Fan Reaction: The Escape Artist Episode 1




On 29th October the first episode of The Escape Artist aired on BBC One.

We asked fans on our Twitter and Facebook pages what they thought of the drama, thanks to all of you who replied, we loved reading all your thoughts and don't forget to join the chat over on our Facebook fan page here.



About the episode:

Will Burton, a talented junior barrister of peerless intellect and winning charm, specialises in spiriting people out of tight legal corners, hence his nickname - The Escape Artist.
Much to the aggravation of his courtroom rival, Maggie Gardner, Will is in high demand, as he has never lost a case.
But when Will’s talents acquit Liam Foyle, who is standing trial for an horrific and high-profile murder, that courtroom brilliance comes back to bite him. Foyle walks free, but he is a serial killer. It’s only a matter of time until he finds his next victim.
And, sure enough, he kills again.


Here's a selection of some of your comments:
  • Estelle Eves Brilliant, but don't ever want to be on my own again!!!!
  • Danni Casey Brilliant! Loved it, on edge of my seat
  • Gaynor Morris David lives up to his previous brilliance - casting first class. Edge of the seat stuff - well done
  • Rachael Courtney Terrifying! Couldn't watch it properly, had to half look through my glasses.....can't wait to see what happens next!
  • Kirsty Birch Brilliant!!! Another broadchurch me thinks!
  • Helen MacGourlay Scary stuff....totally gripping. Cant wait for next one!
  • Vivien Berkó Brutal. Scary. But brilliant.
  • Kerry Whiteside Scared me to death. Just heared the floorboards creek upstairs and I jumped!
  • Morag Towndrow Fabulous. Utterly brilliant piece of work. The man knows how to tap into the humanity of every character he plays and the more complex the character the more the genius shows. Breathtaking even allowing for the bias of an addicted fan!
  • Rachel Shearer That was so well acted and written. Feeling a bit jumpy now just going to check all the doors n windows are locked  brilliant
  • Louise Lawrence Loved it, just the right suspense and drama. Can't wait for next week but not sure I'm gonna watch it alone. Well done looks like it's going to be an on-the-edge-of-my-seat stuff
  • Lynne Willcock British drama at its best! Acting impeccable, writing top notch. What more can you ask.
  • Ben Pike Really good! Awesome acting, addicting plot and some scary scenes that made my nan flitch haha 
    New David Tennant to watch! 
  • Toni Paczkowski Dark, gripping and skin crawlingly brilliant! Cannot wait for next week....
  • Chrissie Allen Excellent drama, the element of surprise, great acting, brilliantly cast. Looking forward to next episode!
  • Sandie Capanni I was gripped from the off. My stomach tightened as the tension rose. I experienced all the emotions intended by the writers, crew and cast. Amazing!
  • Emily Jones I think my status pretty much sums it up: 'Every time I see David Tennant in something, I am astounded by his sheer talent all over again.' Shocking, moving, and thoroughly gripping. Can't wait until next week!
  • Calum MacLean Amazing first episode, loved the growing tension leading up to the end, cannot wait for the following episodes!
  • Claire England What an awesome pairing David and Toby....exceptionally intense!
  • Cheska Aniella Lotherington Great acting by David, seriously gripping. Can't wait for next week.
  • Shyneece-Christine Kerr Very gripping, had me on the edge of the sofa. When you think its heading in one direction it heads in the other! its amazing how David's character will now change because of these circumstances and I'm now desperate to find out how he acts to the man he once defended!
  • Brenda Parkes It was brilliant but I couldn't sit on the sofa by the end. Was pacing the floor wanting to run away but couldn't. Can't cope with that kind of stuff!
  • Lisa Topping I'm totally freaked out after watching but will have to see the rest of it now-brilliant acting all round!!
  • Kay Douglas Gripping, shocking, made me literally scream out loud. Lights all on now and scared to go upstairs by myself!
  • Kathrin Seifert It was so scary and sad at the end. Couldn´t look away or even blink from fear to miss something.
  • Eva Scarthia Oakenfork It was definitey breathtaking! I can't wait to see the next episode. David is awesome as usual, and the plot has lot to offer (as the preview indicated). Hope it'll keep up with the high standard it set with this opening instalment.
  • Cate Beavis Brilliant. DT is an amazing actor, never fails to make you feel the emotions of his character. Also, as a law student, it's always interesting to see how the professions (solicitor and barrister) are portrayed - positively in this case. 
    Well done DT and cast, looking forward to next week.
  • Debbie Calver It's great to watch drama that makes you think, great storyline and great acting, well done everyone x
  • Zach Barrett I thoroughly enjoyed it.
    The acting was highly above the standards of the average drama released these days.
    I enjoyed the soundtrack too. Though nothing too memorable, it added great emphasis to the tension between scenes.
    Also; the script. Just wow. It was good.
  • Jennifer Smith Real edge of the seat thriller, very well written & fabulously acted. Think I went through every emotion & that's just in the first episode!
  • Thomas Wyatt cant wait for next episode just got to get the hole familey watching from the start so they dont ask what has happend
