You can tell how evil or - can't really say "good", let's settle for "less evil" - a person is by the length and intensity of their glares.It's as if John Barrymore and Gloria Swanson were brought in as acting coaches.Worsened by head-scratching plot developments such as throwing out a diaphragm but leaving its box in the medicine cabinet (huh?).Oh, and these high-achieving politicians haven't mastered the basic use of a shredder, yet.So if you can buy all that, maybe you'll like the show. I didn't and was lol-ing my way through the end.

LEt me say first that I am a big fan of both the leads. Tenant will always be Doctor Who for me after Tom Baker and Watson is fantastic. Only problem? We've seen this backroom politic drama before and almost always done better. Whether it is the deliciously evil House of Cards (UK) or in drama form in the Good Wife n the US, so I really wanted a new spin or feel.Didn't get that. Tenant's motivation are sound, but in no real way would it have happened like this. He either makes a push knowing there will be huge backing or at least have a fail safe. IN this case there were none and he is left to try a back handed way at prominence again through his wife. OK fine. It's well acted, but mostly soulless. The autistic son could have been compelling, but is mostly left for easy emotional pulls later (more on this).There are non-affairs, political maneuvering that is beneath the intelligence of the film, and too literal analogies between their sex life and their current political status. It seems made for those who get their news from The Sun and can't sit through House of Cards.My biggest problem is that even with the plodding through 4 hours they ACTUALLY HAD the right ending!! If only they had stopped it after his autistic son gives him the toy at the diner table. It was a complete illustration of how ambition and lies can destroy your soul and your family. He lost everything for nothing and couldn't see all the good around him until it was too late. I almost felt the show vindicated itself with that ending.....But no. They have to add this strange pc ending where they both are magically in power and she is prime minister and he is on HER cabinet. For shame. The point was not to have her make it to the top and him drag along. It was to show them as both miserable people who have self imposed this upon themselves and we are all worse off for these people in power. What a missed opportunity. Or perhaps England has gotten so nihilistic that it cannot see higher truth anymore?? Ahwell. 5/10

I love political drama. The West Wing was absorbing, and Borgen, the brutally realistic depiction of the first woman P.M of Denmark, including the breakup of their marriage and rather genuine depiction of lust was brilliant.This series that we watched in one sitting on Netflix, did have some structure of political reality, yet there was a single scene, one of sexuality as assaultive hatred, of the husband brutalizing his wife, that certainly was "realistic." Yet, there was no warning, nor was there any realism that was consistent with their status and relationship.It was just thrown in to attract a certain audience who considers this as being edgy I write this review to warn others that this is not an "adult" themed film, but excess in the form of realism. I'm no prude, but this scene was sickening and destroyed the film for myself and my wife.

Short story long:Aiden Hoynes and his wife Freya are both ministers in the same political party. Aiden tries a leadership bid which is foiled by his supposed best friend and finds himself left out in the cold as his wife becomes a member of the cabinet. He feels emasculated and doesn't deal with this very well. The main storyline is Aiden's increasingly tangled web of deception and corruption and the effect on his marriage. He also has an ailing father and a son with Asperger's which he has to contend with.Review:Emily Watson and David Tennant are incredible. They're portraying people with very different temperaments which complements them well. Emily Watson's Freya is rather quiet and unassuming yet very smart, she seems distant at times and then just has things figured out. Brilliant performance. David Tennant's Aiden is suitably dark and twisted. His performance is much more vocal than Emily's. Gradually gets more and more horrifying until you're left clutching your face.Lots of plot twists and unexpected turns as political views change and people switch allies. I assume it's typical of parliament.Verdict: If you like gritty dark political drama watch this and if you want to see Tennant do some proper seriously dark acting watch this. A bit too gritty and dark for me, I prefer lighter fare. This is entirely personal taste though and I can still appreciate the brilliantly crafted story lines and acting talents.Warnings: Scene of sexual violence. Advised not to watch if you like Doctor Who and want to see any of his Tenth Doctor adventures again. If you're like me and prefer light action and comedy type shows then I would avoid it if you think you can't stomach it. Or just make sure you've got a fun comedy series or movie lined up for afterwards. Not a show for just before bedtime.