David Tennant's performance in the third series of BBC drama Time has been described as 'BAFTA-worthy' by viewers, who have also called the new season 'harrowing' and 'devastating'. The show returned to BBC screens on Sunday evening (October 11) with a new setting and story.
Tennant plays the leading role of prison officer Bobby Bailey in the latest season of Jimmy McGovern's acclaimed drama. Siobhan Finneran reprises her role as prison chaplain Marie-Louise O'Dell. The season takes place inside a Young Offenders Institution (YOI) and explores the consequences of imprisoning teenagers and the pressures faced by those responsible for them.
New season synopsis
The BBC synopsis reads: "Prison Chaplain Marie-Louise comes to the YOI having lost her faith. When tragedy strikes in the prison, Marie-Louise clashes with veteran officer Bobby Bailey, a man in the midst of his own crisis."
"Bailey knows more about the circumstances that led to this major incident - but will he come clean before the guilt gets too much? Meanwhile, two teenage young offenders, Peter and James, struggle through the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration."
"Can James ever face his broken parents after an unforgivable act of violence and will Peter tell the truth about the death of an innocent man, or does family loyalty mean more? An unlikely friendship between them looks to shift the trajectory of their futures, but in an increasingly unstable environment, is change ever possible?"
Fans react to the 'bleak' series
The third series aired its first episode on the BBC on Sunday evening (October 11) at 9pm. The first and second series of Time aired in 2021 and 2023 respectively, so fans have been waiting some time for the programme's return.
The second episode of Time Season 3 aired on Monday (October 12), but some fans had already binge-watched the entire show on iPlayer and appeared to share a similar opinion. Taking to Reddit, fans discussed their thoughts on the programme, with many noting that the series was a tough watch.
One wrote: "Feel numb after watching that first episode." A second viewer who completed the series penned: "Just finished the final ep of series 3. It’s excellent but harrowing." A third added: "I couldn't sleep last night because of it. Don't think I'm going to watch the rest, loved the first series but this was too much."
Someone else revealed they had to stop the show after episode 1: "We decided not to watch the others. We loved S1 and 2 but this was just piling on the trauma with a shovel." Yet another agreed: "The new series of Time is absolutely devastating but brilliant television."
Tennant praised by viewers
While fans agreed the programme was very bleak, they praised Tennant for his portrayal of the prison officer in the grim BBC show. Speaking on the same Reddit thread, one viewer wrote: "This is quite bleak but the acting is fantastic. I just wanted to cuddle David Tennant!"
A second praised: "Watched it all this morning. Another BAFTA for David Tennant I imagine." Someone else agreed: "I thought Tennant was brilliant. Complete utter misery suits his acting style very well. A pretty hard watch but compelling in that I couldn't turn away."
The second episode of Time Series 3 aired on Monday (October 12) on BBC One at 9pm. All three episodes are also available to watch on iPlayer.
