Jack Thorne's harrowing BBC drama 'Best Interests' has stormed into Netflix's top 10, nearly three years after its original BBC broadcast in 2023. The four-part series stars Michael Sheen and Sharon Horgan as Andrew and Nicci, loving parents forced to make an impossible decision about their teenage daughter Marnie's medical care.
Plot and Performances
Marnie, played by Niamh Moriarty in her first screen role, has been left brain-damaged and comatose due to a rare form of muscular dystrophy diagnosed in infancy. The family's world, including older sister Katie (Alison Oliver), revolves around hospital visits, treatments, and ultimately a courtroom battle. The crisis is triggered when Marnie's doctor Samantha (Noma Dumezweni) suggests it may be time to discuss whether continuing treatment is right.
Andrew and Nicci adopt increasingly divergent approaches to fighting for Marnie, with Sheen's character growing skeptical of Nicci's commitment to keeping her on life support. The series draws from real-life cases like Charlie Gard and Archie Battersbee, where parents lost battles to prevent life support being withdrawn.
Critical Acclaim
The show has been met with universal acclaim, scoring a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised its emotional yet never melodramatic handling of the subject matter. The Times wrote: 'We see, inch by inch, exactly what these parents are losing. I defy anyone not to cry.' The series was also commended for avoiding demonizing NHS workers, who are portrayed as facing their own impossible dilemma.
Thorne told Deadline: 'I was tying myself in knots about how to do Best Interests, and then I realised it could be parents on either side. As soon as it was that, everything unfolded. It was a lightbulb moment.'
Cast and Impact
Moriarty, who has a form of cerebral palsy in her legs, said she became obsessed with landing the role after sending in a self-tape. She stated: 'Everyone involved in Best Interests was so proud of the story that we were telling because most people on that set had a personal connection to the story.'
Best Interests is available to stream on Netflix and BBC iPlayer. The series joins Thorne's other Netflix hits like 'Adolescence' and 'Toxic Town', further cementing his reputation as a powerhouse writer for the streamer.
