One cannot criticize Reunion for its ambition. This new four-part series, penned by deaf writer William Mager, goes beyond expectations.
thriller
It’s a murder mystery, a compelling tale of vengeance, and a pioneering achievement for integrating both spoken English and British Sign Language on-screen.
It’s not a major issue. The scene begins on a sunny day as Daniel (Matthew Gurney) packs his belongings. This marks his final day behind bars, convicted of murdering a dear friend—a terrible act. Now released, he knows life outside won’t be simple.
Rejected by his family, the deaf community, and his distant daughter Carly (Lara Peake), Daniel embarks on a journey for justice — a pursuit that leads him to reconnect with the slain individual’s relatives.
That isn’t good news for Christine.
Anne-Marie Duff
She desperately wants to discover why this happened (though she doesn’t receive many details, Duff manages to make it compelling) because years ago, her husband Ray was killed by Daniel. While Daniel roams the fringes of Sheffield, occupied with various plot points (occasionally making it difficult to grasp his exact actions), most of her narrative focuses on her persistent efforts to compel him into conversation.
Meanwhile, she’s managing competing requests from her former police officer boyfriend (
Eddie Marsan
, as foreboding as always), and her daughter Miri (played by Rose Ayling-Ellis), who is preparing to deliver a speech at the gathering for the school where both Daniel and her father were students. It turns out this institution has a history cloaked in dark shadows, with repercussions that continue into modern times.
The storyline itself doesn’t have much depth (it focuses primarily on the personal dynamics among the characters). However, the series moves rather slowly as it progresses. More intriguing is how “Reunion” explores what being deaf entails within a society structured without considering their needs. The camera lingers on scenes like an egg frying in a skillet or rainfall pounding against glass windows. For instance, when a deaf individual attempts to keep up with dialogue, sounds often fade out into muted quietness; conversely, whenever communication occurs via British Sign Language (BSL), subtitles clearly display these exchanges at the base of the screen.
This scene effectively highlights Daniel’s vulnerability and isolation. An initial sequence depicts him interacting with a parole officer who casually outlines the conditions of his release—only for her to discover that he is deaf. Undeterred, she proceeds to talk as usual, leaving him hearing nothing but indistinct sounds. It comes as no surprise then that he subsequently neglects to report back; he simply couldn’t comprehend what she had said to him initially.
This overdue examination delves into how our systems neglect those who are hard of hearing. For the majority of the time, the screenplay adeptly balances this issue while maintaining the storyline’s trajectory (though occasionally relying on somewhat convenient plot points). It also honors the deaf community. Although Lara Peake’s perpetually agape-mouthed portrayal of Carly is captivating as the main character, Gurney’sDaniel stands out as the most fascinating figure. Calm and reserved, he seldom speaks, opting rather to watch and absorb his surroundings.
He’s essentially an enigma, yet Gurnley’s facial expressions suggest hidden depths, despite his intentions staying mysterious. A significant portion of the tension in “Reunion” stems from his difficulty in opening up and sharing his feelings, which ends up harming those close to him.
When these emotions finally come to light, they become all the more touching. Towards the close of the initial episode, there’s an ongoing dialogue that unfolds entirely without sound (a technique used increasingly often as the series progresses). This scene requires undivided focus as viewers observe Carly gradually regaining her ability to use sign language, alongside Daniel learning anew how to connect through signing with his daughter once more.
“She mentions at some point, ‘It’s been ages since I saw someone use sign language for Carly,’ adding almost wistfully, ‘I had nearly forgotten about it.’ Such instances are what keeps you hooked on watching.”
Reunion is streaming on
BBC One
and iPlayer
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