Holding (I) (2022) User Reviews

Stick with it, it's worth it in the end.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 8 April 2022]

Sergeant PJ Collins has his hands full when a body is uncovered, believed to be that of a man who vanished some years ago.

I can see why many of the reviews are negative, had I only stuck with the first two episodes, I'd have been a dissenter too, however, if you stick with it, and see the last two installments, you'll be pleasantly surprised, it has a massive upturn in quality.

The story does take a little time to come to life, and in the first two episodes, you'll be struggling to understand exactly what it is, however it transforms I to a light hearted, engaging murder mystery.

The acting is the best aspect, Conleith Hill and Siobhan McSweeney are both terrific throughout, both manage to make their respective characters very ordinary, but very real, they really do deliver. Look out for a knockout performance in episode three from Brenda Fricker, she is first rate.

Amazing visuals, if you've ever been lucky enough to travel to Cork, you'll know first hand how glorious it is, it's breathtaking.

Give it a chance, it eventually won me over, 7/10.

Sometimes people miss the point.

[harrycarson · 8/10 · 30 March 2022]

I read in one review that the accents were wrong. Really? Which? Protagonist is from the north east. One PC is Dublin. Several have authentic Cork with natural lilting inflection. Not everyone in a town will be born there y'know.

Brenda Frickers ' monologue', a masterful lesson in unraveling a history. Again, so authentic I could be listening to my mother/aunt/elderly friend.

Woke? Pffft. Wake up and look beyond the obvious and you might find gold.

I don't understand the bad reviews

[gallagherkellie · 7/10 · 29 May 2022]

I've only seen 3 episodes so far as that is all that is streaming in Australia, but I really like it! It's comedic and lighthearted but still deals with serious topics and has some good drama. The acting is good, the characters are flawed and realistic. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest - I might leave another review once I'm done just in case I change my mind!

Worth watching for Brenda Fricker

[stevev-34095 · 7/10 · 3 April 2022]

I'm only up to episode 3 and it's dangerous to review modern thrillers before the final episode because they usually fall apart. One thing that stands out in Holding is that the actors are given the opportunity to act. Episode 3 is worth watching just for the scene where Brenda Fricker's character talks about her past. Better than average (so far).

I liked it

[clairedoobie · 7/10 · 5 April 2022]

No ok it's not the best thing ever. But it was a pleasing mystery with great characters and splendid acting from the leads.

I'm wondering what the problem is with some people. So you can't please all the people all of the time and everyone has different tastes. Fair enough. But it appears to me that everyone who complained about 'woke ', 'virtue signalling' and 'shoe horning in characters' were seeing things that just aren't there. No it wasn't all 'white men bad' women all good. Hardly. There were a couple of lovely male characters especially PJ who had his demons for sure but came up trumps at the end. And not all the women were noble and strong. How anyone can come to that conclusion is beyond me.

One reviewer wondered why many high ratings reviews criticised the low reviews. Was it because so many appear to be misogynist, racist or homophonic perchance?

Loving it!

[themurphys-11710 · 10/10 · 26 March 2022]

Watched 3 of the 4 episodes so far and I think it is absolutely brilliant! I'm Irish by marriage and completely recognise the characters and the way they interact and communicate. It's incredibly poignant and full of pathos - perhaps 'modern' Ireland will no longer produce these tangled stories of family secrets, but by God, this story is delivering in spades! Delaying watching the final episode as I don't want it to end...

Not 100 mile an hour bed hoping.

[dermotthussey · 7/10 · 5 April 2022]

Anything with Conleth Hill and Brenda Fricker has to be worth watching.

You can find faults with every over hyped drama on television these days.

Just keep to simple story telling.

Simply Wonderful !!!

[goldismine · 10/10 · 28 March 2022]

Slow burner new series brilliant from start to finish, can't understand the low ratings,I'm hoping the Itv makes another series, maybe it's my age bit I found it fresh ,dark and funny and a good ending thanks to the Itv.

Overlong messy melodrama

[manschelde-1 · 6/10 · 15 March 2022]

The source material was thin in the debut novel by Graham Norton, but the rewrite for television rather over egged this particular pudding.

It has too many extra characters that were difficult to care about, and who seemed to be there for woke reasons.

Maybe could have been tighter as a two hour or even 90 minute story, pared down fewer characters.

The emotional heart of the story is contained in two scenes, the monologue of Mrs Meaney (Brenda Fricker) and that of Abigail Ross (Helen Mehan) both of which were strong and memorable.

But some of the rest was drivel but still watchable.

Pacing was slow in parts but otherwise direction was ok for me so I hope Kathy Burke does more directing work for TV.

So disappointed

[jenlew52165 · 2/10 · 15 March 2022]

I'm actually half way through the book Holding by Graham Norton who I love as an author. Imagine my delight when I saw it had been made into a TV drama! Unfortunately though it has been thoroughly butchered and just doesn't work. I get that the story and characters have been adapted for TV however this has resulted in the heart of the book being lost. Some of the characters just don't make sense and seem superfluous. I like to see diversity on screen but this verges on woke with some of the characters seeming highly unlikely for a small West Cork town. The comedy aspect also feels forced, unnecessary, almost sketch like and just not funny. It gets in the way of the story and I couldn't take it seriously or, frankly, watch on. Its a shame as Graham writes wonderful characters and there are some great actors in the cast. I feel this has been a wasted opportunity.

