The Control Room

source:season-1 episode-3

source:season-1 episode-2

source:season-1 episode-1

9.5/10 .... Lately, I've found myself in a bit of a funk getting into new tv series, however, I had no issue jumping into the action packed world of the control room. The show offered a refreshing take on the 'ordinary man who finds himself thrust into a crime filled world for which is he unprepared'. Typically, shows of this nature tend to lean into unique or established character traits that miraculously save the day such as their ability to hack computers (showing off their sophisticated tech talk) or connect with people emotionally, these shows often turn the characters into incredible crime fighters despite having no history of being physically capable of keeping up with professional fighters. I enjoyed the earnestness and sincerity in which Gabe confronts danger, he reacts as a person who is not only unprepared but one who wants to be as far away from this scenario as possible. Gabe's innocent, friendly nature leads him to making decisions which many would not as he struggles to make heads and tails of what is going on; the character is trapped with guilt that follows from decades ago, that not only added to his loyal and devoted personality, but also signify just how lost this fully grown man is in the regular world as well as the world he finds himself thrown into. We see how the past interconnects with the present through a series of flashbacks which were not only well acted but edited so seamlessly, too. It has become common for dramas or thrillers to use flashbacks within the last few years, something that many viewers can be irked by, however, I found the flashbacks to be entirely necessary to the story telling and part of the foundations in which this show is built. The acting throughout was a treasure, our lead Iain de Caestecker gives a phenomenal performance with major references to the third and final episode in which he is put through more than one ringer. De Caestecker is able to perform the role with precision, bringing Gabe to life in a way that no other actor could as the naive, loyal yet uncertain Gabe; De Caestecker takes you on the journey with him and even when Gabe responds questionably to a scenario it feels entirely authentic to Gabe's personality and motivations. Taj Atwal, Sharon Rooney, Stuart Bowman and Daniel Portman are also notable mentions as they did well with the roles given. It is a well rounded cast of talent as even the smaller roles managed to feel authentic to real life, with credits to the actor who played young Gabe. My biggest struggle was the character of Samantha as I feel that she was shrouded in too much mystery within the first two episodes before we see more to her character in three. Although the show is through Gabe's perspective and we learn who Samantha has become with Gabe, the lack of information given on this character can sometimes lead to a slight disconnect. That is not to say that Joanna Vanderham did not do well with the role, she was great, merely that there was a case of too many cooks stirring the pot when it came to character choices. Finally, the portrayal of a distant relationship between father and son is nothing new yet this thriller made it feel so uncomfortably real that you couldn't help but yearn for the characters to reach out to one another. A concerned father meddling at the wrong moments could have led to diabolical circumstances, in another thriller it may have led to a wrong person at the wrong time scenario and Gabe having to deal with unresolved family tensions or resentments. And yet, it is that final scene when the two reunite that makes this show so unique; although their lives have become disconnected and they live likes ghosts stuck in a loop, they have a chance to set things right and work on their relationship which is possibly the most satisfying ending and surprising ending you could expect for a thriller. I appreciate wholeheartedly that the writers went in this direction as opposed to a cheap and unresolved ending.