  • Giliana P. García Acevedo It was brilliant. I like the way it looks at justice -- the way the premise of it is 'everyone deserves a defence.' However, Will still thinks his client is guilty -- and he is -- but he's never cherry-picked and he's never given anything less than 100% to preparing his clients' defence. THAT is ethics. On another note, the last 10-15 minutes of it were not only thrilling and truly horrifying, but they leave you hooked because you wonder if what happened at the end will compromise and twist his morality in some way in the next episode. And we know David Tennant can pull those subtleties off like no one else. Can't wait till next Tuesday!
  • Paul Meagher Brilliantly defined characters as Stephen King once noted if your not emotional involved with the characters the horror doesn't work- great believable scripting and powerful performances from Dave and the girl from extras in particular - we cared that's why it worked
  • Matt Dowling really unnerving, had that old school 70's horror feel.Would have been easy for David Tennants character to come across as an arsehole but really didn't, good (trully awful) stuff 
  • Kirsten Lambdin One of the best and most suspenseful dramas I've seen in quite some time. David Tennant is in top form here, as well as is the rest of the cast. The direction built the tension until this episodes climax which, while it doesn't completely come from out of left field, still is a shocker. Definitely looking forward to upcoming episodes!
  • Sam Anthony Brilliant. Disturbing. Absorbing. Scary. Superb acting....cannot wait until next week....
  • Rose Reed By far the best of the year can't wait to see the rest of it.Well done to everyone involved
  • Jennifer Hood For me, it was emotional, creepy and thrilling! Cannot wait to find out what happens next week! The actor who plays Liam Foylel is brilliant!
  • Laura Turner Terrifying! Love it! Can't wait until next week! The relationship between David's character and the Liam foyle character is fantastic !!
  • Jo Crumplin Another great and gripping drama, Mr Tennant does it again. Was I the only one screaming at the screen "no, don't get out of the car" when Kate drove up to the cottage.
  • Michelle Teasdale Brilliant and shocking, so sad too, I'm totally hooked.
  • Alex Dudley Im still recovering 0_o
  • Chris Mawbey Fantastic episode. Throughly enjoyed it. Well and truly lives up to it's genre of 'thriller'. Certainly going to watch Episode 2!
  • Nikki Nabney Hide behind the cushion suspense, scary, sad but an amazing first episode!!
  • Leanne WIlliams Was hoping for sweet dreams of David Tennant now I'm going to have nightmares as i'm scared to look out of the window! Another great BBC Drama for David Tennant!
  • Ginger Crawford A clever, nail-biting and truly gripping piece. Tennant's character and his family are human, naive, and the killer is grittily cold-blooded. Like Broadchurch, this is must-see TV!
  • Wendie Hazell absolutely brilliant!! thats true horror as it could happen....! cant wait for next episode!!
  • Heather Stewart mind blowing performance from the whole cast, had me on the edge of my seat. Really can't wait for the next episode one of the best shows on tv at the moment!
  • Shannon McCamley Fantastic performance once again by David Tennant. Gripping storyline from the very beginning with unexpected twists. Cant wait until the next episode, totally hooked.
  • Maureen Hollowood Brilliant is the word...Brilliant acting, brilliant writing, brilliant locations ... can't wait for next week, this is what the BBC do best
  • Helen Lawson The Midas touch continues...his character loses no cases and Mr Tennant is brilliant in every production. Excellent.
  • Will Kent Agree with everyone saying it was gripping and tense. Such good drama from David, Ashley Jensen and Sophie Okonedo. Shocking end. Will have to watch next week's episode with more preparation of the shocks and thrills in store.
  • Beccy Dunnill Could not take my eyes off the screen. Loved it! David is an amazing actor and perfect for the show. My new favourite show! 
  • Em Wiggy Wiggle Wiggins Words can't describe this. Absolutely brilliant. Makes you think of the dilemma our barristers and legal counsels face doing their jobs. David Tennant was fab as always
  • Claire Clartybell Anderson Big round of applause to David wolstencroft for his fab story,what a imagination!!!! .....and what a cast great acting all around ....once again great British drama !!
  • Alannah Watson amazingly acted by all, a attention grabbing and tension building, cannot wait till the next. I was just gripped by it, I haven't experienced that in a long time. I was screaming for the last 15 minuets!
  • Lindsey Unsworth What a fantastic episode, full of everything you should expect from a drama, thrills, suspense, wanting to hide behind cushions etc!!!!! Can't wait for the next episode, bit gutted there are only three of them!!!!!
  • Susan Harvey Dark. Thrilling. Foyle's character psychopathic and sinister. Will's character blinded by ambition who paid a big price. Clever script and well acted. Brilliant.
  • Claire Walmsley It was incredible, completely dark and gripping, it really makes me want to watch more and see if the murderer gets away with it and I also want to congratulate David's acting, he's so good at drama!!

The Escape Artist continues with Episode 2 on Tuesday 5th November at 9pm on BBC One.

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