The Killing Kind (TV Series 2023) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
32 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
5/10
Very boring
mariared-849-82329110 September 2023
I watched it as it had great reviews, but for sure not real reviews as this series is very childish, with weak character development. Unbelievable and very tiring with constant going back and forth with the action.

Constant flashing of her remembering things that happen two minutes ago. Is a challenging to resist through 6 episode, a lot of unnecessary long scenes of her walking or being sad and remembering traumatic events not enough explained in reality. All I can say I was very dissapointed by this series. Not a fan of the main actress before, not a fan now. She is very annoying in all the series I saw her, playing the same character that seems a good girl but in reality it is not.
32 out of 52 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
good with some frustrations
SnoopyStyle11 December 2023
Ingrid Lewis (Emma Appleton) is a barrister in London. Two years earlier, she successfully defended John Webster (Colin Morgan) against stalking charges. Over the following two years, she had an affair with him despite being engaged to Mark Orpen (Elliot Barnes-Worrell). She had a mysterious fire at home which killed someone else. She broke up with Mark. Finally, she accused John of stalking her. Her mentor Belinda Grey gets hit by a car and killed. She suspects foul play but the police puts it down to an accident. John insists to her that he's not responsible and that someone else is coming after her.

I like that this starts with a suspect and keeps creating more suspects. Emma Appleton is a striking girl with some acting abilities. John Webster could work even better if he's less stereotypical suspicious. I imagine a dashing and well put together charmer. There is the slightest of cliffhanger, but I hope they don't do what I think they're going to do. It's a good mystery yarn six episode limited series except for a few annoying problems. The biggest twist is the least appealing. It's a bit too convoluted. Then there are the artificial writing constructs. The cops are always too slow or too callous. Nobody ever believes our female lead. She has a tendency to ask the right questions, but rarely push for a proper answer when she's given the run-around. These mysteries often have some or all of these artificial constructs to build tension of an underdog lead. It becomes noticeable in this series. All in all, I find this series engaging, but sometimes it does frustrate me.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Took ages to get going and when it did it was quite predictable
JRB-NorthernSoul11 September 2023
I liked the premise for the show but the execution was really poor unfortunately. Adapted from a crime novel by Jane Casey but given a different ending the script was lacklustre and so were the impassive cast, where was the drama?

As far as production values go, this was quite badly directed with a lot of shakey and distracting camera work and curious choices in the scene setups. There were also endless shots of Emma Appleton pacing the streets of London for no reason?

It just took ages to get into the story, which wasn't helped by an over reliance on flashbacks, by the end of the first episode I'd lost interest and I won't be watching any more.

Disappointing to see there's a lot of glowing reviews here that are obviously fake - nearly all posted by first time reviewers.

Could have and should have been an awful lot better, one you can safely skip.
4 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
The manipulative charm of John Webster
Ariel_ily8 September 2023
Let's start by saying that I had already read Jane Casey's book and devoured it in two days.

Hence the high expectations for the TV series of the same name, The Killing Kind, starring two talents of the calibre of Emma Appletone and Colin Morgan.

The series diverges from the book on a few points and has a completely different ending, an ending that at first left me a little bewildered but then, reasoning with a cool head, I realised that it is absolutely consistent with the manipulative charm of John Webster (Colin Morgan)

I finished the six episodes all in one go and often found myself gasping for breath, almost moments of apnoea so much was the tension.

The two protagonists brought to the screen a set of feelings that make you not want to take your eyes off the screen even for a moment.

The anxiety and insecurities conveyed by Ingrid (Emma) envelop you and you feel her fear The charismatic charm of John ( Colin ) attracts you like a bee to honey, you can't help but love, you can't help but desire, you can't help but trust him And that says a lot about Mr Morgan's acting qualities But can John Webster be trusted?

His charisma says: yes I love you, you can trust me Who knows if he'll be the right choice?
17 out of 33 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Atmospheric, but goes nowhere
simbiat1 October 2023
This show is atmospheric, but, in the end, goes nowhere with the plot.

The shots, the music, the overall direction is able to maintain an atmosphere of... Distress? Uncomfort? It delivers on feeling that something weird is going on, and you do question everyone's motives, which is, probably, the point of the show. It also periodically adds new characters, so that you would think: "Aha! Now this person is the real culprit!", but... What ending you can deduct from the show's premise - that's what you will really get. All the characters turn out to be quite flat, and the whole show is just a poor attempt at "mind tango". Which is too bad.

