I've just finished watching Episode 6 of Between the Sheets - what a powerful, moving ending!
I suspect like a lot of people who enjoy RA's work, I began to watch this series with preconceived ideas that had been influenced by all the posts on various forums relating to some of the more intimate scenes. I had also watched what I now realise was an edited version on Youtube ... not only were the more risque scenes cut out, but a large part of the story line involving the main characters (not RA) were also cut out with the consequence that the impact was lost.
Three recommendations before anyone watches this:
1. Firstly, make sure you see the full version of the story - avoid any YTube versions that have been edited to show only scenes with RA in them and which leave out scenes with the main characters. The plot involving the main characters is all important.
2. Secondly, forget that the actor playing Paul Andrews is RA and try not to let any "thud" factors influence the viewing. He gave a fine performance and it's a pity so much focus is put on the love making scenes and not on his acting prowess.
3. Thirdly, there are some fairly explicit scenes in this show - most of the actors had to do scenes involving nudity - if that bothers anyone, then there is a fast forward button but make sure the viewer does not miss out on scenes essential to the story line. The explicit scenes are an important but not essential part of the viewing and I detected a subtle humorous note in many of them.
The story is largely based upon the lives of a couple who are at "that certain age". Hazel and Peter Delany have adult children, a comfortable middle class lifestyle but there is no "spark" in their relationship. Hazel (Brenda Blethwyn) who has been the dutiful wife and mother for many years and has made sacrifices in her own life and career to raise her children, has become dissatisfied with her life. This is made more apparent through comments made to her by her mother in law, Audrey, who has found love in her senior years and who, with her partner, Norman, has discovered the joys of an active, physical relationship. Liz Smith as Audrey, practically reprises her role as Letitia Cropley in the earlier series of Vicar of Dibley and adds some very light hearted moments to scenes that are actually very deeply serious and moving.
Peter (Alun Armstrong) is a business man (uses "property developer" as an alias) who considers himself the "bread winner" of the family and who believes that earning money to make his family comfortable and to give them every opportunity in life is of paramount importance. He however earns money in a less then socially acceptable way - by running lap dancing clubs - something he keeps secret from Hazel and his family. He in fact lives two separate lives - on the one hand he runs a profitable business, making money in the more seedier part of society, and on the other, he retreats to his lovely house and family and his passion for conserving herons in his home pond and stream. He has had affairs (as becomes apparent in each episode), but he also loves his wife and family. The double life he leads creates the conflict we see develop throughout the series.
Hazel, in her desire to find the "spark" that is missing in their relationship and in an attempt to overcome her distaste of intimacy (sorry, am choosing my words carefully to avoid spamming), makes an appointment on Audrey's recommendation with Alona Cunningham (Julie Graham), a sex therapist, for counselling. Peter reluctantly acquiesces to attend their appointments and his reactions to the questions asked of him and the suggestions made are very entertaining indeed. The performances of both Alun Armstrong and Brenda Blethwyn are memorable and their characters come to life for the viewer in a way that makes them attractive, believable and likeable. (After Alun's performance in Sparkhouse as Carol's father, I admit that I needed to see him play a character that I could sympathise with). Peter is by no means a saint but the mistakes he makes throughout his life are almost forgivable as he reveals to the audience that there is really only one woman he truly loves. There is a terrific scene near the end where he breaks down in Hazel's arms after discovering the death of one of his beloved herons. His vulnerability is enough to make Hazel change her mind about her feelings for him.
The story also follows Hazel's sexual epiphany and her brief affair with a younger man which ends in heartbreak for him as she realises she needs to be at home with her family. This is a superb performance by Brenda - the script is demanding of her in terms of not only emotional investment but also in the rather revealing scenes she is asked to perform. Her character faces the conflict of determining what is "right' and "wrong" - her Roman Catholic upbringing leaves its mark in terms of sin and guilt related to sex and she is forced to confront those issues before she can move on in her relationships. The discarding of her crucifix as she first meets her lover is symbolic I think, of her release from a past that was inhibiting. (It is replaced by her daughter in one of the final scenes). In a later scene, the death of Peter's beloved heron is also symbolic of the loss of all he has cherished and nurtured as he contemplates the break up of his family and the loss of Hazel. ("Herons mate for life", Peter constantly reminds people).
