Review of Afterlife (2 disc set)

Introduction

Death and grief are not always popular subjects for prime time television unless it is part of the endless investigative cadaver-cracking on CSI and its clones. Other dramas deal with the aftermath of murders and loss in a down to earth way focussing on the living not the dead. Rarely do dramas look at both sides where it is taken as read that the afterlife exists.


Documentaries have been popular viewing lately including "Most Haunted" and John Edward`s "Crossing Over". The prurient ghost hunting appeals to an audience who want to feel a safe kind of terror but don`t really want to think about the spirits as being part of everyday life.

Curiously there are two dramas about the same subject around at the moment. To get a little perspective on Afterlife I managed to catch "Medium" the American version which is currently airing on BBC1. In this a medium is part of the FBI. She describes herself to her daughter as a `guesser`. She sees spirits and uses her knowledge to help solve difficult, but earthbound, cases.

Afterlife is home-grown and financed by ITV. It`s only 6 episodes long so it has to progress the characters of the medium Alison and the psychologist Robert and have a `monster a week` story. There`s a dilemma here between developing this as a complete drama and the faint hope that the story can be extended by having a second series.


Episodes

1. More Than Meets the Eye

This introductory episode sees Alison Mundy moving to Bristol. She seems to be running away from something and despite reluctance agrees to attend a spiritualist meeting. Meanwhile psychology lecturer, Robert Bridge, advises his students that mediums are fraudulent and takes them to sees these charlatans in action. Robert is at first annoyed and then alarmed by the reaction of one of the students.

With some beautifully created images this falls down on the overall structure and the appalling resolution of the episode that would be anathema to spiritualists.


2. Lower Than Bones

When a child is abducted Alison is compelled to share what she knows with the parents. Robert is sceptical about how much she can help. As the case develops the investigating officer is convinced that Alison can offer significant help but jeopardises his own career when he gets her involved. Meanwhile Alison has to cope with visitations and Robert has to start to confront his feelings about his own dead son.

Although it starts well and has some disturbing images this becomes a weak episode as we almost resort to rattling chains from the unquiet spirit with a frankly ridiculous ending.

At least Adrian Lester(Hustle) provides something else to concentrate on as he adds some class to the proceedings.

3. Daniel 1 & 2

A young man is sectioned after attacking his girlfriend but he claims it is not him but his invisible tormentor Daniel 2. Alison tries to help but meets a brick wall from Daniel`s Church of England parents and once again Robert has to decide if he believes in her abilities.

Again nicely created images but the constant dialogues between Alison and Robert leave the viewer frustrated. Nice build of atmosphere but Robert spends a lot of time bleating his disbelief(is Scully back?)

4.Misdirection

Alison seeks some normality by trying to get a nursing job. She ends up in the home where Robert`s mother, suffering from Alzheimer`s, is staying. As Alison gets to know the other member of staff (Mark Benton) she realises she has been sent to the home for a reason.

We don`t need coincidence when Alison is being directed by the spirit of Robert`s dead son and I enjoyed this episode which lived up to its title and resolution came more naturally. More superb guest stars including Mark Benton and Rosemary Leach.

5.Sleeping With the Dead

Alison is called in by a terrified girl who believes her flat to be haunted. Both Alison and Robert experience disturbing visions but the truth is far stranger than they realise.

This episode felt much better and lived up to the promised spookiness in a very positive way. It feels as if the series is getting more confident and less reliant on shocking images. The treatment of Alison`s experience of the haunting is visceral and the ending works well.

4. The 07.59 Club

Alison has to address her deepest fears as she tries to help train-crash survivors` contact their lost relatives.

The final episode tries to be something special but seems again to rely heavily on coincidence. Guest stars include Phillidia Law and she is good value for money.

There had to be a séance I guess although my senses scream against this use of the cliché. No matter of fact reading would make good TV and this episode does deliver a `turn` worthy of the Victorian mediums, although we are spared the ectoplasm.

Video

This series has been beautifully lit and every effort has been made to give this a polish often missing from UK TV series.

Overall it gives value for money in creating atmosphere and plot tension.

Audio

Music is also used sparingly and in conjunction with the visuals creates a fine sense of atmosphere. use of the solo chello(don`t quote me) proves entirely suitable for this kind of spooky drama.

Sound quality is excellent.

Features

There are two commentaries for the first and last episodes by the writer, producer and the two leads. These are very informative and interesting. Indeed they softened my heart towards the series. Lots of details about the script, locations and good gossip generally.

Conclusion

Ultimately this drama proved to be a disappointment. Treating the medium simply as a woman who "sees dead people" means that it comes off as a feeble shock-horror than a genuine attempt to look into the world of spiritualism. Spiritualists believe that the gift of mediumship does not have to be accepted. People not ready to accept the gift can close themselves to the approaches of spirits. This drama`s view of the medium as psychologically damaged might make good television (and that`s debatable) but I found it rather a cop-out.

Speaking as a non-sceptic I would have preferred a balanced approach but I got "Ghostwatch" and "Most Haunted" much of the time. Some of the episodes hit the mark dramatically, some seemed rather clichéd and non really dealt with spiritualism as it actually is. When the weeping and wailing commenced I tuned out of this particular spirit world.


Lesley Sharpe and Andrew Duncan at least took the source material seriously; there are also some excellent guest stars. However much of the drama was taken up with the creation of `atmosphere`, ghost busting and the perpetuation of the myth that séances take place in darkened rooms, where everyone must join hands. Real spiritualism is more than the tricks and shows that are on here but that`s also real life and that`s not drama just learning to live with it. The objective truth is that the spiritualist church offers comfort and a belief structure for those that have lost loved ones and for those that seek a religion that does not condemn us all to the flames.

I`m offering this a qualified 6 because I would like to see more of the quality episodes particulaly "Misdirection" and I think this does have potential for a another series as long as they don`t go down the tedious chains-a-rattlin` route.