You see, the show actually is centered on a very real problem of mental abuse so strong, that you can not escape it yourself, even when you know you're suffering. Even though things in the show might be somewhat exaggerated, this stuff does happen and ruins people's lives. It had opportunity to be deep and properly complex, similar to how "Cruel Summer" was (at least 1st season: I haven't watched the 2nd one yet). Alas, opportunity totally wasted.
0 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Very dull show, unlikeable characters
han_9 September 2023
Are the people giving this 10 stars watching the same show?

I had high hopes for this because of the high ratings on here.

But the main character is so utterly idiotic it's impossible to sympathise and relate to her at all. I found myself not caring what happened to her as she made endless stupid decision after the next and took the few decent people in her life for granted.

It felt self absorbed, dull and repetitive and things some characters did towards the end of the series seemed out of character for them and more just in line with where the script needed to go.

Predictable dull end with a small cliff hanger we are supposed to be excited about, but are not in the slightest. This does not deserve a season 2.

If you are a fan of crime drama's do not waste your time on this!!
40 out of 55 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
I loved it!
zippitydodah26 October 2023
This was an excellent miniseries. Some people think it's "boring". I however disagree entirely.

The two stars of the show were wonderful.

Emma Watson did a fine job portraying the vulnerability in her character. I had zero problems with the flashbacks in the show. Because I understood what the director was going for. In the best selling book, the author does the very same thing!

Colin Morgan, as always, was exceptional in his role. He portrayed the ambiguity of his character perfectly.

I finished the series last night, and will be watching it again in the future!

For those who do not need instant gratification in a storyline, and instead love the slow burn of suspense, I highly recommend this show.
3 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Slow, dull, and cheap.
darrelltill9 September 2023
Gave this a try because of the very high score... quickly realised that the score was based on a handful of fake reviews, and because this is buried on a streaming service nobody has, there probably won't be any real ones any time soon. It seems like a case of a book (that I haven't read) translating very badly to the screen. There isn't much character development. I was constantly asking questions as so much felt unlikely out unbelievable. It's also very cheaply made, with overuse of a mainly green colour palette to try and make it look 'cinematic'. If you've watched this and thought it was guff too then please do review it honestly and help others get a more balanced score.
36 out of 59 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
The CAST made this show an excellent watch!
wynflaethpendragon6 October 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this show! The two leads were EXCELLENT.

I remember Colin Morgan played the lead role in a show called "Merlin". It was a worldwide hit. How absolutely wonderful to see him again! TREMENDOUS actor.

Emma Appleton also does a very good job in the show.

The naysayers of The Killing Kind must not be watching the same show I'm watching! To rate this show below a six, is ridiculous and actually offensive. What's the deal folks? Is there some kind of agenda? Are you one of the writers on strike, hate Paramount Plus?

The show has lots of twists and turns. I loved that. And the great videography and music heightened the suspense.

I enjoyed every minute of it. And I'm going to grade it what I think it's worth.

I was going to grade this a nine. But instead, I'm going to grade it a TEN to offset the appalling, nonsensical bad reviews of this show.
3 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Great performances, AWFUL story
natashafitzsimons10 September 2023
The cast is brilliant, cannot fault them at all. However, as a woman, I categorically could not possibly play the main character of Ingrid. She is the worst of all women. Lying, manipulative, using people as soon as they're possibly useful to her and then abandoning them. Putting people in danger, knowing that they could end up dead. She is coke, and dismissive, and yo yos constantly. Not to mention the way she does her job is despicable. The story is ok, but the MOST predictable thriller I've ever seen which is disappointing. Saw exactly where it was all going, and couldn't roll my eyes any harder. All in all, a real waste of time. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
18 out of 31 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
But it's Colin morgan
surfingnaked113 September 2023
So I though Colin Morgan and Kerr logan. This has to be great. Not so much . As usual Colin Morgan is great. His acting is so far above this series. I can only think they paid him a fortune. Kerr logan another favorite of mine is so undervalued here. He's always great to watch but they really don't use him well here. Very undervalued. The story line is very slow and boring. They need Vera to do a cameo to liven this plot up. But I watched it as I will watch anything with Colin Morgan. Best advice fast forward and just stop when you olin. Then fast forward.. the screenplay is very bad too. I don't know why they don't get David Kelly to partner up with Morgan Ang Logan for a detective drama. That would be great.
7 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Breathless
terryphil_909 September 2023
Beautiful series Intense plot, full of twists and turns Perfectly acted by the entire cast, primarily Emma Appletone ( Ingrid ) and Colin Morgan ( John Webster ) The two create a state of emotional tension that leads the viewer to want even more You fear for Ingrid and at the same time you would trust your own life to John The two have created fantastic chemistry Colin Morgan is truly special, you can't help but love him His talents are innate It's not just bravura, no, it's something beyond bravura.

