Broken

Jimmy McGoven is just about the best script writer of life style dramas he should know being brought up in Liverpool where The Local Priest held such input to local family life.
Sean Bean played Father Michael brilliantly he was made for the part.

Brilliant. Best thing Sean Bean has been in since Sharpe.

I agree it was a brilliant drama, my husband thinks I am biased being a Sean Bean fan. It was compelling and I agree with Grandma2213 in what she says. Although the ending was easy it was a nice change from the strange endings we have seen in recent thriller series.
Well done to the cast for such good portrayals.

I do so agree with you there Auntieflo.

As our DS2 has been staying with us for a few days, and I wanted to watch in peace, I have only just watched the final episode, and found it very moving. As others have said, the acting and writing was superb, but why, oh why, did they have to speak over the end credits, advertising that the set could now be bought? When will the powers that be realise that some / most of us would prefer to have a few moments to absorb and reflect on what we have just watched.

I agree about the "feel good" ending but still think it was a very successful drama that challenged the viewer to think about difficult issues and how they would respond to them. I do think a bit of light relief at the end was necessary, given the sadness throughout the story, but I don't think the end was entirely convincing.

I'm an agnostic with a tendency towards Buddhism but if there were more priests like Father Michael around would convert like a shot

Jimmy McGovern was raised as a Catholic, which he says was the perfect background for his writing. He understands guilt, love, redemption and the complexity of human emotions and is so good at portraying these in his writing.

A great series and I do hope there will be another one. Not a weak link in the acting , writing or filming.

I too think this was compelling, emotional and beautifully acted and this from an atheist who cannot understand how Catholics can genuinely believe in their faith and still act the way some of them do. (eg child abuse by priests as portrayed in this drama) Father Michael's struggles with his conscience were so well portrayed but unlike others I thought the ending was too 'easy'. It reminded me of Disney and was disappointed with it. Yes he told the truth, forgave his mother, came to terms with his past but life is not so simple that that is enough to make him a 'wonderful priest'. Nevertheless well done Sean Bean and all the other actors.

I might have meant annulment, whatever the Catholic church does instead of divorce that makes it ok in their eyes, but is essentially the same thing as divorce but with another name

Yes lovely ending, extract from the mass took me right back to my regular church going years, although they lacked sympatico Father Michael. Sean Bean conveyed the tortured soul of the priest very well, hard to believe in real life he's just married for the 5th time. Father Michael what are you thinking of, that's 4 dispensations too far

What a lovely ending and the way I hoped it would go.

I cry easily but there were some moments that were hard not to cry at. I'm glad his mum did the right thing in the end and seemingly cast off his 'broken' mind and flashbacks. Lovely ending and Sean Bean played Father Michael perfectly.
Good series all round.

Drama which TV does so well and much better than big budget films. Acting superb, gritty and well scripted. Even put Ken Loach's "I Daniel Blake" which was good, in the shade.

Not forgetting of course the rest of the team involved!

So did I BlueBelle. A wonderful drama series. Never thought I would be reduced to tears but the writing and acting were both superb.

Agree totally bb! Loved the ending.

Oh I cried my way through the end of that
What a great series, do hope we have a follow on One of the best I ve seen in a long time

Loved it, unusual and fantastic series, will miss it. Hope they do another. Awards would be well deserved for Sean Bean and Jimmy McGovern.

Wonderful series. Provoked every emotion I have, and then some.

What we said too callgirl it was definitly open ended.

Well, it was a good finish, but not completely finalised, so hopefully there`ll be another series. That was one of the best dramas on TV in a long while.

I so agree about the music Sweetpea fascinating choices really really good Looking forward to it tonight I think it's the last one isn't it? Ahhhh

I second all those plaudits - brilliant plot writing and superb acting by Sean Bean, I do hope he gets an award for this, heart-breaking.

This is a brilliant series, I hope we have another one. All the characters have been well cast and the story lines first rate. I first saw Sean Bean in Fair Maid of the West at The Mermaid in Puddledock, must be some 26 years ago and been a fan ever since. The opening song by Nina Simone (I think it's going to rain today) and the closing song by the wonderful Ray Davies (Broken) are both very emotive. Well done Jimmy McGovern, BBC and all the actors.

Just binge watched all five episodes available. So powerful,the acting was superb it was hard to watch but really thought provoking.