Viewpoint - The DVDfever Review - Noel Clarke - ITV Drama

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Viewpoint: 2nd UPDATE 30 April 2021: The finale is now on the ITV Hub, and it’s just there for 2 days at the time of posting this. I assumed it would be seven days, but 2 is very small indeed. I expect it’s actually three days, but like iPlayer, it rounds down, so as it’s just under 3 days at the time of posting, it says ‘2 days’. Thoughts about the finale come later in this review.

Viewpoint UPDATE 30 April 2021: ITV have confirmed that the finale will NOT be broadcast on ITV tonight, and that it’ll only be available on the ITV Hub for “a limited time”. At the time of posting this it’s not yet online, but while yes, I have seen the finale, if anyone asks me the outcome, I’ll go all ‘Joanne Davidson’ on them and say “No comment”.

Clearly ITV think this is a serious enough issue to pull the finale, and this Doctor Who Q&A interview has also come to light where Noel Clarke is talking about John Barrowman and how he kept getting his penis out on set, and waving it in the faces of women because he thought it was oh, so funny… Ugh, he sounds insufferable.

Honey you've got a big storm comin pic.twitter.com/7cOl4w6R0T

— Kieran Highman (@The66Ramblers) June 18, 2019

Here is the official press release from ITV, today:

• “ITV has a zero tolerance policy to bullying, harassment and victimisation and robust procedures in place to investigate and deal with any complaints. We strongly believe that everyone deserves to work in a supportive and safe environment.

  In light of the very serious nature of the allegations against Noel Clarke raised by 20 women in the Guardian’s report, ITV has decided it is no longer appropriate to broadcast the final episode of the drama Viewpoint on ITV main channel this evening.

  “We are mindful that some of our viewers have already invested four hours of their time over the past four nights in following this thriller which was due to conclude this evening, and they have yet to see the final episode. As such we plan to make it available on ITV Hub tonight for a limited time for any viewers who wish to seek it out, and watch its conclusion.”

Viewpoint UPDATE: ITV have confirmed that the nightly drama series is continuing, despite the allegations that have been announced tonight regarding Noel Clarke allegedly sexually assaulting at least 20 women who have come forward. However, BAFTA have suspended him, following giving him the Outstanding British Contribution Award to Cinema on April 10th.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled review: Viewpoint is so-called because DC Martin Young (Noel Clarke – SAS: Red Notice, Twist, Bulletproof) carries out stakeouts on potentially nefarious individuals. The actor also recently won the 2021 BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award for being the person best able to play Noel Clarke in everything.

In the frame for this series is Greg (Fehinti Balogun), seen early on striking his better half, Gemma (Amy Wren). They’re right opposite Zoe’s (Alexandra Roach – Utopia) flat, hence for a good look, Martin sets up his camera equipment there. Zoe’s also taken an interest because she’s got to know Gemma at the local nursery.

It’s not long before the usual cop tropes kick in, because Martin has a difficult homelife, having to abandon the job for a few hours because his son’s in hospital, being treated for a bump on the head. And of course, telling Zoe not to use the equipment falls on deaf ears and made her turn into James Stewart in Rear Window, spying on the neighbours and seeing some bad stuff go down… leading to a moment where watching her trying to take a picture of a moving car was hilarious, since it wouldn’t focus. At least she realised that – all too often, dramas show someone taking important pictures with a single snap, without taking time to line up the shot, and it all comes out perfectly(!)

However, Martin has other issues, since he mumbles a lot and has a face on him that looks like he’s just dropped the biggest fart ever, and hopes no-one will notice.

Also, why is every police HQ set on a floor in a run-down building with no plaster on the walls, and builder support stilts instead of pillars? No cop shop would operate like that. Who in TV Dramaland keeps thinking that’s realistic?

Seeing how the first episode panned out and ended, there was about half the content than there was the running time, and since this is spread out over five nights, it could’ve been crammed into two or three episodes with ease, based on the opener.

