Before its lunch I kept the teaser of this short 5-episode series and I made sure to be able to watch it. Sadly, due to some circumstances I forgot about it and it was when a friend of mine who asked if I have a copy of it (since I watch a lot of movies and series and my friends know me as a movie lover) that reminded me that I have not watch this yet.
So, I immediately got a copy and started to watch. There were three reasons for me to watch this series as an interesting one; first is because of the topic which is a dark psychology and second is because the main character is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, one of my favorite actors who definitely deserve an Oscar one day. And third is because the series is based on true story of author of the book which the series is adapted from.
After the 2nd episode I felt so bad and disgusted because of the dark side of the story and again it hit me how parents can cause a lot of problems for their children by doing wrong things upon them. This series also put an emphasis on my idea of how father figure is important in character development of a child as equal as the mother figure (unlike what it used to be believed) if not even more.
I finished the entire 5 episodes in two sittings and the last episode just gave three sentences which I found so beautiful and profound.
- Patrick Melrose: “I look at the window and wonder if this floor is high enough.”
In a scene where Patrick is talking to a psychiatrist (or psychologist) and talks about his life while the color theme of the scene is in calming blue-green color with a clock at the top center of the scene showing the time of 11:05 as if it creates the letter “V” and you can see a door and a window with curtains which makes the light be smooth as it enters the room and a fixed glass window bellow the clock which you can see the next room.
This sentence, though dark and a thought in mind of a suicidal person, is written beautifully. The sentence is so simple yet can be terrifying and painful at the same time.
- Robert Melrose: “In fact you should change your mind. That’s what its for.”
In my opinion the one of the best sentences of the entire series was this one, said by Patrick’s son. A sentence uttered by an observant kid which could be a great reminder for all of. Sometimes in life (and maybe better if often in life) we should change our mind about things. We should be able to get free of the old habits, beliefs and life. and that itself maybe the chance of our freedom from our dark past and our dark memories. Maybe mind is made to be changed once in awhile and doing that makes us to explore more, learn more and grow more.
- Patrick Melrose: “It’s wrong. You’re wrong! Nobody should do that to anybody else!”
A beautiful scene at the ending where one young soul stand against all the odds and tries to stop what hurts him. By saying the words that might not lead to good result and even may cause more harm but still saying it. A scene full of courage and showing one should stand for himself because there might be time even the ones, we expect to take care of us are not around to do so. Or even worse, the ones who suppose to take care of us are the ones who hurt us.
As Patrick opens the door, he wears a shirt and the bathroom (where he felt encouraged) is in blue-green color against the hotel room and his dad’s outfit which is more in red and brown (giving the opposite vibes). I loved this scene; his shirt is blue-green and his shorts are in brown! Great selection of colors to deliver the feeling and emotions carried on in the entire series. And then the last words of the series delivered with anger, yet powerful and with courage.
The series is highly recommended and as expected two thumbs up for Benedict Cumberbatch for an astonishing performance in the entire series. I can’t wait to see him winning at least an Oscar®.
- Patrick Melrose: “I was thinking how life is just the history of things we pay attention to. The rest is just packaging.”
- Annette: “Maya Angelou says the meaning of life is the impact we have on other people, whether we make them feel good or not.”