Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
Cast: David Morrissey, Sheridan Smith, Olivia Coleman, Sean McGuire, Izzy Meikle-Small, Bill Milner, Justin Salinger, Lashana Lynch, Mohammed Ali, Ancuta Breaban, Raj Ghatak, John Hiorns.
We have all looked at the person on the other side of train aisle at one time or another and caught a furtive glance coming our way, thoughts of introducing yourself brushed aside by responsibility and those waiting at home.
The premise behind the engaging The 7:39 takes that further by starting off the railway flirtation with an argument over a seat on a packed train. As Carl Matthews, played by the ever superb David Morrissey and Sally Thorn, a captivating Sheridan Smith, get to know each other the attraction becomes unavoidable. Then the truth of human nature kicks in and like the initial argument over a seat, it all boils down to territory, what becomes acceptable in the pursuit of finding yourself once more and just whose territory, whose life, are you actually invading.
Whilst there are always the usual throwbacks to Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson’s affair against the back drop of Britain’s love affair with the steam railway in the film Brief Encounter, this two-part drama was more of a comment on 21st Century love, the ease of changes to territories, personalities and boundaries and the complexity of life in the modern age. For a drama that was initially reliant on flirtation, the second part of the programme relied almost too heavily on the sexual aspect and the fallout of the relationship far too rushed. It is a shame that three great actors, the aforementioned David Morrissey, Sheridan Smith and the utterly compelling Olivia Coleman were not given more time away from the bedroom scenes in which to really captivate the television audience.
Whilst the ending was satisfying, territories resettled and the dull and regimented aspect of Sally Thorn’s life having been resolved, there was more than a pinch of wondering if like a lot of dramas if the plot would have worked better if having one more episode in which to really show the complexity of human life and affairs of the heart,
The 7:39 was ultimately enjoyable but if it wasn’t for Mr. Morrissey, Ms. Sheridan and Ms. Coleman the whole thing may have struggled to leave the station.
Ian D. Hall