On the plus side, Viewpoint is set in Manchester, with none of those pesky, murderous caves that Intruder had.

On a COVID-related note, Bronagh Waugh – who plays Martin’s colleague, DC Stella Beckett – said on today’s BBC Breakfast that everyone on the cast had a COVID test every 2 days, so they were able to act in close proximity and touch each other, rather than standing three miles apart like some soap operas.

Note, that after broadcast of each episode, the following updates may contain spoilers:

UPDATE Episode 2:

Spoiler Inside	SelectShow
When Stella was taking pictures of Greg in a nearby shop just across the street, it would be painfully obvious to anyone walking past that she had a massive telephoto lens, so in reality, someone would’ve knocked on her window.

UPDATE Episode 3:

Spoiler Inside

SelectShow

I was starting to get bored with this, as none of it was making any sense, also committing the cardinal sin of being quite boring. Zoe was continuing to basically do Martin’s job as she’s a stickybeak, while there’s complete tedium in Carl’s first wife Anna having gone missing, with him being in the frame, but no charges being brought. I failed to care. It’s also daft that Martin acts the maverick cop who stakes Carl by tracking his car and following him. Same goes for basically breaking and entering, going into buildings without a warrant. All of this information would be inadmissable in a court of law. In fact, there are so many characters brought up in this, to the point where I’m losing track and losing even more interest. Plus, the potential love interest between Martin and Zoe is just throws the baby out with the bathwater in terms of pointlessness.

UPDATE Episode 4:

Spoiler Inside	SelectShow
Nonsense was abound in episode 4 as Martin managed to zoom in on a document held by Carl which showed his address… wow, that’s the most amazing telephoto lens EVER! Where can I buy it? Any further of Martin and Zoe getting it on is just dragging out the tedium. However, there was a good tweet which shows who the baddie might be 😉 https://twitter.com/Samanth22356123/status/1387138747607703555

UPDATE Episode 5:

Spoiler Inside	SelectShow
So, we come to the finale, and as for which individual(s) did the deeds re: Anna and Gemma, I’m not saying here, but safe to say – what a load of preposterous nonsense.

Viewpoint continues on ITV tomorrow night at 9pm and is broadcast nightly until Friday, and after broadcast, each episode will be on the ITV Hub, and it can be pre-ordered on Blu-ray and DVD, ahead of its release on May 31st.

You can read the Guardian’s story about the Noel Clarke allegations here.

Episode 1: 4/10 Episode 2: 3/10 Episode 3: Zzz/10 Episode 4: Zzz/10 Episode 5: Nonsense/10

Director: Ashley Way Producer: Clare Shepherd Writer: Tom Farrelly Creator: Harry Bradbeer, Ed Whitmore Music: Jack Halama

Cast: DC Martin Young: Noel Clarke Zoe Sterling: Alexandra Roach Greg Sullivan: Fehinti Balogun DI Liam Cox: Phil Davis DC Stella Beckett: Bronagh Waugh Gemma Hillman: Amy Wren Carl Tuckman: Dominic Allburn Lena Jones: Kalia Brooks Caitlin Sterling: Kíla Lord Cassidy Chloe Tuckman: Lucy Chambers Sadie Walsh: Maud Druine DC Roly Dalton: Marcus Garvey Pavel Ludic: Hubert Hanowicz Tim: Andrew Hawley Janice Baines: Karen Henthorn Melissa: Sia Kiwa Dominic Banley: Phill Langhorne DC Hayley Jones: Shannon Murray DCI Jill Conroy: Sarah Niles Sarah Young: Carlyss Peer Wictor: Daniel Ponomari Donald Vernon: Ian Puleston-Davies Vic: Shane Senior Fiona Baker: Erin Shanagher Kate Tuckman: Catherine Tyldesley Lucy Graves: Emily Brady

Dom Robinson

Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.

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