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- ITV
- Jan 2, 2023
- ITV
- Jan 2, 2023
Summary In November 1974, British politician John Stonehouse (Matthew Macfadyen) faked his death in Miami to start a new life with his mistress in Australia in this three-part drama based on a true story. [Premiered originally in the Uk on ITV on 2 Jan 2023 and in the US on BritBox on 17 Jan 2023]
- ITV
- Jan 2, 2023
- ITV
- Jan 2, 2023
Summary In November 1974, British politician John Stonehouse (Matthew Macfadyen) faked his death in Miami to start a new life with his mistress in Australia in this three-part drama based on a true story. [Premiered originally in the Uk on ITV on 2 Jan 2023 and in the US on BritBox on 17 Jan 2023]
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
77
78% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
77
78% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
I thought Stonehouse, based on a famous true-life story, was a joy, chiefly thanks to Macfadyen's witty, light on its feet performance as John Stonehouse. ... We're only three days into 2023, but already, in Macfadyen and Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley, we have two strong contenders for performance of the year.
In the end, you pine for something (anything) dredged up from the oily antihero’s childhood or sexuality; imagine what (the living) Stephen Poliakoff or (the very late) Dennis Potter might have done with such a real-life tragicomedy. At least Macfadyen’s minutely calibrated performance—at once transparent and guarded—makes a selfish cipher’s rise and fall (and rise) enjoyable.
Macfadyen is so good at characters like this – hubristic, duplicitous and ridiculous – that it is a treat to watch him try to scheme and bluff his way through Stonehouse’s misadventures.
The tone is spot-on, tongue-in-cheek and cheeky.
Perfectly serviceable as an easy one-day binge, even if it brings nothing new to the genre. Unsurprisingly, Hawes and Macfadyen are an unbeatable duo, and if nothing else, the series serves as an easy, post-Christmas watch with your grandparents, in a dry time before TV truly begins to kick off for the year.
The result is something that feels no deeper than the azure Miami waters into which Stonehouse wades. But Macfadyen is always enjoyable to watch, even if his showy take distracts from the more subtle performance of Keeley Hawes (Macfadyen’s real-life wife) as Mrs Stonehouse.
Stonehouse’s fate is hard to better as an example of that old adage about weaving tangled webs and practicing to deceive. I only wished I had been made to care more for any of those involved.
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