Channel 4's new drama 'Falling', written by Jack Thorne, attempts to explore a forbidden romance between a nun and a priest, but the result is a disjointed and unconvincing mess. Despite a stellar cast including Keeley Hawes and Paapa Essiedu, the characters fail to speak or act like believable adults, undermining the central love story from the outset.
The plot follows Anna (Hawes), a nun who has lived a sheltered life for 20 years, and Father David (Essiedu), a dynamic young priest working in a deprived area of Bristol. Their first encounter, where Anna burns herself while cooking for David, leads her to abandon the convent and confess her love. This rapid shift feels forced and lacks the depth needed for a meaningful romance.
The dialogue often jars, with lines like 'YOU are lovely, Graham! THESE are vegetables!' highlighting the inauthenticity that pervades the series. Thorne, known for gritty dramas like 'This Is England' and 'Adolescence', seems out of his depth with the emotional and religious themes, rarely making the relationship ring true.
Anna's behaviour is infantilised, conflating naivety with childishness, while David's backstory unfolds predictably. The series also fails to address the weight of breaking religious vows, treating it as an afterthought. However, subplots involving David's work with a troubled teenager and his relationship with his sister show flashes of Thorne's usual skill.
Ultimately, 'Falling' is a swing and a miss, but given Thorne's track record, he will likely return with something better soon.
