A mother is desperately worried when her son vanishes, Michael is a schizophrenic, and hasn't been taking his medication, he's travelled to the seaside, and suffering hallucinations.
This series definitely improved as it went on, the tone here is arguably more serious than in previous episodes. I cannot think of many dramas from the 90's where mental health was a central issue, so I'll hand it to the writers for making it the issue.
Michael's character is on a tragic path, people fear what they do not understand, and those he encounter here clearly don't understand him at all, he's derided, mocked and abused, suffering a dreadful fate.
It's very well acted, Anne Reid is excellent as Hilda, but it's Conor Ryan that stands out as poor Michael.
It's intensely sad, but an excellent episode. 9/10
This series definitely improved as it went on, the tone here is arguably more serious than in previous episodes. I cannot think of many dramas from the 90's where mental health was a central issue, so I'll hand it to the writers for making it the issue.
Michael's character is on a tragic path, people fear what they do not understand, and those he encounter here clearly don't understand him at all, he's derided, mocked and abused, suffering a dreadful fate.
It's very well acted, Anne Reid is excellent as Hilda, but it's Conor Ryan that stands out as poor Michael.
It's intensely sad, but an excellent episode. 9/10
