Marriage (TV series) explained

Genre:	Drama
Creator:	Stefan Golaszewski
Director:	Stefan Golaszewski
Cinematography:	Ali Asad
Editor:	Simon Reglar
Producer:	Lyndsay Robinson
Network:	BBC One
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English
Num Series:	1
Num Episodes:	4
List Episodes:	Episodes

Marriage is a 2022 British television drama series, starring Nicola Walker and Sean Bean as a married couple in a long term domestic relationship.^[1] It was created, written and directed by Stefan Golaszewski.^[2] The four-part series opened on 14 August 2022 on BBC One. It was simultaneously made available in full to stream, on BBC iPlayer.

Cast

• Sean Bean as Ian, Emma's husband who has recently been made redundant
• Nicola Walker as Emma, Ian's wife who is a solicitor
• Chantelle Alle as Jessica, Ian and Emma's adoptive daughter and a singer
• Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Jamie, Emma's boss
• Jack Holden as Adam, Jessica's abusive boyfriend and a record producer
• James Bolam as Gerry, Emma's father
• Makir Ahmed as Mike, Emma's colleague
• Kath Hughes as Claire, Emma's colleague
• Ella Augustin as Maxine, an employee at the local leisure centre
• Hector Hewer as Kieran, an employee at the local leisure centre
• Shona McHugh as Emily, an employee at Jamie's company who is on work experience
• Kemal Sylvester as Paul, Emma's brother
• Miles Barrow as Mark, a restaurant employee who befriends Jessica

Production

In September 2021, it was announced that the BBC had commissioned Golaszewski's new drama, starring Walker and Bean. It was a co-production between The Forge and The Money Men, in association with All3Media International.^[3]

The theme tune is "Partita for 8 Voices: No 1, Allemande", an a cappella work by the American composer Caroline Shaw.^[4]

Reception

The series received mostly very good reviews from critics, and mixed reviews from viewers.^{[5] [6]} The Telegraph praised the first episode and gave it five out of five stars.^[7] Ben East of Metro, similarly, praised the first episode and gave it four stars.^[8] Rebecca Nicholson for The Guardian gave the first episode four out of five stars, remarking, 'There is a pitch-perfect realism to the way these characters talk without really saying anything, then put across what they really mean while saying nothing at all. It’s so cleverly done.'^[9]

By contrast, Nick Hilton, writing for The Independent, gave Marriage two out of five stars, adding that the show would "bore you to tears".^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Marriage is largely tedious – Sean Bean's new TV series finally gets it. The Independent. Sturges. Fiona. 14 August 2022. 14 August 2022.
2. Web site: Sean Bean and Nicola Walker to star in new Stefan Golaszewski drama, Marriage, for BBC One. BBC. 24 September 2021. 15 January 2022.
3. Web site: Nicola Walker and Sean Bean to lead BBC relationship drama Marriage. Radio Times. Julian. Joe. 24 September 2021. 15 January 2022.
4. Web site: Doherty . Réiltín . Marriage theme tune is annoying the hell out of viewers - what is it? . Entertainment Daily . 22 August 2022 . 21 August 2022.
5. Web site: Marriage: BBC viewers divided over slow, realist Sean Bean drama. The Independent. Harrison. Ellie. 14 August 2022. 14 August 2022.
6. Web site: TV tonight: Sean Bean and Nicola Walker argue over a jacket potato. The Guardian. 14 August 2022. 14 August 2022.
7. News: Marriage, review: Sean Bean and Nicola Walker will shake you out of complacency . The Telegraph . 14 August 2022 . Rees . Jasper .
8. Web site: Marriage on BBC review: Sean Bean and Nicola Walker deliver acting masterclass in authentic relationship study. Metro. East. Ben. 14 August 2022. 14 August 2022.
9. Web site: Marriage review – Sean Bean and Nicola Walker are pitch perfect . . 14 August 2022 .
10. Web site: Marriage review: Sean Bean and Nicola Walker's marital non-drama will bore you to tears. The Independent. Hilton. Nick. 14 August 2022. 14 August 2022.