James Walton

Well-meaning thriller with moments of implausibility: BBC1’s Crossfire reviewed

Plus: on Channel 5 Michael Palin is still having bureaucratic trouble at border crossings

Keeley Hawes, as Jo, in BBC1's Crossfire. Credit: BBC / Dancing Ledge Productions / Luke Varley 
issue 24 September 2022

Crossfire was a three-part drama in more ways than one. Running every night from Tuesday to Thursday, it brought together a Die Hard-style thriller, an exploration of the complexities of family life (with particular reference to middle-aged womanhood) and a meditation on the nature of time. Odder still, it worked pretty well on the whole – though it was not without moments of frank implausibility.

Keeley Hawes played Jo, whose decision to book a holiday in the Canary Islands for her family and two others seemed a good idea at the time.

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY 3 MONTHS FOR $5
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Start your 3-month trial today for just $5 and subscribe to more than one view

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in