STAY CLOSE

UK, 2021, 8X 45 minutes, Colour.

Cush Jumbo, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Daniel Francis, Jo Joyner, Bethany Antonia, Sarah Parish, Hyoie O'Grady, Poppy Gilbert, Dylan Francis, Tallulah Byrne, Youssef Kerkour, Eddie Izzard.

Directed by Daniel O'Hara, Lindy Heymann.

Stay Close is one of a number of miniseries versions of Harlan Coben mystery thrillers. Interestingly, very few of them have American settings, where Coben is from, but many have been transferred to England, 2 to Poland, and one each to France and Spain.

This is very British series, focusing on a woman who has three children and is about to marry her longtime partner, Megan, played by Cush Jumbo.

In the meantime, at a club called The Viper, there is a mysterious disappearance and suspected murder, the father of the victim harassing the police for a solution, with some shady contacts also with the police, and hiring a bizarre couple who mimic Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, call themselves Ken and Barbie, but who are ruthless in their torture and killings.

The plot becomes very complicated when one of Megan’s daughters is involved in the disappearance. And, mysteriously, her father moves the victim’s car into the river.

In the meantime, the local detective, played by a weary James Nesbitt, becomes suspicious about further disappearances around this time. His investigations led him to the manager of the Viper with whom he had a previous relationship (a strong performance from Sarah Parish), his obsession with a man who disappeared at the time.

But, the main complication, is the revelation that for many years, Megan was known as Cassie and worked at The Viper as a dancer, was pursued violently by the man who disappeared long since, was pursued at the time by an intense photographer, Richard Armitage. And, it all comes to a head in the present, some very interesting plot connections, some including a drug addict lawyer played by Eddie Izzard.

In fact, most of the resolution takes place in the final 20 minutes of the eight episodes series, but, satisfyingly bring all the elements together for a conclusion.

This series, like The Stranger, was produced by Daniel Brocklehurst and Daniel O’Hara who directed a number of episodes.

1. The popularity of the novels of Harlan Coben? The television series?
2. The British settings, the North the city, the woods, the club, police precincts, homes and apartments? The suburbs and streets? The musical score?
3. Eight episodes, the establishment of the initial crime, the complexities, the investigation, police, personal, the leads, the links, the solution, so much revelation in the final 20 minutes?
4. The time, the present, flashback 17 years, further flashbacks, memories and episodes, establishing the links?
5. The focus on Megan, her relationship with David, the family, the three children and their ages, the bonds in the family, the decision to marry, the engagement, the girl’s night, the men’s night and the sinister presence of Ray? Preparation course and the minister? Life at home, well ordered?
6. Carnival, Carlton Flynn and his going to the club, the importance of the Viper Club throughout the series? Young, seeing the two girls, getting them in the car, bringing them into the club? Drugs and the later interview with the dealer? The fights? Spiking the drink, the switch, his being affected, chasing the girls in the woods, the car, their escape? His death and the mystery? His father, wealthy, his girlfriend, the wife in hospital, his obsession to find the killers, hiring Ken and Barb, his responsibility, demands on the police, the ultimate arrest?
7. Broome, his age, working with Erin, the baby, bring it to work? His past, affairs, with Stuart Greene’s wife, with Lorraine? His obsession with the disappearance of Stuart Greene, 17 years, the dates in April? The range of other disappearances? Puzzle about the dates, realising the Carnival was the centre? His work as a detective, the photos, obsession? The role of his boss, fussy, interventions and demands?
8. Megan as Cassie, the flashbacks, her past, harsh upbringing, getting the job at Vipers, liking it, sense of family? The obsession by Stuart Greene, his brutality? Her disappearance, a new life? With David in the family? Going back to Vipers to sense the past, wearing the wig? The encounter with Lorraine, the connection with Stuart Greene? Lorraine talking about seeing him? The bond between the two, confiding, the investigation?
9. Lorraine, her motivations, the liaison with Broome, meeting with Cassie, the affair, her cancer, her telling Ray that Cassie had died of cancer? The encounter with Ken at Vipers, his following her, her killing him?
10. Ray, the past, photographer, obsessed with Cassie, always at Vipers, his home, the wall of photos? Friendship with Simona, the military background? Her boyfriend and his mysterious death? Meeting Lorraine, Lorraine telling him the Cassie had died of cancer? His going to the woods, the arch, the blood on the stone, the body? Sending the police the photos anonymously, their identifying him, the interrogation? The interlude with the students and training them to be photographers? Carnival night, his going back to Vipers, seeing the two girls, photographing them, identifying the car, following them, seeing Cassie, the effect? His dependence on Fester, the friend from the past, in the present, telling the truth, supportive? The importance of the flashbacks, his wanting to see Cassie, the discussions with Broome?
11. Harry, his past, drugs, legal advice, Cassie and the thugs trying to rob her, bashing them? The case, Cassie exploring the house with Mrs Green, returning with Harry, the basement and the locked door, the posters? Seeing Ken and Barbie outside Harry’s? Their coming in, the torture, wanting information?
12. The man accosting Jordan in the park, the posters, Cassie confronting him at Vipers?
13. Ken and Barbie, the past, Gilbert and Sullivan, singing and dancing, torturing and killing? The dancer from the Vipers, abducting her and killing her? Harry and his death? The abduction of Kayleigh, Cassie tracking down, the rescue, the injury to Ken from the car, the going to see Flynn, Barbie fighting with Cassie, the knife, her death? Ken going to Vipers – and the irony of Lorraine killing him?
14. The police boss, fussy, with his daughter and the recital, in the pay of Flynn, the information about Cassie, locking her in, the confrontation with the two, Ken killing him?
15. The past, the prisoner for 19 years, the interview, information, his release?
16. The meeting in Cassie and Ray, resolving the relationship, Cassie wounded, in hospital?
17. Broome and Lorraine, Broome discovering Ken and the dead body, realisation of the truth? Audience surprise at Lorraine, her life, motivation, the story of her brutal husband, killing him, carnival and the consequences? But not killing Flynn? The issue of the body 17 years earlier, Cassie discovering it, Ray seeing it, fearing for Cassie, chopping it up and distributing it?
18. The wedding, the revelation of the truth about Flynn, Dave and the car, the bond with his daughter, getting rid of the car, the irony of Flynn is still in the boot of the car?
19. A satisfactory revolution of all the strands? And the future of Cassie and her family?