His John manages to draw you in, to make you feel loved Would you trust him?

Certainly Colin Morgan once again demonstrated his immense talents.
15 out of 33 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
The watch if nothing better to do kind
kcmryrnj10 September 2023
Poor storyline left me not caring who the killer was. Acting was marginally better. Although I did watch all of the episodes, I really wish I hadn't bothered just because the plot became more and more far fetched by the minute so you really need to suspend your belief in order to watch this. It was a real shame as I thought the whole premise sounded good and the first couple of episodes seemed promising but the further on it went the worse it got. There are far more superior crime dramas to watch out there and unfortunately this really doesn't cut the mustard I'm afraid. Not much more I can add really.
11 out of 23 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Great suspenseful crime drama!!
michelevickers-8600015 September 2023
What's going on with the hysterical sounding horrible reviews?

Should it win an Emmy? No.

But NEITHER does it rate a four or below grade. If we're all being "HONEST" here.

I thought the show did a fine job in creating suspense and drama. Emma Appleton and Colin Morgan were wonderful. I especially admire Colins' acting abilities. Always have. And enjoy watching him in 'anything'. He did not disappoint in this show.

I've never heard of Emma Appleton before, but thought she did a very good job.

Each episode has its own little surprise moment and I loved that.

People are complaining that Emma Appleton's character makes dumb and stupid decisions.

Folks, don't you know people who make dumb and stupid decisions? Do you watch the news, or read the newspaper and see people make dumb and stupid decisions? Especially when it comes to love and sex! COME ON NOW!!

So yes, I thought Emma Appleton's character was very believable. If you don't believe other people can be that stupid, then you're suspending your reality.

The show is completely watchable, and at times very suspenseful. With excellent acting along the way as well. Check it out, I think MOST people will enjoy it!

Read the professional critic review on here. That'll give you a 'balanced' review.

And I'll tell you this much! It's MILES better than watching a silly, GOOFY movie called "Barbie"!! LOL, I want my money back.
11 out of 17 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
I thought this must've been a sixth form project
roy-6286110 September 2023
The series is absolutely dreadful. They are acting is wooden ; casting is terrible with no depth or concern for any of them. No one who is a suspect appears I have a job yet they all live in beautiful houses. It's the most disjointed and amateur series i think I've ever watched on television. If you want to retain your sanity, give this seriesa complete miss. In the end, you don't really care what happens to anyone in the series and the fact that someone who's killed halfway through appears not to have caused any concern at all to the lead character sums up how utterly awful this is. Watching paint dry is far more exciting Franklin.
8 out of 20 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Can you trust a stalker?
enjema8 September 2023
This series has started with me just like a sort of adventure. At first I read the book by Jane Casey titled like the series. It was so enjoyable.

It made me eager of the upcoming tv series.

Finally yesterday I watched the entire series.

Full of suspence from the first minute to the last keeping the spectator on continuous alert not knowing what will happen next.

I enjoyed the tv series just as much as the book.

Moreover I highly appreciated the acting performances of the entire cast, especially of the super talented Colin Morgan who was capable of perfectly portray a mysterious and dubious individual like John Webster.

This series deserve the highest rating.
11 out of 34 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Tedious and repetitive
Chancery_Stone13 September 2023
For some odd reason they've chosen to do recaps in a drama. Not the 'previously on...', we've got that too. No, they've decided to pepper the SAME flashbacks throughout the series, so we see the EXACT same shot of the heroine in her burning home, for example, over and over and OVER. By the time I was half way through the series I was also sick of the heroine's big round eyes. She only has one facial expression, one of consternation, which is used throughout. The script is pedestrian, the acting not much better, and the characters fundamentally annoying. It feels more like an episode of Eastenders drawn out REALLY slowly than a crime thriller. A big waste of time.
6 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Great Could have been perfect with praise
TheQueen_Mercury8 September 2023
Great acting performances Tense, intense, destabilising story An excellent book made for an almost perfect series, I say almost because they should have worked a bit more on the ending but this does not detract from a tense thriller where truth and lies chase each other Where love borders on obsession Emma Appletone and Colin Morgan brought to life two characters who, at a certain point, take you into their fears and delusions.

Episodes follow one another and you can't stop watching: YOU HAVE TO KNOW The need to understand whether to trust or not The need to believe those eyes that speak in silence Thank you Thank you for everything Thank you Emma and thank you Colin.
11 out of 25 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Boring & Dull
jayydee325 October 2023
So, the star of the show is a barrister and supposedly has some intelligence, so she keeps returning with wide eyes to the man who is a stocker ?? I didn't think she suited the role of a barrister. Ho humh! I also, could barely understand her as she speaks in a very low, almost a whisper of a voice. I thought that good diction was part of being an actor? Anyways, I immediately got tired of the flashbacks and the slow moving scenario, which became very boring and dull. Too bad, as the title is not what it seems. Some of the scenes seemed to carry on far too long as if they were filling in time. Very disappointing; the actors, the story and the plot. I don't think this could have been salvaged as it is just too bad overall to make a difference.
2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
senseless scentless
howboutthisone_huh14 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
You know how you smell a plastic flower even though you know it's plastic. This series is like that. I like brit crime dramas, even the ones that come out with twists at the end from nowhere you could have predicted as you're trying to be armchair cop. But this is not even close to the same level. It's slow, convoluted, silly, repetitive and dull. So spoiler, it starts with this woman thinking she's being stalked and then 2 episodes later, she's stalking the stalker and working with him to find out who the real stalker is. And much of that between are just scenes of her going from one lace to another. Lots of watching her like some mad obsessed stalker. Maybe the director was the actual stalker. If she was, that might make sense. On top of that all the characters including the main are pretty unlikeable. Who cast this anyway? All the actors seem to come from the 'furtive look school'. Sorry but. Emma appleton comes off in this as a sleep deprived teenager on meth spouting dialogue that makes no sense. Didn't they pony up for a story editor. Their role is to make sure that the story is told with some common sense. At times though, it is funny as the scene where the police, the stalker and the stalkee all show up at this trailer park to interview this potential other stalker. What in the world were they thinking? I mean, imagine you're the guy living in this small trailer with no curtains on the window and then these people show up 10 ft from your door and then the cop knocks first, and then his ex lawyer shows up just after the cop and then they all end up going to the bar after.
3 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Can John Webster be trusted
carollamerton9 September 2023
This six part thriller drama has you guessing on the edge of your seats. Who do you trust? Who don't you trust?

John Webster is creepy, but with good intentions. But is he telling the truth?

Although the TV series differs considerably from the book by Jane Casey , the only thing that annoys me slightly, is the switching back and fourth of the story. That can be rather confusing at times.

But having said that, it plays out brilliantly and the pieces slit together really well.

There are some heart stopping moments that make you gasp with 'Oh No!" And you need to keep watching to see what happens next.

Colin Morgan who plays John Webster plays his character to perfection. You never know what to believe about him. And Emma Appleton who is Ingrid Lewis plays off Colin really well.

As for the final ending, well what could I say. Nothing without giving the game away. But one thing for certain, if ever the TV writers wanted to do a second series, it definitely has potential and enough plot there to do so.

Besides Paramount + it is also available on channel 5.

Worth watching everyone.
6 out of 25 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Very dull. Waste of fine acting talent.
mike-499-20587113 September 2023
This takes an absolute age to get going. Constantly flashing backwards and forwards. Bizarrely, some of the flash backs have no bearing on the storyline whatsoever so I can only guess they were added as filler, and that's one thing this season really does not need. The whole story could have been told in a couple of hours maximum. Whoever wrote it needs to take a lesson from Strike, or Endeavour. There's nothing wrong with telling a story slowly but it needs to pull the viewer in and at least hint at some kind of direction. The actors here are out of the top drawer but have so little to work with you feel sorry for them. The streamers have come up with some great crime shows, like Slow Horses, but I'm guessing this isn't going to make it to season 2..
3 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Disappointing
coeluracat22 September 2023
I watched this based on a friends rave recommendation on how good it was - I was disappointed to say the least.