Maybe you have to be Celtic or Northern

[amsaltcoats · 9/10 · 3 April 2022]

I thought this was terrific with great characters. I'm on the west coast of Scotland rather than in Ireland but I recognise the setting and attitudes and find them all to be believable.maybe you have to have a rural Celtic or Northern background to fully appreciate the mild humour and the secrets and the shame etc.

I also enjoyed seeing people, especially the women, who look real with real looks and figures - normal, pleasant, naturally attractive people and no one tottering around in farms and in the countryside in high heels. And it was great to see a mature romance between less than svelte people.

I very much hope there will be a second series.

Entertaining with some great performances

[tm-sheehan · 7/10 · 23 September 2022]

My Review Holding Streaming on SBS on Demand

My Rating 7/10

There are some similarities in the plot line in Holding to the recent Emilia Fox 3 part series Signora Volpe . Both centred around rural village life and local characters Holding set in Cork Ireland Signora Volpe in Umbria Italy .

Both series centre around the discovery of human remains on a demolition site and both involve long hidden secrets concerning the origin of the human remains found.

I mention both series because I enjoyed the Italian characters and the beautiful settings of Umbria more than I did the comings and going's of some of the really unmanageable and rather unpleasant characters in the fictional remote Irish village of Duneen in County Cork Holding is a television adaptation of an award winning novel by Television show host Graham Norton . His debut novel set in an idyllic Irish village where an Irish police officer Sergeant PJ Collins, a gentle mountain of a man, who hides from people and fills his days with comfort food and half-hearted police work has to sort through decades of gossip and secrets to solve a mysterious crime.

The series really brings home the pitfalls of living in an isolated community where the town gossips can make life miserable. Really the only characters that I any had empathy with were the lesbian characters Florence who wants to leave the village with her partner Susan the local school teacher and move to San Francisco if I had the misfortune to live there so would I .

There are some fine performances from the predominantly Irish cast that includes Conieth Hill, remember him as Lord Varys in Game of Thrones in a total contrast he is delightful as the affable but easily flappable village garda Sergeant PJ Collins . Siobhan McSweeney who I recognised as the host of The Great Pottery Throwdown is cast as Brid Riorda . Siobhan gives a great touching performance cast as a dutiful daughter who was jilted at the altar and now sole career for a sick elderly eccentric mother who keeps putting her down undermining her self worth while both are drowning their sorrows in alcohol.

All the cast are terrific and it was a delight to see the veteran Irish actress Brenda Fricker who won the 2010 Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her brilliant performance as Mrs. Brown in My Left Foot . In Holding Brenda plays Lizzie Mean the cleaning lady who has seen it all her monologue in episode 3 describing being raped as a young woman is so moving.

It's not a criticism but I suggest watch this series with subtitles as I found some of the dialogue is lost with the heavy Irish accents.

I enjoyed Holding but was surprised it was so serious I think I was expecting some Irish humour from the village characters especially as it's author is Graham Norton.

.

Odd Irish comic crime drama that doesn't come off

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 5/10 · 14 March 2022]

Conleth Hill plays over the hill copper P J Collins in a sleepy village with nothing more than a full Irish breakfast on his plate. Until there's a murder that is...

Well its a feel good murder mystery/comedy and nothing wrong with that but it was poorly executed.

Story, script, pacing and the tone were all a bit off. It was a very modern drama with seriously oddball characters but the protagonist was dull and old-fashioned and seemed to belong in a different show. Actually I think I'd rather watch the other show. Bit of a mess.

Good Irish Crime Drama

[Sspecial38 · 7/10 · 7 May 2022]

This crime drama is set in the beautiful West Cork and with the lovely Cork accent flowing through it.

Characters are complex and likeable with good depth.

Kathy Burke has done a good job in directing and captures humour, love, drama and complexity.

It's a good Saturday evening watch and has enough twists and turns to keep your attention.

It's as good as it gets

[johnwwwatson · 6/10 · 16 March 2022]

I don't agree with the reviews maybe they're really upset with something else. I enjoyed Episode 1 though casting was social/political - my opinion. Hollywood has done the same, casting someone a smarter race and the other race is stupid. Evident in EVERYTHING to come out of Hollywood. But why is the UK casting a local small town merchant or senior detective this way. Other than that, typical UK fare with good actors, scenery and story. I could watch 100 episodes thank you very much.

Watch the whole thing.

[rchrdcorteel1 · 9/10 · 22 July 2022]

This is a gentle, developing program that draws you in slowly. It is well worth sticking to the end. Particularly.amazing is Brenda Frickers monologue in episode 3. It is a masterclass in acting, all on it's own. I ended up viewing it a second time, and it is just as impressive as the first viewing. She should win an award for that speech alone.

Worst TV-series ever!!!

