The Gathering opens with a hedonistic rave leads to a teenager being attacked, before going back “One month earlier”, where gymnasts Kelly (Eva Morgan) and Jessica (Sadie Soverall – Saltburn) are best friends at school, but there’s a rivalry, since both want to compete in a major competition, and it’s a tough enough job trying to convince their coach when she has a look where, if she tried to smile, she’d crack her face!
While Jess is introduced to Adam (Sonny Walker – The Responder) – sparking a mutual attraction, even though I’m sure she could do a lot better – Kelly’s fallen in with a crowd performing very dangerous and heart-stopping parkour, with her coach barking at her that if she’s to compete, she’s going to have to ditch that side of her lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Jess’ mum, Natalie (Vinette Robinson – Boiling Point), runs a PR company (which must be profitable as their house has en-suites in every bedroom!) and is in the dating game, while Kelly’s father, Paul (Warren Brown – Ten Pound Poms), is trying to get whizzkid son Tate (Max Johnson) into a tech IT school.
There’s a number of curveballs in the plot which I won’t mention here, because they’re elements you’re meant to only come across when the drama reveals them to you.
Even then, it’s playing its cards close to its chest, so I’m still nonethewiser on a number of aspects, but it’s safe to say that when it comes to the culrpit, one individual is the perpetrator, and the premise gets across that it could be any one of a number of people.
Overall, The Gathering‘s opener is a bit of a slow-burner, but there’s enough in there to watch some more, as well as good acting from all concerned. Plus, while just the first episode was available for preview, I know it’ll be better to see the rest on All4, as the preview doesn’t have subtitles, and I was struggling with some of the Scouse accents.
UPDATE Episode 2:
UPDATE Episode 4:
UPDATE Episode 5:
UPDATE Episode 6:
The Gathering begins tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm, and airs Tuesday and Wednesdays weekly. All episodes are now online at All 4.
The series is not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD.
Series Directors: Gareth Bryn, Amanda Blue
Producer: Graham Drover
Writer: Helen Walsh
Cast:
Kelly: Eva Morgan
Jessica: Sadie Soverall
Paul: Warren Brown
Jules: Richard Coyle
Natalie: Vinette Robinson
Adam: Sonny Walker
Bazi: Luca Kamleh-Chapman
Dessie: Hebron Tedros
Carianne: Christine Tremarco
Free Runner: Cal Connor
Tate: Max Johnson
Saul: Kevin Harvey
Diane: Deborah Bouchard
Deliveroo rider: Nebli Basani
Charlie Bullens: Ryan Quarmby
Josh: Oliver Nelson
Dawn: Poppy Miller
Helen Clarence: Emma Keele
Miss Hanson: Olivia Frances Brown
Oscar: Dylan Thomas Smith
Sonia: Charity Bedu-Addo
Macca: Shane Walker
Tash: Mia Carragher
Rita: Adi Alfa
Sendco: Emma Bispham
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.