Sometimes expectations are a dangerous thing.
I went into Down Cemetery Road expecting another series that would grab me from the very first episode, much like Slow Horses had done. Instead, I found myself struggling to connect with it. It wasn’t that the story was bad—it simply took much longer than I had anticipated to find its rhythm.
Had it not been for Emma Thompson, I might not have continued.
There is something remarkable about watching her in recent years. It feels as though she has deliberately set herself free from the expectations attached to her earlier career. Each new role becomes a completely different person, never relying on familiar mannerisms or performances that audiences already love. She disappears into her characters with an ease that very few actors manage.
That alone kept me watching.
Rory Kinnear is one of those actors I never actively look for, yet I’m always delighted when he appears. He has made a career out of playing wonderfully unusual people, and perhaps that’s why I enjoy watching him so much. He never seems interested in becoming a celebrity who is everywhere. Instead, he quietly turns up, delivers another memorable performance and disappears until the next unexpected role. Paired with Emma Thompson, and with the delicious awkwardness brought by their unlikely companion, the three create a chemistry that feels refreshingly genuine.
As the story unfolded, I began to appreciate its quieter pace and the atmosphere it was trying to create. It asks for patience rather than demanding your attention immediately. While it never reached the heights of Slow Horses for me, it gradually found its own identity.
Sometimes a series doesn’t win you over because of the mystery.
Sometimes it is one performance that quietly convinces you to stay.
WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW
