Viewers of BBC’s Time left divided with some calling it too ‘tough’ to watch

TV viewers watching the latest series of BBC crime drama Time have been left divided with some calling it too ‘tough’ and ‘distressing’ to watch.

Jimmy McGovern’s award-winning prison drama, starring Bella Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker and Tamara Lawrance saw the second series premier on Sunday, October 29th.

The crime drama first hit TV screens back in 2021 and starred Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. 

Siobhan Finneran is the only actor to feature in both seasons as she plays the role of chaplain Marie-Louise.

The show’s synopsis about the three-part series reads: “Told through the lens of three very different inmates, Time is a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a women’s prison.

“Arriving at Carlingford Prison on the same day, Orla, Abi and Kelsey are thrown together to face an unfamiliar world. 

“But even with the ever-present threat of violence within its walls, they discover that an unexpected sense of community, and a shared understanding, still might be possible.”

Sunday evening’s episode showed Ramsey, 20, Whittaker, 41, and Lawrance, 29, as they all arrive at a prison in Liverpool on the same day.

Ramsay’s character Kelsey is a scam artist struggling with a drug addiction, while Whittaker plays single mum, Orla, who is imprisoned for a crime that hardly warrants the harsh punishment she has been handed, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.

And, Lawrance plays Abi, who is serving a life sentence for murder. All three women must navigate their new harsh reality of daily prison life.

Spoiler alert…

As the season develops we get to learn that Kelsey is pregnant while locked up, and ends up having to give birth in prison.

Knowing all this, it will come as no surprise that this crime drama is grim, gritty and dark. It is sure to send anyone through a whirlwind of emotions.

Some viewers have called the show ‘distressing’, ‘difficult to watch’ and even ‘traumatic’. Many praise the ‘stellar cast’ who were each ‘phenomenal’ in their roles.

One person took to X (formerly Twitter) to type: “just finished #Time and wowwwwww this show and every single performance in it was PHENOMENAL.”

Another viewer put: “The second series of Jimmy McGovern’s #Time is compelling, heartbreaking, healing and highlights the devastating impact of poverty and desperation.”

UK charity Children Heard and Seen posted: Thank you to @WriterHBlack, @harkin_andrea and #JimmyMcGovern for highlighting the impact imprisonment has on children in last night’s episode of #Time on the @BBC.

“It’s so crucial to have the voice of the child represented in the media. #parentalimprisonment.”

Someone else wrote: “Distressing but utterly outstanding drama. Excellent acting and Bella Ramsey is beyond talented #Time.”

However, others weren’t quite so impressed and some even found it too tough to watch.

One person wrote: “I wasn’t that impressed with the 1st ep of #Time. Bella Ramsay character was too green considering she’s been inside twice before. 

“The pacing seemed off; it was too hurried. Woman who threatened the other inmate was nowhere near hard enough. Saving grace was the excellent Jodie W.”

Someone else posted: “It was very distressing – a very hard hitter and a tough watch. Hoping for a little more light to balance the shade as the series continues.”

And another called it ‘beyond grim’ but admitted it was just so ‘powerful’ they didn’t have the ‘bandwidth’ for it.

Time is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.