Wanderlust

A long time married couple both arrange to look for separate sexual encounters with other people outside marriage to save it. Will that work? What are the consequences for them and their children? This series carried out this daring idea. The subject is interesting but the screenplay for me was sloppy, confusing and sometimes boring. Turning from a sad comedy into a deep drama, with a backgroud of different ballads and pop themes to enhance meanings, also they relied on some contrived events. Give or take average.

Make no mistake, this is not easy watching, as sexual topics are discussed frankly and openly and, through all of the frustration and failure, laughs are found.

The cast are all top-notch, but Toni Colette continues to astonish, with a perfect English accent, intonations and mannerisms and all, along with excellent comic skills and believable sexual tension. And it gets very, very tense, sometimes so awkward it becomes almost unbearable to watch. I can see why so many people have trouble with this!

The couple are faced with an age-old problem that most likely affects a majority of couples, and one which they are doubtless are too embarrassed to talk about. Because, really, how do you talk about something like this and still try to convince your partner that, while they might not do it for you sexually, you still very much love them?

It's an interesting premise approached in a very adult way, using humour to deflect the more crushing moments. I hope that the writers can, ahem, keep it up for the run.

I am not normally moved to review on IMDB but this drama is really good. Unfortunately this was hyped by the programme makers and the media to be about sex and open marriages; however that is not the core of the story at all. It is about relationships at all different levels and across generations. It explores what works and what doesn't, how relationships can improve and fall apart, how first impressions definitely don't always count.

I think the script writing was very well crafted; each episode actually had a different pace to it that kept it interesting and watchable. It showed the difference between a proper serialised drama - where each episode can stand alone - and a drawn out epic where a story is told over 10 hours that could really be a 2 hour film.

Yes - as the poor reviews say the sex scenes are uncomfortable; but that is real life!! Lots of sexual relationships are entirely uncomfortable and not as typically portrayed in Hollywood. It makes this programme come across all the more convincing.

As for the comments on episode 5 - just watch it and make your own minds up. For me I felt it was very engaging and convincing and like a good book it gave the reader space to interpret things with their own mind rather than being spoon fed every emotion and thought.

Funny, illuminating, heartfelt, beautifully shot and edited, great soundtrack.

Wanderlust seems to be quite divisive due to it's subject matter (as shown by some of the rather over-the-top 1-star reviews), but I found it to be extremely touching, witty, and well-acted.

Wanderlust is a lot more ambiguous and complex than people have seen it as. If confused and offended by it's first episodes, let it play out until the end, when everything becomes clearer and gains extra dimension. It is not, as many have suggested, a blatant criticism of marriage and the model of family life.