Review: Is The Accident Any Good? Worth A Watch?

Accidents can have far-reaching consequences. The Accident on Hulu is a story that centres on a close-knit town that is awaiting good news when a terrible accident befalls them. As the town tries to cope with the loss, several questions arise prompting the viewers to think – was the accident really an accident?

1. Quick Review

The Accident is a grim portrayal of how human negligence and greed can affect the masses. It is at once, thought-provoking and disheartening.

2. Series Info

The Accident - Trailer (Official) | Hulu

3. Is It Worth Watching?

The Accident is an honest depiction of the aftermath of a public disaster – the tension it brings in human relationships, the moral dilemmas, everything is presented beautifully.

I. Plot

Glyngolau is a small, coastal town in southern Wales. Commercially, it has hit rock bottom for a few years. Its coal mine and steel mill have closed down, leaving most of the town in an economically unstable position.

The head of the town council, Iwan Bevan, has worked hard to secure a deal with a Japanese company. By the deal, a factory complex would be built in the town by a construction company called Kallbridge Developments.

The factory will generate 1000 local jobs, ending the streak of unemployment in the town.

During a town-wide celebration, Iwan’s daughter Leona, a defiant teenager, goes to the construction site of the factory, to spray paint on the building, in order to show her father who is boss. Their activities lead to an explosion that kills most of Leona’s friends.

As the whole town gathers around the site of the explosion, the whole building collapses. Along with the teens, the site supervisor Alan is killed. The sole survivor of the accident is Leona herself.

The immediate consequence of the explosion, apart from the deaths, is a feeling of burning curiosity that is shared by the audience and the townspeople. As Glyngolau gets caught up in a whirlwind of media and corporate procedures, the blame is passed back and forth among those involved.

Polly, Leona’s mother, spearheads the public movement that seeks justice from the construction company. As she gets to know a devastating secret about the whole affair from her husband, her stance on the accident changes completely.

II. Detailed Analysis

The Accident weaves a compelling story around a public disaster and gives it a touch of mystery. As the people of the town try to find an answer to the question of who is to blame for the tragedy, so do the audience – that is what propels the narrative.

Jack Thorne paints a very accurate picture of the aftermath of any public incident like this. The blame game, the scapegoat, conflicting emotions and the guilty going free: all of them feature in the series.

The show also brings into spotlight issues like survivor’s guilt. Leona, the council head’s daughter, is the only survivor of the accident. She had asked all her friends to go with her to the construction site. When she comes to know that all her friends had perished in the explosion, she suffers from survivor’s guilt.

The explosion also creates deep rifts in the generally friendly townspeople. There is a serious difference between Polly and her friends Angela and Debbie, both of whom lost family members in the accident.

Even with a great premise, the later episodes of the drama are not particularly enticing. The last two episodes fail to live up to the standard of the first two. The courtroom drama, especially, brings down the authenticity of the show.

The last shot of the series is very remarkable. It shows the reason why such tragedies keep on taking place and will continue for the foreseeable future.

III. Characters

The cast has done an amazing job in the series.

Sarah Lancashire does a marvellous job as Polly, the wife of a politician and the mother of a rebellious teen because of whom the entire town has to suffer. Her conflicts and dilemmas are palpable to the audience.

Jade Croot, who plays Leona, also delivers a good performance in the series. After the accident, a lot of her acting involves expressing through her eyes only, which she does perfectly.

Harriet Kallbridge, the vice-president of the construction company, is played by Sidse Babbett Knudsen. She portrays a woman torn between wanting to be honest and keeping her job. She is a grey character in the series and makes the narrative interesting.

IV. Setting

The series was shot in various places in Southern Wales. The setting enhanced the nature of the fictional Glyngolau as a town that was far from cities. It also made the close-knit community feel more believable.

4. Grade

5. Final Thoughts

The series is a tad bit depressing but is an important commentary on an issue that has cost many lives over the years. For those whose preference includes solemn dramas surrounding real incidents, this show is a good option.