Too Close (TV series)

Last updated

Too Close
Also known asUnder the Skin
GenreDrama
Based onToo Close
Written by Clara Salaman
Directed by Susan Tully
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes3
Production
ProducerSnowed-In Productions
Original release
Network ITV
Release12 April (2021-04-12) –
14 April 2021 (2021-04-14)

Too Close, also known as Under the Skin, is a 2021 three-part drama television miniseries directed by Susan Tully and based on the 2018 novel written by Clara Salaman under the pen name "Natalie Daniels". The series follows Dr. Emma Robertson as she assesses the sanity of 'yummy mummy' Connie Mortensen, accused of attempted murder. For their performances, both Emily Watson and Denise Gough were nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 2022. [1]

Contents

Plot

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Emma Robertson is assigned to assess the sanity of 'yummy mummy' Connie Mortensen, accused of the attempted murder of two children. Robertson begins to feel sympathetic towards Mortensen, who claims to be suffering from dissociative amnesia.

Cast

Main characters

ActorCharacterCharacter descriptionRef.
Emily Watson Dr Emma RobertsonForensic psychiatrist assigned to the Mortensen case. [2]
Denise Gough Connie MortensenRobertson's patient, labelled the 'yummy mummy monster' in the press. [2]
Thalissa Teixeira Vanessa "Ness" JonesConnie's friend. [2]
Risteárd Cooper Si RobertsonEmma's husband and a barrister. [3]
Jamie Sives Karl MortensenConnie's husband. [2]
Nina Wadia Dr Anita Rhys EvansLocal woman featured in flashbacks. [2]
Karl Johnson James de CadenetConnie's father. [2]
Eileen DaviesJulia De CadenetConnie's mother. [2]

Minor characters

  • Thea Barrett as Polly
  • Henry Helm as Josh Mortensen
  • Isabelle Mullally as Annie Mortensen
  • Ariyon Bakare as Dougie Thompson
  • Madeleine Demetriou as Abigail Robertson
  • Adrian Hood as Kenneth Baines
  • Islah Abdur-Rahman as Nav
  • Grace Calder as Savannah
  • Jackie Clune as Leah [2]

Production

ITV commissioned the series, based on a novel by Clara Salaman under the pen name "Natalie Daniels", in September 2019. [4] The series was produced by Snowed-In Productions. [5] Too Close was filmed on location in London and Kent, with scenes between Watson and Gough filmed at HM Prison Holloway. [6] Writer Salaman and lead actress Watson are old friends. [7]

Release

The series first aired in the United Kingdom, from 12 to 14 April 2021 on ITV. [8] All3Media International handled the international sales of the series. [5] Too Close premiered on AMC+ in the United States on 20 May 2021. [9] The series premiered in Finland on Yle TV1 under the title Under the Skin (Finnish : Ihon alle, Swedish : Under huden) on 9 May 2021. [10]

Reception

Critical

Critical reception to the series in the United Kingdom was positive. [7] Lucy Mangan gave the series five out of five stars. [11] The London Evening Standard's Katie Rosseinsky and The Independent's Ed Cumming rated the series four out of five stars. [12] [13] John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal praised Tully's direction and the performances of Watson and Gough. [14]

Public

The ITV premiere drew 4.8 million viewers, a 20.6 percent share of the viewing market. [5]

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References

  1. ↑ "Bafta TV awards 2022: full list of nominations". The Guardian . 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Carr, Flora (6 April 2021). "Meet the cast of Too Close". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. ISSN   0033-8060. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. ↑ Gamester-Newton, Becky (12 April 2021). "Too Close: Plot, trailer and everything you need to know about the ITV drama starring Emily Watson and Denise Gough". BT Group . Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Bond, Kimberley (9 September 2019). "ITV commissions new psychological thriller Too Close starring Emily Watson". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. ISSN   0033-8060. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Roxborough, Scott (5 May 2021). "Emily Watson Psycho-Thriller 'Too Close' Sells Wide for All3Media". The Hollywood Reporter . ISSN   0018-3660. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Greig, Finlay (13 April 2021). "Where is Too Close filmed? Filming locations of ITV thriller - from Kent to Holloway Prison". National World. JPIMedia. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  7. 1 2 Kennedy, Mark (10 May 2021). "'Too Close' bonds close friends Emily Watson, Clara Salaman". The Independent . ISSN   0951-9467. OCLC   185201487. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  8. ↑ Roots, Sam (8 April 2021). "Too Close release date: Cast, plot and latest news for new ITV thriller". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. ISSN   0033-8060. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Hadadi, Roxana (19 May 2021). "Too Close". RogerEbert.com . Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Peltonen, Timo (9 May 2021). "Älykkäästi alkavassa Ihon alla -trillerissä epäilty etsii psykiatrin murtumakohtaa". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  11. ↑ Mangan, Lucy (12 April 2021). "Too Close review – could this 'yummy mummy' be a murderer?". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Rosseinsky, Katie (13 April 2021). "Too Close review: Denise Gough and Emily Watson's gripping performances elevate this tense two-hander". Evening Standard . ISSN   2041-4404. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Cumming, Ed (13 April 2021). "Too Close review: Sharp, involving psychological thriller begins with an unthinkable act". The Independent . ISSN   0951-9467. OCLC   185201487. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  14. ↑ Anderson, John (18 May 2021). "'Too Close' Review: A Case of Psychological Warfare" . The Wall Street Journal . News Corp. ISSN   0099-9660. OCLC   781541372. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
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