Apparitions New supernatual drama (BBC)

[Bob The Skutter]

I hope this is more interesting than it sounds. Hopefully the fact that it's by the guy who wroteUltraviolet means it will have a more original take on the material.

Apparitions, a new drama series for BBC One – from 9.00pm on Thursday 13 November 2008

Apparitions is a hard-hitting new drama that takes us on a terrifying journey into a world of possession and satanic conspiracy. All out war between good and evil is imminent and it's time to choose sides.



Martin Shaw stars as Father Jacob, a Roman Catholic priest who is working to promote candidates for sainthood but is drawn against his will into the world of exorcism.



The idea for the series came from Martin himself as he had long wanted to play an exorcist. It was subsequently picked up and developed further by Joe Ahearne (This Life, Ultraviolet, Doctor Who).



Tony Wood, Creative Director of Lime Pictures, says: "Joe Ahearne has created a gripping story of intrigue and mystery which raises as many questions as it answers.

Press Release

 

[Starkers]

Hmm, well it doesn't sound too good, and it does star my least favourite Professional but still, Joe Aherne usually delivers...

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Just thought I'd bump the thread so if anyone wants to discuss the show we might as well use this thread. It starts tonight at 9 on BBC One and HD.

 

[jgdst]

I might give this one a go... There's not been an awful lot to choose from this year - I think Ashes to Ashes was the last British series to grab my attention.

I'm hoping it doesn't turn into the image I've got in my mind of an Exorcist/End of Days style story...

 

[Deckerd]

Wasn't there a similar storyline a few years ago Bob? Trying to remember who was in it now.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Wasn't there a similar storyline a few years ago Bob? Trying to remember who was in it now.

Are you thinking of Strange? Starring Richard Coyle aka Jeff from Coupling?

 

[Deckerd]

That's it! What a memory.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

That's it! What a memory.

Funny thing is, I don't even remember if I watched it all. I think I only remember it because Jeff wasn't acting like himself at all...

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Well that was interesting. I'll continue watching, but you gotta wonder if they're gonna end up getting complaints from Catholics over the "It's there, and not in the small print." stuff, amongst other things.

 

[Deckerd]

I taped it because I was watching Sarahconnochron. The reviews this morning were poor.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I taped it because I was watching Sarahconnochron. The reviews this morning were poor.

Wasn't fantastic, it was slow, and some of the acting was a bit poor, and the possessed guy being a bit of a militant atheist was a bit annoying, but all in all it was interesting enough to keep me watching probably for the full series because it's only 6 eps.

 

[Starkers]

I thought it was ok, very slow moving but sometimes its nice to see that these days. I'm not remotely religious, but I thought it was nice to see the Church portrayed in something of a better light than it often is. There were a couple of good scares, when the possessed guy reached through the bars at the nun, and when the guy started peeling the young priest's skin off!

Not up to Ultraviolet's standards but takes the subject matter a bit more seriously than Strange did. Don't see why this had to be an hour long though!

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I thought it was ok, very slow moving but sometimes its nice to see that these days. I'm not remotely religious, but I thought it was nice to see the Church portrayed in something of a better light than it often is. There were a couple of good scares, when the possessed guy reached through the bars at the nun, and when the guy started peeling the young priest's skin off!

Not up to Ultraviolet's standards but takes the subject matter a bit more seriously than Strange did. Don't see why this had to be an hour long though!

An hour long as opposed to 45/50 minutes like Doctor Who/Torchwood etc.? Well BBC One don't really do those sorts of slots on weekday primetime...
I believe it was supposed to be a one off 90 minute show earlier this year, but they were impressed so turned it in to a series.

 

[Starkers]

Hmm, I do wonder if it isn't going to be demon of the week, with each succesive demon getting worse and worse. The trouble is exorcisms can be a bit samey*, be interesting to see how they get round this.

*Obviously I don't know this was personal experience!

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Sure that's not from personal experience. You've tipped your hand, not at all religious, experienced many exorcisms... You're possessed aren't you?

 

[Starkers]

 

[Bob The Skutter]

BBC One's controversial new drama Apparitions opened with 4.62m (20.6%) on Thursday night, according to early figures.

The series, which stars Martin Shaw as a priest with a penchant for exorcisms, drew far fewer viewers than last week's conclusion of Silent Witness in the slot, but was comfortably ahead of ITV1's Cops with Cameras, which had 3.49m (15.5%) in the 9pm hour.

It was controversial?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

So, anyone else still watching?

The BBC's controversial drama Apparitions lost almost 2 million viewers last night (Thursday), plummeting below the 3 million mark.

The second episode of the series, which stars Martin Shaw as a priest who practices exorcisms, drew 2.88m (12.6%) to BBC One in the 9pm hour. Last week the drama opened with an encouraging 4.62m (20.6%).

Apparitions lost out to the might of I'm A Celebrity, which pulled in an impressive 8.05m (35.5%) for ITV1 between 8pm and 10pm.

Guess not.

I don't think I'd count it among my favourite shows, but I find it interesting enough, and it's nice to have something slow building. I just hope it's going some where with all this.