Prisoners Wives Episode 2 & 3 Review

rating: 4

Prisoners Wives continues its run on BBC One with two more episodes to add to the lingering minds of the British nation. Will Kim be able to clear her husband's name? Can Aisling mend the relationship with her troublesome father? What about Harriet and the situation with her new romance and tearaway son? And of course, what about Francesca's ever downward spiral into the underworld? Episode Two and Three really take these stories in different directions, and in many ways, test the morals of the characters and if the path they are heading is the right one. I resume the praise of the acting, which remains top notch throughout the episodes, as well as the carefully crafted storytelling that is both realistic and eventful. The acting remains high as ever, as each female lead is thrown in new drastic situations that test their morals and beliefs. One of which is Sally Carmen's portrayal of Kim, who goes through extreme lengths to ensure the freedom of her husband, and the restoration of her family. But in doing so, she herself goes through a drastic downfall physically and mentally. Another striking performance is that of Karla Crone. The audience begins to realise that Karla's character of Aisling, isn't as grown up as she believed, when she enters into a passionate embrace with Matt, Francesca's son. With that, we see a more vulnerable and torn Asiling as she struggles to understand what she really wants in life. Francesca's story and character also go through major twists. As Francesca is embroiled deeper into the criminal underworld, it begins to tear her family apart and lead them into darker paths. Francesca crosses paths with DCI Fontaine, a cop who is hot on Fran's ever so paranoid tale, as her list of crimes get bigger and bigger. Meanwhile, Harriet (Pippa Haywood) is caught in the middle of two people who are very much important in her life. One is her son Gavin (Adam Gillen) who constantly demands various things from her mother, and Ian (Adrian Rawlins) who is a growing ray of hope in Harriet's life. The feud between both characters culminates in a gruesome scene which sees Harriet making a bold decision that could have repercussions for Gavin in the long run. Its a sad story, but one that really brings out the best in everyone involved and ultimately makes Pippa Haywood and to an extent Adam Gillen the most noticeable of the stars in the series. Prisoners Wives does well to keep the realism intact, and provide us with a rich world full of complex characters with different personalities and lifestyles, but all with one common connection of being stranded without their soul mate, and surviving with only their instincts and responsibilities to guide them.