The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe

[Long Lashes]

This drama is based on the true story of how prison officer John Darwin with his wife’s help faked his own death to claim life insurance.

Strangely, I don’t remember the real case at all, but watching the two main characters in this series brings home how ridiculous and arrogant their plan was, especially as they both lied to their two sons who believed their father had died. I still can’t get my head around them being so callous to inflict so much pain on their sons.

The two main characters realistically portrayed by Eddie Marsan as the frustrating John Darwin , with Monica Dolan as his wife Anne, are a complex and desperate couple, but incredibly they almost got away with it.

 

[Ome]

Brilliantly acted Eddie Marsan & Monica Dolan. This is definitely in my top three British shows in 2022. Marsden constantly captured me with his facial expressions, and I loved the vulnerable ways of Anne from the excellent Monica Dolan. As much as Monica went along with all this and lived with the lies while her sons grieved, a part of me felt sorry for her. There was so much cohesive behaviour coming from John, and I was happy that she got away from him.

this series brings home how ridiculous and arrogant their plan was

Doesn't it just? I wasn't sure if keeping the first name was genius, but moving into the house next door was incredibly arrogant and stupid. I'm sure the police wouldn't pose a threat, but his neighbours and family still visited and were aware of Anne. Not only that, he thought it was OK to go for a stroll, pick up some shopping and whatever. If anything, I'm surprised they managed to pull it off for as long as they did.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Strangely, I don’t remember the real case at all

I remember the case but I was surprised to see that it was so long ago (2007 when it all came out). In my head, it was more recent.

The two main characters realistically portrayed by Eddie Marsan as the frustrating John Darwin , with Monica Dolan as his wife Anne, are a complex and desperate couple, but incredibly they almost got away with it.

They are both excellent in this series. I'm predicting nominations galore when the various TV awards shows roll around.

 

[Angela Channing]

I remember the case which was why I was interested to see this drama. I particularly remember how the news first broke as a man who had been declared dead years ago had turned up at a police station with memory loss and it seemed to be a good news story until the publication of that photo of them in Panama and we realised there was something not quite right but at the time nobody knew exactly what.

The drama was great in how it told the story in a light way, John Darwin in particular seemed to be a bit of a comedy character, however, they still managed to keep it as a serious drama.

 

[Long Lashes]

As much as Monica went along with all this and lived with the lies while her sons grieved, a part of me felt sorry for her. There was so much cohesive behaviour coming from John, and I was happy that she got away from him.

I was all over the place with his wife. I did feel sorry for her and then I would remember how hurt and distraught her sons were and then I felt annoyed with her., but like you say John was very controlling. Its also strange that she got a longer prison sentence than John.

Not only that, he thought it was OK to go for a stroll, pick up some shopping and whatever.

He even had the cheek to join the local library, I know he used a false name but it was still clearly him walking and out of the place.

They are both excellent in this series. I'm predicting nominations galore when the various TV awards shows roll around.

I hope they win, it was all so well done.

The drama was great in how it told the story in a light way, John Darwin in particular seemed to be a bit of a comedy character, however, they still managed to keep it as a serious drama.

You've hit the nail on the head. At first when I saw the advertisements for this series I didn't fancy watching it, as I thought it was going to be more of a comedy and they would make a mockery of what they did. But they hit the right note in how the story was told.







Did anyone else watch the follow-up documentary in which we got to see the real John Darwin? . it just showed how well the actor Eddie Marsan played him, he was spot on.

 

[Ome]

I would remember how hurt and distraught her sons were and then I felt annoyed with her.

She was such a mess that it was hard not to feel sorry at times but then feel anger at how she continued to live through the hurt and pain she was doing to her two sons. He got away with all that, so I was more annoyed with him. However, I could see how the sons would probably despise their mother more than their father.

Did anyone else watch the follow-up documentary in which we got to see the real John Darwin? . it just showed how well the actor Eddie Marsan played him, he was spot on.

Yes, and it was just as compelling as the drama. It was very easy to see the arrogance of John Darwin. Marsan played a blinder in recreating the smug Darwin.