Stefan Golaszewski's new BBC drama, Babies, is an exquisite exploration of life after baby loss. The series follows Lisa (Siobhán Cullen) and Stephen (Paapa Essiedu), a couple who suffer two miscarriages but struggle to communicate their grief. As Lisa notes, they feel 'so alone' in their experience, and they respond by tightening their bond and avoiding the topic.
The drama also delves into the relationship of Stephen's best friend Dave (Jack Bannon) and his new girlfriend Amanda (Charlotte Riley). Dave is a passive-aggressive 'wide boy' with a fear of intimacy, while Amanda is a complex character who oscillates between self-preservation and emotional honesty. Over six episodes, the two couples navigate their relationships and search for happiness.
Golaszewski, known for Marriage and Mum, employs a slow release of information, with minor revelations landing like bombs. The central thread is Lisa and Stephen's longing to conceive, depicted through quotidian montages of frantic sex and tearful pregnancy tests. The series asks profound questions about grief, selfishness, and the significance of death.
Babies is a feat of narrative engineering, blending unsettling, funny, moving, and emotionally devastating moments. While themes of toxic masculinity and generational trauma are slightly overplayed, and the theme tune is best ignored, the series remains a compassionate and beautifully acted triumph. As the characters might say, it's 'all good'.
