The Last Weekend - TV review

My initial reaction, I have to admit, was that it all seemed to be a strange mix of intensely unlikeable characters and weird direct-to-camera monologues apparently from beyond the grave – as indicated by lots of swirling misty stuff and soft focus frames.

Something, however, stopped me from turning over and I found myself compelled to continue watching.

Having found no empathy with any character, even the down-to-earth Em, and finding the plot far-fetched and unbelievable, it was hard to pinpoint exactly what it was that kept me tuned in.

Nevertheless, I was eager to watch the second instalment last night and find out where on earth all the weirdness was heading.

In fact the characters became even less likeable, particularly the unsavoury protagonist Ian, played with sinister aplomb by Shaun Evans, and the plot became even more weird, but at the same time it grew more engrossing.

Last week saw the scene set as old university friends Ian, now a primary school teacher, and Ollie, now a top barrister, meet up for a reunion at a country house with prospective partners Em and Daisy.

We find out that Daisy had been Ian's girlfriend before Ollie, played by Rupert Penry-Jones, in effect stole her from him and that Ian still harbours a burning desire for his old flame.

We also find the old friends resurrecting a tradition of challenging each other to a triathlon for a cash bet and, finally, we see Ollie telling Ian that he has an inoperable brain tumour, but that nobody else knows.

All this is interspersed with flashbacks to Ian and Ollie's uni days and interjections from Ian as he addresses the viewer retrospectively, looking back at the weekend and heavily hinting at some catastrophic event to come.

In last night's instalment the sense of unease and distrust so cleverly created in episode one continues and it is impossible to know who is telling the truth.

We begin to doubt the veracity of Ian's version of events as Daisy contradicts him over the nature of their early relationship and doubts creep in over whether Ollie's brain tumour actually exists.

Ian becomes more unstable and we realise that his relationship with Ollie is based more on jealousy, rivalry and resentment than friendship.

The tension continues to rise until the final scenes where we see him find Daisy alone and upset and he takes full advantage of her vulnerable state to achieve what he sees as the ultimate victory over his old love rival.

In fact apart from these last scenes, nothing much has happened at all. Ian spies on Daisy and Ollie in bed; Ian and Ollie play a tennis match and have a bike race and life goes on.

But through it all, the nightmarish atmosphere continues and the sense of foreboding builds. The series is truly gripping and it would be impossible not to watch the final episode next week.

Sally-Anne Youll