[junk-22224 · 11 August 2022]

After watching the first episode I was almost chocked at the low quality and predictable story. Watching it was almost painful. Conleth Hill aspires to be a modern version of "comedian" Benny Hill! Puke! Puke! British crime TV-shows are usually very entertaining but this should buried and forgotten for ever!

The Luck of the Irish

[Prince-P · 6/10 · 2 August 2022]

We all know that Graham Norton is a TV host with his own chat show. Described by the British press as the "21st century's answer to Terry Wogan", he's been highly successful. But the fact that Norton also writes novels in his spare time comes as news to most of us.

The first of his books, "Holding", has now been dramatized into a four-part TV series. The action takes place in an idyllic little village on the west coast of Ireland. At the centre is PJ Collins, a middle-aged, overweight police officer who's never faced an actual criminal case in his life. When the body of a murdered young man is found on a construction site, everything changes, though.

In true English crime show tradition, "Holding" is both well-written and well-acted. Filled with quirky, interesting characters you won't be bored for a second. While PJ Collins desperately tries to solve his first homicide, one can only hope that Graham Norton finds time to write some more books.

Very special

[fieryangel2 · 10/10 · 17 March 2022]

Somebody said this a version of Mrs Browns Boys . It's absolute not . There's no condescending cliched humour about thick Irish " characters" . This is riven with subtlety , pathos and and a gentle humour . It has no slapstick , no funny drunks , : I would call it a drama not a comedy . It's very bravely acted by the two main protagonists and very moving . I'm sorry people just dismiss it because you have to think a bit and not just belly laugh . Beautiful shot and directed this is rather special.

not as funny as advertised

[dklecan · 7/10 · 10 March 2023]

Pros: location and the acting skills of the protagonists. I had no idea that Conleith Hill, who played Sgt. Collins was the same father of the psychiatrist in Vienna Blood, which I viewed last week. In Vienna Blood he plays an affable, often goofy father and businessman. In Holding he plays a very multi-dimensional detective. He incited many emotions from this reviewer. Creepy, nerdy, pathetic, heroic, addictive, empathetic. Do Have to point out that gluttony is a new vice for a detective and a change of pace from the stereotypical alcoholic policeman.

Another excellent role was Mrs. Meany and her long soliloquy about having her baby. Even though you knew what she was going to say the way she told her story was extraordinary, full of humor, bravery, and pathos.

Cons: the ads and trailers for this TV show depict a murder mystery a la Brokenwood Mysteries or Death in Paradise with quirky characters and funny situations but I found little humor. In fact most of the situations filmed demonstrated the negative side of human nature such as gossip. Suicide, abuse of a minor, addiction and murder.

A small thing that bothered me was the relationship between Sgt. Collins and his out of town younger superior. It was a very odd on-again off-again chemistry. They worked together then they didn't, a hint of homosexuality then not (occurs with both Collins and the shop-girl). Maybe a device to introduce humor, but not needed?

Holding is not your funny quirky murder mystery, but not as super serious like Vera....something in between.

Dreadful

[janeuknow · 1/10 · 15 March 2022]

The only reason this was made into a drama because it's a celebrity. It's awful. It's wooden. IT's cringeworthy. So sick of virtue signalling and box ticking. Just doesn't fit and makes it annoying to watch. And if we're to have tick boxing at least get the accents right. I won't be watching another episode.

Gentle, sometimes wicked humour, great acting

[SarsaParilla_Sunrise · 9/10 · 20 March 2022]

I found this four-part comedy drama utterly beguiling, sometimes tragic in places, yet endearing. Superbly acted and given a great number of my family are Irish, I know where I get my propensity to talk around the houses, wending a path to the final point of the story, but it forces a person to actually listen and pay attention to what is being said because you'll get a lifetime of knowledge about several people in just one short story which can seem an extended chapter of War and Peace.

Thoroughly enjoyed Conleth Hill, Siobhan McSweeney, Charlene McKenna, Olwen Fouere and Brenda Fricker - oh my goodness, Brenda Fricker, how she made me howl with laughter while cringing at times.

Some other reviewers have commented on there being awful misandry, is there ever good misandry? Regardless, I didn't see any, I did see a reality from the eras and culture this mini series contained.

Thoroughly enjoyable, great performances from the entire cast and a huge thank you from me.

Simply not very good

[mark-89214 · 3/10 · 15 March 2022]

Sat down looking forward to a new series and what a disappointment. We really did try by watching the whole of the first episode but will not be watching the other three in the series. If you like Mrs Browns Boys you might like this more than we did but we don't. If was meant to be funny it wasn't, the characters were just to over top, too much shouting and as a result the crime drama part of it was just lost in the mess. What a shame as it had so much potential.

I loved it.

[imeldag-63411 · 8/10 · 16 March 2022]

There are so many negative reviews but I actually loved it. Maybe my Irish background helped. I loved the Irish humour in it. Just don't take it too seriously.

Irish comedy

[dbhxrfq · 8/10 · 13 April 2022]

I really liked this series, a great Irish comedy / drama. Good characters and an easy to follow plot.

Not meant to be the best but enjoyable .

I thought Brenda Frickers monologue was great.