I literally had to force myself to finish all the episodes as by the second one I was bored.

The story centers on a barrister, named Ingrid Lewis, who defends John Webster against stalking charges, only for Webster to turn his attentions to her.

The story itself seemed drawn out with lots of repetitious flashbacks, poignant and pointless walks and silences that appeared to act as filler just to make it last 6 episodes. In the book, by Jane Casey, from which this series was adapted I could see that this would have been time used to give the reader the inner thoughts, monologues and mental turmoil experienced by the characters, however on the screen it really just resulted in boring overused filler that added nothing to the screenplay. The story is fairly basic and shallow with 'twists' introduced to try to fatten it up, however for those who like a good mystery it was obvious where this was all leading and the ending was no great surprise.

None of the characters were particularly likeable and failed to elicit even a modicum of empathy for the situations they found themselves in due to lack of character depth in failing to humanise them outside of the main mechanics of the story.

Ingrid Lewis, the main character, seemed to have no problem finding time in her busy schedule, as an up and coming career focused Barrister, to drop everything while she interfered in a Police Inquiry. John Webster being self employed it was easier to understand how he had the time available to come and go as he pleased. The other characters, whether victims or related family members didn't evoke any sympathy in the viewer and perhaps had some of the 'filler' time been devoted to fleshing out the characters a little this could have been avoided.

Emma Appleton was mediocre in the series. Perhaps it's just me but she seems somewhat limited in her acting skills, facial expressions etc. Or maybe she just tends to play repetitive characters.

Colin Morgan was excellent despite the poor script and screenplay he had to work with.

All other actors may have been very good but due to their easily forgettable characters they really didn't make much of a impact and were just there to provide some interest and complication in what was a fairly unimaginative story.

Overall if you have time to waste and don't want to engage your brain you may enjoy it. It's less of an edge of the seat story and more of a can I keep my eyes open to the end.

I rated it as 5/10 as it wasn't absolutely terrible but was no more than mediocre.
2 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Really good work
Roby_90abc9 September 2023
Absolutely brilliant, full of tension, twists and turns almost veiled and whispered but ready to destabilise you.

The two leads did a sublime job Emms Appletone as Ingrid proved to be quite a talent Colin Morgan as John Webster has once again proved his extraordinary skill, he can play any role without ever losing his edge and his characters are believable and real every time.

Just one note: I would have preferred a less rushed ending, but that doesn't detract from the fact that The Killing Kind is a full ten!

And remember, I say this as a man so my judgement is not seasoned by his charm: Colin Morgan is not an actor like the others, and on another level.

He would be able to play a rock and still bring it to life.
14 out of 35 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
An absolute mess
gerbaldo9026 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Of a show.

Ok, so I will attempt to back up my claim.

This series deviates from the book in a few major ways in my opinion. The biggest one being the ending, which is not necessarily a problem if it is better for TV or a better ending. This was neither.

The acting was below average and the characters were, in the main, unrelatable and highly unlikeable. The main female character has to be the thickest barrister to ever have existed. She seems to not realise that a man she defended of being a stalker and all the peoples lives she has ruined is not connected to anything happening around her. The "mastermind" stalker is also rather inept. Quite frequently, considering he is meant to be a master manipulator he does a very bad job at being consistent.

The ending was just so weak and predictable by then I just turned off mentally. How this will ever get a 2nd series is beyond me. The story will be so predictable given the TV ending how will there be any value watching it? And again the characters are extremely unlikeable and they all forgive each other in the end anyway, despite ruining each others lives. So that makes absolute sense.

I think there's meant to be some underlying message about the legal system and the impact it has on people's lives. But the writers are not equipped with enough imagination or skill to see it through. Absolute waste of time and a waste of Colin Morgan, who was good but not great.

It tells you a lot about people when the title their review "I love John Webster" who is A not a real person and B a manipulative psychopath who makes a woman stand outside in the freezing cold for 3 hours at a time. Get help.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed