Steven Knight's new six-part series, This Town, about the formation of an 80s new wave band, initially feels oppressive but quickly becomes compelling. The show, set in Birmingham and Coventry, follows aspiring poet Dante (Levi Brown) and his extended family as they navigate music, terrorism, and personal demons. Despite early reservations, the series rewards patience with intelligence, ambition, and anarchic spirit.
The story centres on Dante, a gentle oddball who writes poetry but cannot compose music, and his friend Jeannie (Eve Austin), who writes music but not lyrics. Their creative partnership is just one thread in a larger tapestry involving Dante's cousin Bardon (Ben Rose), whose father Eamonn is deeply involved with the local IRA. The family's struggles under terrorist rule are portrayed with rare intimacy, showing how fear permeates every aspect of life.
Dante's older brother Gregory (Jordan Bolger) complicates matters as a British soldier stationed in Belfast. A family funeral under surveillance by special branch forces him back to the Midlands, driving much of the latter half of the series. Meanwhile, gangster Robbie Carmen (David Dawson) opens a music venue as a front for drug dealing, recruiting security and acts. Dawson delivers a terrifying performance, particularly in a gruesome scene that may unsettle viewers.
Levi Brown, in his first lead role, is extraordinary as Dante, capturing the character's oddness while keeping him human. The entire cast digs deep into Knight's bold, brilliant writing, bringing out profound heartbreak and wisdom. The show's music, created by Dan Carey and poet Kae Tempest, adds another layer of authenticity to this ambitious drama.
