The Family: reaction and review post

[wastingyourgum]

Evening all.

Lucky viewers in Canada (and some people pretending to be in Canada!) have already seen the first episode of The Family, which aired there last night but it gets its big prime-time audience debut in the US tonight at 9pm ET (2am GMT) on ABC

Comments

[rusty_armour]

I thought the first episode was okay, though I did find myself wondering if The Family was being emotionally manipulative (as one reviewer suggested). I think I need to see more episodes before I decide. And what might be thought of as emotional manipulation is really just a series that isn't pulling its punches. I certainly did find it intriguing and look forward to seeing where it might go next. All of the characters seem to be hiding something and know more than they're saying about the youngest son's disappearance. This series did strike me as being rather Broadchurchish, but I think that's because there's a similar premise and we're seeing the impact of a boy's disappearance on both his family and the community

[drinkingcocoa]

I will watch again to see more Rupert. I like where they might be going with the sister, I like the lesbian lifestyle blogger, Andrew McCarthy gave a terrific creepy monologue. Joan Allen did a good job portraying someone I would pay money to avoid. For the rest of it, I'm going to lower my expectations and be pleased if they are exceeded.

[anonymous]

I really loved Rupert's voice, it seemed a bit more roughly not just the american accent but in the tone, I think. I think I like his character, he had to bear a lot from his wife and her political ambitions. In the flashbacks he seemed supportive, but I think the fact that she take their son disappearance and "death" and use it at the election was just too much for him. Well I think this after the first episode maybe it will change.
I didn't like the wife or the daughter, the wife is too stiff, like John said a machine (and maybe I started to dislike her already). I'd pay money too to avoid her. The girl? I don't really know why, I just didn't like her... I did like the older brother, and the actor is good as well. I more interested in his story then the girl's. But it maybe do with the fact that I can't explain why I didn't like her.
The dynamics between the DI and John is interesting (not that part;)) I have a feeling it could have be more than a fling.

[sunyiu2]

It was me, just forget to log in... sorry

Wild speculation about future plot twists

[drinkingcocoa]

Just saw the puppy episode. As of now, speculation:

The sister has planned her mother's political rise because she wants to get her parents as high up as possible before she brings them down publicly in revenge for being bad parents.

Adam is really Adam but the sister has been in touch with him this whole time and has brainwashed him, or

Adam is actually the guy with the pregnant girlfriend and this is a kid they found whom they have coached to say these maximally guilt-inducing things like "Why did you stop looking for me?"

I am very slightly embarrassed to say that I am hooked. I do cringe whenever there's overly sensationalistic dialogue and I am not at all crazy about the allusions to lurid violence just to add melodrama. If I could, I would edit those out. But I am hooked anyway and those occur infrequently enough for me.

I like Paul McGuigan's parallel shots. :-)

Re: Wild speculation about future plot twists (spoilers for Ep3)

[wastingyourgum]

Damn - I knew I forgot something! Meant to post my thoughts on Eps 1& 2 here. Oh well, on to Ep 3

Re: Wild speculation about future plot twists (spoilers for Ep3)

[drinkingcocoa]

Andrew McCarthy directed???? Damn, he is impressing the hell out of me. I loved loved loved his slow warming up to the puppies and I was devastated when he was denied. I don't think he was going to use it as a lure. I think this is supposed to be more fuel for his rage against the family that set him up. (Even if it turns out he is guilty of other stuff we don't know about yet...)

I don't think the affair is over! It's only the first few episodes and they have lots more twistiness to introduce yet! :-D

Re: Re: Wild speculation about future plot twists (spoilers for Ep3)

[wastingyourgum]

I dunno - she looked pretty miffed. I think we may get more on how the affair started - but now I'm curious if John was seeing another lover in that missing hour i.e. he was unfaithful before Adam went missing.

And young Willa is somehow even more terrifying than present-Willa! That took some nerve to plant that bottle!

Then again older-Willa telling Adam - "I'm your sister" it was like she was reminding him of the script or something?

I did like Claire's outburst during the interview - don't think it was planned and finally made her seem a little bit more human which she's been lacking.

Quick thoughts after Episode 4, pre episode 5

[wastingyourgum]

SPOILERS FOR EPS 1 - 4