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“The Game” Series Review: When Retirement Turns into a Psychological Thriller

Exclusively on Pickbox NOW

Photo: Channel 5

The British crime mini-series The Game, which reigns supreme on Pickbox NOW, follows the story of a retired ex-detective who is by no means retired from crime. The series, which seems to be a product of the BBC's school of "psychological suspense detectives with a British touch and shabby charm", is another in a series of hits that manage to squeeze the most out of four episodes: tension, paranoia and that nagging question - is he real, or is it just "happening" to him?

Huw Miller: Retired, but by no means calm

Jason Watkins (The Crown, Right) does not play the role of Huw Miller – he actually lives a former detective who tries to say goodbye to his police badge, but his past grabs him by the collar and pulls him back into the game. And not just into the game – into The Game. We follow Miller through a period when he should be drinking tea, feeding pigeons and avoiding emotional breakdowns. Instead, he gets a neighbor. And not just any neighbor – Patrick Harbottle. Robson Green (the usually friendly face of British television) surprisingly shines here in the role “uncomfortably friendly” a neighbor who is either:
a) serial killer,
b) a complete psychopath,
c) a completely nice man with very bad timing.

The tension that grabs you from the first line "Catch you later"

And here it begins – not just a game, but a psychological duel. Patrick’s innocent phrase “catch you later” sets off alarm bells in Huw’s head. Why? Because it’s the exact phrase used by the infamous “Ripton Stalker” – an infamous case that destroyed Huw’s career, reputation and sanity.

In an instant, Huw becomes that neighbor guy who “randomly” stands outside the door with a bag full of trash and checks who borrows the mail. And the viewers? We ride with him into a spiral of paranoia, suspicion and (un)justified obsession. Each episode draws us into a psychological thriller, more like a crime novel, where it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish who is the hunter and who is the prey.

Photo: Channel 5

A production that bluffs like a poker pro

Interesting: The series, which is supposed to take place in a typical English neighborhood, is actually filmed on picturesque locations in the Basque Country and Cuenca, Spain. And while locals there have probably never seen a classic English teapot, the set design sales the illusion of suburban England with remarkable precision.

The series doesn't reinvent the wheel. Yes, we have all the classic elements: a traumatized detective, a killer who... maybe returns, the family that doesn't believe, the police that roll their eyes. But it's all done with enough sophistication and intensity that four episodes as they fly byAnd that is precisely the greatest strength. The Game – can be simple, yet tense like a British teapot just about to boil.

Watkins + Green = a combination that lifts the series

Jason Watkins, with his fragile yet unyielding interpretation of Miller, adds an emotional depth to the series that grabs viewers' hearts. However, the real joker in this game is Robson Green, who completely transcends his usual friendly TV persona. His Patrick is full of quiet menace, ambiguity and... smiles that make your blood run cold. Because in this game you never know - is a smile friendly or deadly?

A series that is more than just “another British crime drama”

The Game is proof that Channel 5 (in collaboration with Pickbox NOW) knows how to create a story that is short, punchy, and watchable in one evening – ideal for anyone who wants an intense detective experience without the marathon binge of ten seasons.

Yes, some of the plots are recognizable, yes, the reveal could have come later, and yes – some of the characters react as if they've never watched a crime series in their life. But you forgive all of that for the atmosphere, the acting, and that sweetly painful tension that grabs you and doesn't let go until the last frame.

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