For better or worse
MARRIAGE BBC1, 9pm
FROM the simmering tension while loading the dishwasher, to an argument over a jacket potato and discussions about holey underwear – this drama is about as true a depiction of marriage as you might find.
Sean Bean and Nicola Walker are as excellent as you’d expect as couple Ian and Emma, negotiating the ups and downs of their 27-year marriage.
Last night’s opening episode saw them return from a holiday in Spain and back to their normal lives. Ian has been made redundant and recently lost his mother, leaving him lonely and vulnerable.
Emma is doing well at work, but trying to balance that with Ian’s feelings.
Their daughter Jessica (Chantelle Alle) brought her boyfriend Adam ( Jack Holden) round to meet them and of course they hated him. Rightly so, he’s awful.
It’s a slow-moving, emotional drama, with all the frustrations and tensions hidden in little looks and glances, not great big showdowns.
We have had hints at an emotional breakdown in Ian’s past, a slight estrangement between Ian and Jessica, and a loss that has affected the couple deeply.
In tonight’s episode, Ian continues his job search with no success while Emma is excited to find she has the opportunity to go to a work conference, where she might get contacts for her business idea.
She’s nervous to tell Ian, but when Ian meets Emma’s boss and hears about the conference through him, he confronts her.
Emma’s father ( James Bolam) interrupts their anniversary plans and Jessica has an argument with Adam and looks for a way out.