Doctor Foster Series 2 (2017) - Review

Starring: Suranne Jones, Bertie Carvel, Tom Taylor & Jodie Corner

Written By: Mike Bartlett

Directed By: Jeremy Lovering

Certificate: 15

 

The first series of Doctor Foster had a noticeable presence in the UK's television landscape, and it eventually became one of the biggest and most popular shows of 2015, taking home BAFTAs, NTAs and more. While I personally found the original series to be a solid bit of television, I'm still reluctant to show it the same acclaim that many others have towards the show, and I even finished my review of the first series expressing doubt as to whether it could sustain a second series. Nevertheless, with immense popular appeal and some incredibly high ratings, the BBC soon ordered a Series 2. But the big question now is whether Doctor Foster needs a second series to continue Gemma's story, or whether we're simply cashing in on a popular format.

 

Two years after the events of the first series, Gemma and Tom receive a note announcing the now-married Simon and Kate's return to Parminster. Gemma, dismayed at her ex-husband's return, discovers that Simon, Kate and their new baby will be moving in nearby in a large luxurious house. Not only has Simon returned, but he soon tells Gemma that he wants her out of the picture, so that he and Kate can live their new life in peace. Although she is initially defiant, when even Tom appears to want to go and live with his dad, Gemma soon realizes she'll have to go to some extreme lengths to get her life back...

 

Given how the first series concluded, a second series of Doctor Foster was obviously going to have to do something different, and the best possible course of action was for the show to become a “revenge” drama. At first, it appears that's exactly what the new series was going for, and make no mistake, Series 2 gets off to a positive start with an enjoyable first episode. We get to see Gemma and Simon having to endure and accept each other's presence, before they eventually drop the pretence and start taking shots at each other, much to the delight of everyone who stuck through the first series. Yes, it's shallow and cheap to want to see these two characters attacking each other, but I can't deny its entertainment value. We all have people in our lives like Simon, who we can't help but despise, and when it wants to, the second series appeals to our primitive desire to get back at them. Besides, it's not as if Gemma isn't justified in wanting to bring Simon down. It's Simon who appears to have barely suffered, and how can it be right that he gets the happy family, the financial security and the big house after everything he did? How can it be right that Gemma has to pack her bags and leave? And when the first episode ends with Gemma literally melting her old wedding ring in acid, in a wonderfully melodramatic and over-the-top scene, it feels like s*** is really about to go down...

… That is until you tune in to watch the second episode, where the biggest problem with this series becomes apparent. Rather than focusing on the “revenge” element, the series regresses to simple bickering back and forth between Simon and Gemma. By trying to be mature and sensible, when for once it doesn't need to be, it kills the pacing, trying and failing to revert back to some ill-suited relationship drama. (Spoiler Warning!) This problem lasts throughout the middle of the series, the lowest point coming in Episode 3, with the most uncomfortable and unbelievable scene of the series as Simon and Gemma end up having sex. Episode 2 and 3 dawdle and become so dull that by the time we reach the penultimate episode, it's something of a relief when the focus switches to Kate. (Spoiler Warning!) It's incredibly cathartic to see Kate so empowered and leaving Simon by the end of the episode, and given her role in the first series, the character has clearly come a long way.

 

What doesn't help the lull in the middle of the series is the lack of audience identification – none of these characters are particularly likeable. Even though Gemma had several moments in the first series where she could come across as unlikeable, here she's all over the place. In the space of one night, Gemma gets drunk having dinner with a friend, stalks both Tom and one of his friends from school, and even finds her way into a late night rave. What GP appears drunk at a schoolboy's window, still carrying a bottle of wine, asking to come in and talk – the scene itself is almost creepy in the way it's staged. Simon's hardly a character we can fall back on, still being just as manipulative and detestable as ever, and not even Tom fares much better. The first half of the series sees him acting hostile and withdrawn for reasons that aren't made clear, and it isn't until we understand why that these problems get ironed out. I honestly don't think I'd want to know anyone in Parminster – the new GP at the surgery comes across as very frosty, practically all of Gemma's friends still go to Simon's return party despite what he's put her through – these people all feel so disconnected and disinterested in each other. The only exception I can think of is James, Tom's schoolteacher and Gemma's new boyfriend. He seems like a friendly guy, but he really feels overlooked by everyone around him, including the writer himself who seems to treat James like little more than an afterthought.

 

Despite this dodgy characterization, one thing I can't fault is the cast, who are all still fully committed in their roles. Suranne Jones is still brilliant in the lead role, delivering a performance that balances power and control with a vulnerable side too. The rising star of the series however has to be Tom Taylor, who gets to prove what a great young talent he is in this series. His character gets a lot more to do this time around, and he's more than capable in the role. Also, while I don't want to spoil the series' ending, I have to say that I really appreciated the comment it makes about the devastation warring parents can have on a child caught in the middle. It's something I'm no stranger to myself, and it's a perfect idea for a series like Doctor Foster to tackle it.

 

The series also cannot be faltered in its production either, and it remains every bit as well-made as the first series. New director Jeremy Lovering proves his talents in the role within minutes of the first episode starting, thanks to a gorgeously shot opening montage and tour through the different locations used in the series. All the stops are pulled out when it comes to building up a sense of tension as well, with fantastic use of ambient music, framing etc. to make many scenes feel on edge. The series also uses the middle class homes and locations to its advantage in creating a good-looking series. It's something I forget to mention in my review of Series 1, but there's definitely a very middle class look and feel to Doctor Foster, however it's one that suits the series' content very well.

 

So in summary, what can we make of Doctor Foster's second series? In all honesty, I'm not sure a sequel was really necessary from a storytelling perspective, and by comparison, Series 2 is easily the more flawed bit of television. However, that isn't to say I didn't get any enjoyment out of it, and when it does buckle down and get on with it, the series has moments where it's firing on all cylinders and really delivering. If you were a big fan of the first series, then there's a good chance the second will deliver what you're looking for. It's a flawed, but decent bit of viewing.

 

 

Doctor Foster

  

6/10