Running concurrently with Peter and Hazel's story is that of their son, Simon and his ex girlfriend Phillipa and Georgia, Peter's old mistress. This causes added tension in the family dynamic.
Also intertwined with Hazel and Peter's story is that of Alona Cunningham and Paul Andrews. Peter and Hazel are clients of Alona as mentioned above. They are there in order to discuss their relationship. What they are unaware of is the fact that Alona has problems of her own in that department. Paul's disinterest in a physical relationship is leading to great stress in the family.
The fact that he is accused of misconduct as a probation officer for young offenders adds to that stress. Enter Tracy who claims she has had a relationship with Paul and that she is in love with him. Paul does a good job of convincing everybody, including his work colleagues that he is innocent of wrongdoing and that any relationship is in Tracy's mind.
Paul and Alona's relationship suffers as he is suspended from work while an investigation takes place into the allegations made against him (relations with a client and a minor). They attempt numerous strategies to heal the rift of distrust that has grown between them. This rift has affected the physical side to their relationship. Interestingly, Alona presents to her clients as the all knowing counsellor who has the answers but in the final scenes, something so dramatic happens as to rock the very foundations of her professional image and personal life. Ironically, we see Hazel reaching out to her to provide comfort.
Humour and tension to the drama are added through the exploits of Alona's son from her first marriage and the au pair who has been employed to look after Fiona, Paul and Alona's daughter. It is a complex "blended" family dynamic that is based on rather rocky foundations - it appears Alona bases a large emphasis on her physical relationship with Paul (a boundary issue between her working and personal life?) and rather less on the feelings and emotions that form a strong, lasting relationship. The consequences are quite tragic.
Between the Sheets therefore is a beguiling drama about relationships. In the case of the two major couples, a lack of transparency and truthfulness and the guilt that goes along with dishonesty in a relationship is exhibited in an initial breakdown in the physical relationships in each couple. Discovery of the betrayal eventually leads to total breakdown in the dynamic between the two. It is interesting to note that both Alona and Peter are so wrapped up in their careers that they fail to see the problems in their own relationships until they are confronted by them. In Peter's case, he is lucky that Hazel forgives and is prepared to try to repair their marriage; in Alona's case, the relationship appears to be irretrievable. Mention here must be made of the tragic figure of Tracy, the young girl who claimed she had had a physical relationship with Paul while he was her probation officer; his rejection of her feelings for him; her willingness to lie on his behalf in order to save his professional reputation. The circumstances in which she was living is enough to engender sympathy - the ending is nothing short of heart breaking.
This series was superbly cast and acted. I won't offer any advice as such but my recommendation would be to forget about the more explicit scenes and nudity; forget what you read on the forums and concentrate on the real story - it is poignant and moving particularly at the end. I certainly had a tear in my eye. This would have to be one of my favourite dramatic performances from Richard Armitage to date along with Sparkhouse and North and South.
To conclude, the review here is worth reading before viewing:
"Between The Sheets is simultaneously the most verbally explicit and least gratuitously smutty programme on TV at the moment, which is quite an achievement. ........ Never judge a show by its trailers. Between The Sheets is a ripoff of nothing, brilliantly cast, superbly executed, alternately funny and moving, and with loads to say about the most universal, and ultimately important, human subject of all – sex." (TheCustard.TV)
Some final screencaps for our enjoyment.
Jo Armstrong makes a brief appearance at the wedding.
Another familiar face - Robert Glenister.
A fine dramatic performance from RA along with a great cast.