I Am...

There's not much cinema nor TV I'd watch a second time. These, just six, episodes I would watch again. Each of the six main female actors were outstanding in the women they played, in their delivery, in their moments of passion, anger, despair in six superbly told stories of women at a crossroads in their lives, lives complicated by love, by loneliness, by want and need and by loss and regret. Direction and production, down to camera work and lighting and soundtrack par excellence. Best TV series in a long time. Each of the six stories will stay with you for some time to come ...

'I am' comprises two series of short dramas with female leads written by Dominic Savage; I've only seen the second of these. They're not badly written (indeed, in some ways, 'I am Maria' is superbly written (and acted, by Lesley Manville) but I didn't love the format. It tells us of the end of a marriage; while 'I am Victoria' tells of a woman breaking down under the pressure to be percieved as living her best life. But in both of these films, it felt like I was watching only the last chapter of a larger story; it was hard to place my sympathy when being shown only the final act. 'I am Danielle' is a more complete tale but in some ways quite schematic. I've seen many good movies that are only 80 minutes; but these films felt like snapshots more than they did narratives.

I am... a well-off, straight, woman. There's variation in the writing, of course there is. The actors are all brilliant and they are all falling apart in different ways. The protrstyals are brilliant. But there is still a lack of variation and breadth with none of the characters being gay. Seems like a weird oversight.

A really good trilogy showing the lives of different characters and how they deal with different scenarios. All were a good watch but found Kirsty's story the most gripping. Shows how life can be changed so easily and gripping and sometimes uncomfortable to watch. Glad to hear there is a second series of these coming out.

I love British drama exactly for what makes it what it is, the hardcore, in-your-face realism. But this!? Some episodes are like, socio-horror if there's such a genre. To the point where it's not enjoyable anymore; I did come very close to turning it off on at least two occasions, luckily there is some let-up in the end with some of them like in series 1 episode 2 there's a somewhat positive outcome. So, it achieves really well what it sets out to do, but do we really want to watch for entertainment what already goes on in real life?