Un Bore Mercher returned to
our screens on May 12th, 2019 with a continuation of the story arc
from the first series, only with a dash of a murder trial of a young disabled
woman, Madlen Vaughan, played by Aimee-Ffion Edwards, accused of killing her
husband. As with the first series, the twists and turns appear to connect with
not just Faith’s husband, Evan, but with a blonde bombshell who is still
ruffling feathers, and is determined to get what she wants, in whatever way she
can.
Gael Reardon returns but
not as you remember her, and she’s a lot feistier than her predecessor. The
actress who played Gael in the first series was unable to continue as the
character in this series, and so in to take her place
is Anastasia Hille, who really turns on the Reardon charm, and I’d be more
inclined to mistrust this Gael than the previous. In fact, I wouldn’t want to
bump into her in a dark alley, or one in daylight – she's scary!
Things have changed in the
police house too. Matthew Gravelle does not appear in this series, sadly. I
miss him! And in his place, demoted down to black uniform and riding a push
bike, is Susan, his former boss, who in the last series we saw carted off for
all manner of offences against Faith in the previous series. Could this be a
better Susan we see? Will we be able to trust her judgement? Will Faith trust
it?
Demi Letherby is one to
watch. I just love her performance as young Alys. Although we’re not sure who was
driving the car in the episode of the ‘hit and run’ it’s fair to say that, the
Reardon’s are not far from the scene.
This season we see that
Evan is not as squeaky clean as he first appears to be. His dealings with the
Reardon’s have driven a wedge between his family, to the point that eldest
daughter Alys is just not ready to have him back in her life. Everything is
happening too fast for her to cope with. The memories of the first season where
she was held at gunpoint, still fresh in her memory.
Happy to see that down and
out, ex-Army, Arthur is part of the family now, by managing the children while
Faith works. Evan also has no qualms about the young man looking after his
family, but he draws the line at Steve Baldini, and strong threats are issued
when they meet at the hospital.
Whereas the first season
centred around Faith’s search for the truth of her husband’s disappearance
and the fake identity he had used, for whatever reason, she was still trying to
uncover. Series Two explores more of the continued relationship that Gael
Reardon has with Evan Howells and how she manipulates both to get what she
wants.
Although, new Police
involvement, by DI Laurence Breeze played by Rashan Stone, blows trouble back
towards Faith and her family, and the knowledge that the secret deals in garden
centres, and watches handed over to jewellers hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Season 1 set the scene for
Evan’s disappearance, and Faith’s search for the truth. Season 2, has
discovered the truth and the lies, which continue to grow throughout, and by so
many, and leaves Faith reeling from it all, feeling extremely exhausted and
unable to hold it all together.
You feel for her character, not just because
it’s Eve Myles playing the role, but because Faith has been a character you’ve
seen go through the mill and come out the other end, a far stronger person for
it. But by god, what a struggle she’s had.
Keeping Faith is a
brilliantly well casted series, full of terrific background scenery, and aerial
shots. Full of Welsh accents and Welsh language. Full of tension and high
drama, and laughter and silliness, and fun, and sadness, and edge of the seat
stuff and oh, so many familiar faces, and finger pointing at the screen, and
whoops of delight.
I’d love to see a third
series but I guess we’ll have to wait and see if that is at all possible.
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