A psychological drama about an architect who becomes pregnant may not, on paper have us reaching eagerly for our popcorn but this looks set to be a show that has little interest in conforming to any expectation.
There’s a strange sense of unreality that binds it all together and not in a bad way. It certainly share’s that DNA with Doctor Foster but if you mix the Suranne Jones drama with the second season of Line Of Duty you end up with The Replacement. It’s a brooding, melodramatic and strange opener but it’s addictive for reasons not overly clear.
When Ellen (Morven Christie) becomes pregnant the company looks to find cover for her maternity leave and up rocks a confident, sassy Paula (Vicky McClure) who bowls everyone over, including Ellen herself. However much the new girl has ideas above her station it’s no real surprise when the script starts twisting our perceptions of the instantly likeable Ellen but Christie’s show stopping performance means her acting muscles are suitably flexed. The sweet, ambitious woman we see at the start soon starts escalating into an almost obsessive jealousy and paranoia. Is it justified though? McClure walks the tightrope of super keen new employee and sinister life wrecker magnificently.
There are so many other themes touched upon in this electric opening salvo. Mental heath is introduced as part of Ellen’s back story. We learn she has suffered from depression and that’s how she met her psychiatrist husband Ian (an annoyingly handsome Richard Rankin). This show even shares unethical medical practices with Doctor Foster. It serves as an obvious weapon by which to question her current stability but could likely prove a huge red herring.
The biggest theme is focused on society’s treatment of pregnant women, not just in the workplace but in general. Ellen’s body no longer feels like her own as she’s prodded by cooing strangers (no jokes please) and patronised when wanting to do any work. The life she owned feels like it’s slipping away. Her spirit and independence now solely defined by the baby she’s carrying. She’s even judged on her lack of excitement and fobbed off that she will understand things more once she is a mother. As if her opinions and decisions before birth will suddenly be deemed redundant.
There a little touches that offer hints of what’s to come, literally in the case of the creepily hands on David (Dougray Scott) but the ending comes crashing out of nowhere. As did her boss Kay (Neve McIntosh). Right before Ellen’s eyes. Through her beloved skylight of all places.
It’s a gripping opener and as long as it doesn’t descend into a murder mystery, has the promise to be one of the most bonkers things on the television for a long time AND a great advert for condoms.
Aired at 9pm on Tuesday 28 February 2017 on BBC One.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Let us know below…