Ellis – Summer Of Rockets), who I thought was his daughter at first – when the premise refers to one, but that’s actually Carly (Lara Peake – Rivals).
Reunion does have some strong drama init, as well as making the situation accessible for all, but this opener does feel a bit sparse at times as it concentrates on Daniel and Carly getting to know each other too much. Sure, they need to reconnect – since 10 years is a long time in her young life, but too much time is spent on this for a first episode.
Overall, it’s well-acted, particularly from Gurney, but I was hoping for more, especially from both Ms Duff and Mr Marsan who are rather coasting along so far.
I also wondered whether it’s legal to drive while you’re deaf, as Daniel does at one point, but it surprisingly turns out that it is, as long as you’ve informed the DVLA.
UPDATE Episode 2:
Reunion begins tonight on BBC1 at 9pm, and is available to pre-order on DVD, with the release date TBA.
All episodes are available on the BBC iPlayer.
Director: Luke Snellin
Producer: Helen Ostler
Writer: William Mager
Music: Jeremy Warmsley
Cast:
Daniel Brennan: Matthew Gurney
Carly Brennan: Lara Peake
Christine Mokhtar: Anne-Marie Duff
Miri Mokhtar: Rose Ayling-Ellis
Stephen Renworth: Eddie Marsan
Danni: Sophie Allen
Vinay: Rinkoo Barpaga
Perkins: Daniel Boyarsky
Matthew: James Joseph Boyle
Tasha: Cherie Gordon
Anna Shenforth: Olive Gray
Brennan’s mum: Joanne Harrison
Brennan’s dad: David Hirshman
Cafe owner: Adrian Hood
Watson: David House
Lawrence: Charles Humphreys
Sajaad: Jonas Khan
Ray Mokhtar: Ace Mahbaz
David: Duffy
Wilkins: Ray Nicholas
Prison officer: Adam Radcliffe
Dexter: Robert Rhodes
Joe Summers: Joe Sims
Young Miri: Sienna Atkinson
Young Brennan: Nate Holdsworth
Young Carly: Emilia Holliday
Young Ray: Oliver Miller
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.