Falling Fails to Deliver on "Hot Priest" Trope
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A Missed Opportunity: “Falling” Fails to Deliver
The latest series from British screenwriter Jack Thorne, known for his gritty and acclaimed works such as This Is England and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, falls flat with its predictable take on the “hot priest” trope. Despite a talented cast featuring Keeley Hawes and Paapa Essiedu, the show’s mediocre script fails to elevate it beyond mediocrity.
Thorne’s decision to tackle this familiar narrative was a missed opportunity for something fresh and innovative. Instead of pushing boundaries, he relies on overused plot devices and clichés. The show’s portrayal of its lead characters’ forbidden love story lacks chemistry between the leads, with Anna, a nun who leaves her life behind to pursue a relationship with Father Hicks, feeling like a prop rather than a fully fleshed-out character.
The series’ pacing is slow, with Hicks struggling to develop any genuine connection with Anna. Their romance feels forced and implausible, relying on predictable plot devices and contrived moments of intimacy. The script’s earnestness and preachiness weigh heavily on the show, making even the more nuanced moments feel like they’re trying too hard.
Thorne’s writing is stolid and unimaginative, failing to deliver any real emotional resonance or depth. With its predictable plot, lackluster romance, and uninspired script, Falling feels like a chore to watch. It’s disappointing to see a series as underwhelming as this, especially given the cast’s talent and potential.
Falling’s predictability is all the more disappointing in an era where streaming services are flooded with original content. Thorne has built a reputation on crafting complex and thought-provoking stories, but Falling feels like a misstep in this regard. His failure to deliver anything new or interesting raises questions about whether he’s lost touch with what makes his work so compelling in the first place.
As viewers tune in to watch Falling, they may find themselves checking their watches more often than not. The show’s slow pacing and lackluster romance make it feel like a waste of time. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this series is its ability to make you wonder how it got greenlit in the first place.
Ultimately, Falling feels like a wasted opportunity for Thorne to deliver something truly remarkable. Instead, we’re left with a predictable and underwhelming take on a familiar trope – one that fails to leave any lasting impression or spark meaningful conversation.
Reader Views
- SBSam B. · deal hunter
Falling's failure lies in its wasted potential for social commentary. With its themes of forbidden love and institutional critique, Thorne had a chance to tackle some real meat. But instead of biting down, he opted for the blandest take on the "hot priest" trope imaginable. It's not just about the predictable plot - it's about the missed opportunity to say something meaningful in an era where streaming services need more substance than just slick production values.
- PRPat R. · frugal living writer
The "hot priest" trope is a tired cliché that screenwriters are milking for all its worth, but Jack Thorne's Falling fails to even deliver on the bare minimum of convincing romance. One aspect that gets glossed over in the review is how the show's themes of faith and spirituality come across as shallow and tokenistic. With its overly simplistic portrayal of the clergy and the convent, Falling reinforces a caricatured view of devout characters, rather than genuinely exploring their complexities. It's a missed opportunity to tackle meaningful issues in an authentic way.
- TCThe Cart Desk · editorial
It's clear that Jack Thorne has been typecast as a gritty realist, and his take on the "hot priest" trope feels like a calculated risk that pays off about as well as it should. What I find more intriguing is how this misstep reflects the industry-wide problem of established writers being given free rein to coast on their reputation rather than pushing themselves creatively. When will we see Thorne tackling a truly unconventional project, one where he has to earn his place rather than relying on past glories?