horus-12D

I watched this on the basis that it was written by Motherland and Bad Sisters' Sharon Horgan. It turns out she is an executive producer and Dreamland has literally none of the brilliance of the two aforementioned shows.

From the outset we see the grotesque shock factor this new Sky drama rides on. Lurid, brash, in your face comedy. Garish and loud, for those who need the worst of British seaside wildlife served up in a pink greasy chip wrapper.

Where Motherland and Bad Sisters excelled was in likeable, relatable and flawed characters and well-crafted storytelling. Both were clearly tv gold from the first 10 minutes. In the first 10 minutes of this we get a rabbit that excretes its own initials. That about sums it up.

I really wanted to like it but clearly this is not for me.

Honestly, the acting is awful, the plot is thin and the direction makes me wonder how this was commissioned.

It plays out like a dull soap opera and maybe this is aimed at the soap-hungry market.

I watched it because I thought there might be some gritty drama coming out of Wales and good to see something other than the usual northern regional tv drama. However, this is a far cry from a Sally Wainwright series in every respect. The characters are not believable and the main actors have no redeeming qualities or skills to salvage this below-par dirge.

I tried to like it, I really did.

Save your time and watch something else.

It is hard to find good things to say. I wanted to because there are some good actors here. However, good actors need good directors and good scripts. Everything is missing and this is a totally farcical, unbelievable mess.

Watch it if you need a laugh and have 4 hours spare. Otherwise, give it a very wide berth.