Patrick Melrose: Bad News
May 14, 2018 8:04 AM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe

Get ready for the lowdown on the British upper class. This five-part limited series based on the acclaimed novels by Edward St. Aubyn tracks Patrick from a privileged but deeply traumatic childhood in the South of France through severe substance abuse in his twenties in New York and, ultimately, toward recovery back home in Britain. At once harrowing and hilarious, Oscar® nominee and Emmy® winner Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the troubled titular character.

In the grip of his addictions, Patrick Melrose must fly to New York to collect his father’s ashes. Over the course of a lost Manhattan weekend, Patrick’s remorseless search for satisfaction, haunted by old acquaintances and insistent inner voices, sends him into a nightmarish spiral, including a disastrous date with the girl of his dreams. Alone in his hotel room later that night, he pushes body and mind to the very edge – desperate to stay one step ahead of his rapidly encroaching past. Limited series premiere.

Trailer
posted by myotahapea (7 comments total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
There was something very human and rather touching in the portrait of Patrick the broken male human being.
posted by thegirlwiththehat at 10:01 AM on May 14, 2018 [1 favorite]


It was simpathetic without being condescending.
posted by thegirlwiththehat at 10:02 AM on May 14, 2018


Jesus fuck but Benedict Cumberbatch can act.
posted by tzikeh at 9:34 PM on May 14, 2018 [3 favorites]


How the series will even approach the darkness of the books is beyond me.
posted by roger ackroyd at 9:44 PM on May 14, 2018


Wow did I enjoy this. Maybe enjoy is the wrong word, but I was totally entranced by it all. I mean and it's one helluva a performance.
posted by miss-lapin at 7:49 AM on May 15, 2018


Jesus fuck but Benedict Cumberbatch can act.

That was brilliant; particularly the final scene of the telephone conversation. I went in expecting a great performance and was still surprised at the end of the episode by how great it was. I'm not a fan of Allison Williams' acting but playing her blandness against his edginess in that dinner scene worked really well.
posted by myotahapea at 2:18 PM on May 15, 2018


Um, wow.

Had never heard of the books. Heard some buzz that this was good, thought I'd check it out. This morning listened to a bit of an NPR interview with the books' author - damned if he doesn't sound like a Monty Python stereotype of the Effete British Upper Crust Twit...

Just watched this first episode and DAMN this is beyond "tour de force" for Cumberbatch. Best thing I've ever seen him do, and that's saying something. Like, even with Sherlock and Doctor Strange he's awesome but it's like he only needs to give you 75% to be that awesome; but this is him giving everything, and it's gut-wrenching and awe-inspiring to watch.
posted by dnash at 8:17 PM on May 22, 2018


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