Yahoo News Time viewers dub Sean Bean and Stephen Graham drama " almost unwatchable" — in the best way
Time episode 1 spoilers follow
Time viewers have dubbed the premiere episode "almost unwatchable" and "absolutely brutal", in the best possible way.
Starring Line of Duty's Stephen Graham and Games of Thrones' Sean Bean, the three-part BBC One series aired its first episode on Sunday night (June 6),
Written by Jimmy McGovern, Time follows the story of first-time offender and former school principal Mark Cobden (Bean) who is haunted by the crime that has landed him a four-year sentence — while prison officer Eric McNally (Graham) is tested when word gets out that his son is serving time in another correctional facility.
Related: Time review – Is the BBC's Stephen Graham prison drama worth a watch?
The first episode saw Mark's cellmate Bernard (The Pact's Aneurin Barnard) die by suicide, while another inmate was burned by a kettle filled with sugar and, posting to Twitter after the first episode aired, viewers praised the show's hard-hitting depiction of prison life, dubbing it "riveting yet equally uncomfortable".
"My palms were sweaty and my stomach was in knots but I couldn’t look away," said one viewer.
"Sean Bean is utterly superb, the script and direction are excellent," said another. "But it's so powerful and true-to-life that it's almost unwatchable."
"Incredible but absolutely brutal and punishing to watch," said another.
Below are a few more of their reactions:
Time on #BBC1 is unbelievably grim. Grim, but accurate. Really communicates the oppression, violence and alienation of prison life. Sean Bean is utterly superb, the script and direction are excellent. But it's so powerful and true-to-life that it's almost unwatchable. #Time
— Mark Gregory (@Gregom10) June 6, 2021
#Time was a very stressful hour.... prison is a bit of a phobia for me, not sure I’ll be able to watch next week. It was excellent though- fantastic performances and writing but very very stressful
— Hester Evans (@hesterevansf) June 6, 2021
Just finished the first episode of #Time - one of those hours of telly where you feel tense throughout. First class, particularly Sean Bean.
— James Welham 💙 (@jameswelham) June 6, 2021
Just watched the first episode of #Time @StephenGraham73 and Sean Bean made for a riveting yet equally uncomfortable hour of television. My palms were sweaty and my stomach was in knots but I couldn’t look away. Bravo 🙌
— Samuel McGarrigle (@savearewales) June 6, 2021
Oh my god I think I almost cried about five times during that opening episode Jesus, incredible but absolutely brutal and punishing to watch #Time
— Becca Parkinson (@becca_parkinson) June 6, 2021
If ever there was an advert not to break the law, that was it. #Time
— Elaine Penn (@EeePee13) June 6, 2021
"The uncertainty and fear and trepidation was something that I wanted to express, as though you’re looking at it through my eyes," Bean previously told The Times about portraying Mark.
"It's misery and horror and suffering. I hope that comes across."
Time airs Sunday nights on BBC One. All three episodes are available on BBC iPlayer.
Watch: Martin Compston shares Line of Duty pranks with co-star Vicky McClure
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