David Morrissey Delivers a Mesmerising Performance in ITV's Tense Drama 'Gone'
In ITV's compelling new six-part serial Gone, David Morrissey stars as Michael Polly, the head teacher of a minor public school whose meticulously ordered world shatters following the sudden disappearance of his wife. Morrissey's portrayal is nothing short of superb, capturing the essence of a man whose internal clockwork has explosively broken while his external facade remains deceptively intact.
A Man of Rigid Control and Secret Turmoil
Michael Polly, referred to as 'Mike' by no one except his overly familiar deputy head, is depicted as a strict disciplinarian, a stickler for rules, and emotionally distant—a man so tightly wound that his waistcoat might as well carry a warning label: 'Contents under pressure.' He commands immediate attention from pupils as he patrols the school corridors and can silence a morning assembly with nothing more than a steely, silent gaze.
Yet, beneath this iron exterior, Morrissey masterfully conveys a secret panic and turmoil. The more rigid Polly's expression becomes, the more palpable his inner chaos feels. Subtle hints suggest his self-control masks a deep-seated inadequacy. One insolent junior teacher openly questions his qualifications, and Polly himself privately admits to not having read as many classic novels as others might assume.
Unraveling Mysteries and Dark Turns
If Polly is capable of concealing such trivial secrets, what deeper truths about his relationship with his missing wife remain hidden? This central question drives the narrative forward, intertwining with a police investigation led by Detective Sergeant Annie Cassidy, played by Eve Myles. Cassidy, herself under a cloud after failing to solve a prior murder case, has been relegated to family liaison duties. She struggles to extricate herself from a complicated relationship with her smooth yet unsettling senior colleague, DI Craig Stanhope, portrayed with creepy charm by Peter McDonald.
As rumours swirl through the school and the search for the missing woman takes a darker, violent turn, Gone adheres to classic whodunnit conventions. Suspects abound, including school staff, potentially some pupils, Polly's troubled daughter Alana (Emma Appleton), his frosty in-laws, and a mysterious contact known only as 'Claire' on a mobile phone. The revelation of Claire's true identity provided a cliffhanger surprise at the climax of the second episode, heightening the suspense.
A Nostalgic Yet Chilling Depiction of School Life
Viewers under the age of fifty might find the school's portrayal overly caricatured, questioning whether any teacher could be such a martinet or any regime so sadistic. However, those educated before the 1980s may recognise this environment all too well, feeling an additional chill unrelated to the plot. The show prompts reflection: were schools truly this cold and crocodilian? The answer, for some, is a resounding yes—with some institutions being even nastier.
In a lighter aside, the series contrasts with other programming, such as Dom Chinea's Cornish Workshop on Yesterday, where practicality triumphs over extravagance. While Jeremy Clarkson might flaunt an £85,000 Lamborghini tractor, Chinea opts for a basic 1948 Field Marshall machine to fix potholes, proving that a beast of burden often outshines a show pony.
Gone stands out as a gripping exploration of repression, mystery, and the fragile nature of human control, anchored by Morrissey's hypnotic performance and supported by a strong ensemble cast.
