Courtesy: BBC
First thing to say is that if you are the least bit soppy, make sure you stock up with Kleenex before seeing “Single Father.” A full box. Every promotional preview for this show is absolutely true. And if you’ve ever lost anyone yourself, expect to feel like you’ve been punched in the stomach a few times.
This first episode of a four-part drama starring David Tennant as Dave, a father of four and stepfather of one who loses his partner in a bicycle accident, is not easy to watch. Not the least because they show the collision between Dave’s partner Rita and a speeding police car very explicitly, and twice. It’s shockingly graphic. But that very much fits with the rest of the show, which does not gloss over or romanticize anything about the experiences of Dave, his children and his wife’s best friend (and Dave’s obvious future love interest) Sarah.
The next time anyone says anything about Tennant overacting horribly in “Doctor Who”, he should have this episode available on an iPad to play for them posthaste. This is a role where he could have easily chewed much scenery in loud and dramatic grief, but the most notable thing about Dave is how silent he is. With pain etched over his face and clearly visible anger just under the surface through most of the show (especially in a scene where he is very unfortunately pulled over by traffic police just hours after another one of their colleagues killed Rita) he remains largely silent whilst almost everyone else acts out around him. It’s admirably restrained and very powerful acting.
Not only do the children (especially Rita’s daughter Lucy, who doesn’t know who her biological father is and thus reacts to being effectively orphaned in typical teenagerish fashion) cause conflict, but Rita’s extraordinarily unlikeable sister Anna, her husband and Dave’s solicitor, and various public officials make life more difficult for the overwhelmed Dave. His situation is complicated by the fact that he wasn’t married to Rita, making his claim to others to rebuild his life with his kids in peace and independently more tenuous. Only Sarah is there for unconditional support when Dave finally breaks down under the strain, which makes it much more understandable when her comfort morphs into a natural emotional embrace.
The death of Rita does feel every bit as tragic as it should as her relationship with Dave and her children is shown during a flashback to the last day of her life. But a lot of credit should be given that she is not portrayed as some sort of faultless saint. In fact, she is shown to be a bit manipulative herself, and previews show that she’s got some skeletons that are about to come out to make life even more difficult for Dave.
In all, it’s all very well written and acted and is probably a better first post-DW outing for Tennant than “Rex Is Not Your Lawyer” would have ever been. It’s definitely not something one should expect to watch just to see the 10th Doctor again. There are no traces of Ten anywhere in this performance. It’s a true reintroduction of Tennant as a serious actor beyond the TARDIS. And despite not being easy to watch in the least, it’s definitely enough to keep watching for the next three weeks.
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I initially loved this for the sensitive way it dealt with bereavement but why did the writer have to fall in to the trap of creating a romantic entanglement with the best friend. This situation is drama enought without the obvious…. Why do men always have to be portrayed as weak enough to always have to screw the
best friend in TV land? Great idea …. weakened!
I fully expected to hate it just because of that, and the jury’s still out on how I will feel about it in coming weeks. I don’t like that this is being billed as a “romantic drama” because nothing feels vaguely romantic about it.
I do have to say that the “climax” made much more sense than I expected. Sarah is the only person really giving Dave the unquestioning and drama-free support he needs, and his move was more made from emotional gratitude than attraction.
But I do wish they hadn’t gone with the obvious and hooked them up so quickly. Seeing him simply dealing with the kids would have been enough to make people happy, I think.
I didn’t really need or want to see the accident twice, either; once was enough and very graphic.
The acting, though, is superlative: Dave’s reaction just after he is told about Rita is so amazingly true to life; I don’t think people DO get hysterical immediately – they have to let it sink in, and that’s exactly what was shown here. Of course, as a good (but not perfect!) dad, his first thought is for the kids.
I loved how he was desperately trying to hold it together for them; he could easily have wept and wailed over them but he didn’t. I suppose that’s a parent’s job.
I can totally understand why Sarah and Dave share a kiss; albeit a guilty one. They are both grieving and both need comfort and solace. Grief does make you do odd things that you wouldn’t normally do.
I really identified with poor Dave being overwhelmed by everyone’s offers of ‘help’, some of which are rather less than helpful – but I did think it a bit brutal how he dismissed his sister-in-law. However, this is natural, and I’ve done similar things myself – I hate a fuss.
Neither Rita nor Dave is a plaster saint – they’re both a bit selfish – but how many people recognised their spat about who was going out and who was minding the kids?!
I thought this was a fantastic start to the series and I look forward to the story unfolding still more.
All those who missed it will kick themselves – unless they recorded it or have i-Player!
I think I understood how Dave reacted to Anna a lot, because it was clear from the first moment we saw her that she was going to disapprove of everything she wasn’t in control of. That’s very grating (and having been there, very common.)
Glad to see that someone in agreement about the crash scene being unnecessary a second time.
We loved it to. Tragic – graphic and surprising. Definitely looking forward to future episodes.
Certainly makes one take stock of their life and think about the mess one would leave behind should something tragic happen.
Thought it was great! And I also agree Single Father a nice vehicle for David Tennant to start his post-Doctor phase of his career.
It’s lovely to have him back and on television again.
This first episode was very insightful and captured the effect that a tragedy of this type has on everyone. I lived through this myself with my own kids at similar ages and it felt like I was watching myself at that time as there were so many similarities. My kids were my own but even my daughter went through similar difficulties at school for a while as she came to terms with things. Although this episode was upsetting for me to watch and reminded me what we all went through at the time, I felt for the first time that someone understood and I was not alone in my grief for myself and my children, or my ability to cope and carry on. Thankyou,
Oh dear me GUTTED had such high expectations. I love D. Tennat but he clearly has never seprated squabbling kids n real life but gone down the…… how its done on telly route, what a shame I could have lent you mine for some practice. You did get the being told the news scene just right so well done but the whole kiss in bathroom eeeuuuch ! all wrong. Sad to say won’t be stressing to see next episode. Just not convincing as father of three or four, keep loosing track, although as mother of three can slightly sympathises