Richard Gadd established himself with his series “Baby Reindeer” (my review). For this role in his new series he gained 50+ pounds of muscle to play the older step brother whose bully relationship with his younger step brother forms the core of this series. The brother is played by Jamie Bell as the adult and Mitchell Robertson as a teen, while Stuart Campbell takes on Gadd’s younger self. The series spans 4 decades, examining the physically and emotionally violent complexity of their bond. A portion of my review from “Reindeer” applies here, “All of the performances are impressive and director Gadd tells the story bravely and sometimes disturbingly. It’s certainly challenging and frustrating…but it’s a unique and unforgettable story of mental health and how it can affect relationships.” Gadd has let almost every scene go on too long, which stresses the viewer’s endurance while dragging down the pace. This aspect, plus the vicious brutal relationship, makes for a difficult watch that only partially pays off. (Six 45-60 minute eps) 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
