Published by Mason Oldridge, 7 March 2025
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Sky presents this new comedy-drama from Chris O’Dowd about a Northern Irish town with a history of alien visitations.
The series provides a promising premise. Hollywood producer Wendy Patterson (Christina Hendricks) returns to her hometown of Drumbán for a production 25 years after she and her boyfriend Séamus Proctor (Paddy Considine in a very convincing Irish accent) were abducted and she admitted it while he denied it.
Unfortunately, this interesting concept doesn’t deliver due to its incredibly slow pacing and not much more than what is offered in the synopsis actually happens! The first episode is primarily centred around the town’s committee convincing the film crew to choose them as the production location, which is as dull as it sounds. There is some slight progress in the third episode as Séamus, worried that his daughter Joanne has been taken when she goes missing on her 18th birthday, finally admits to the townsfolk what happened to him, only for Wendy to deny her involvement in a turn of revenge, leading to the residents mocking him. There is finally some worthwhile movement in the final episode as barmaid Shelley’s reclusive father teams up with Wendy and Séamus to save the doctor’s family when he realises his home is a centrepoint for the alien activity. The only upside to the snail speed development is that it is easy-watching, meaning the lulls aren’t too painful to get through.
Séamus’ family drama can relate to the plot as it shows how his life has turned out as a result of his abduction, though the subplot of the disastrous film production stands out as being totally irrelevant as well as being the much less interesting part of the show.
Credit where due though, the show boasts a strong cast, with Considine as the standout and much of the comedy arising from the locals.
Much like the real life alien abduction stories, there’s plenty of excitement around the theme but ultimately a whole lot of nothing happening!
6/10