Five Days promised much more than it ultimately delivers. The idea of telling the story through five key days had potential, and its setup as a crime drama seemed solid. But in the end, the result falls somewhere between emotional thriller and ensemble portrait, without fully succeeding in either direction. The main issue is that it's hard to connect with the characters. Despite good performances from actors like Penelope Wilton and Hugh Bonneville, their conflicts feel underdeveloped, and the

Excellent British police/crime drama. HBO has only Season 1, so I don't know a thing about Season 2. Well, written, well-paced, moody (considering the suburban setting, that's something), and always involving, it features a lot of outstanding acting. I'm beginning to think I will happily watch Janet McTeer read a telephone book--she is fabulous. The only real misstep: the unbelievable transformation of the teenage daughter from self-involved, sullen cunt to warm, wise-beyond-her-years girl.