Watch Appropriate Adult
- 1905
- 1 Season
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7.4 (4,572)
Appropriate Adult is a compelling drama television miniseries from ITV1, originally aired between September 4 and September 11, 2011. The show takes place in the United Kingdom in the 1990s and is based on a true story that shook the country: the case of the infamous mass murderer Frederick West (Dominic West) and his wife Rosemary West (Monica Dolan).
Selin Hizli stars as Janet Leach, the real-life Appropriate Adult who assisted Fred West during his police interviews. An Appropriate Adult is a person appointed by a police officer to accompany and support a vulnerable suspect during questioning or investigation. Janet Leach was a voluntary social worker with no special training, who only wanted to help the police with a difficult task.
The first episode begins with the discovery of human remains at Fred and Rosemary West's home in Gloucester. The police start investigating and soon arrest the couple on suspicion of murder. As the number of victims grows, so does the complexity of the case.
Janet Leach is brought in to assist Fred during his interviews with the police. At first, Janet is apprehensive, as she has never dealt with a case like this before. However, she quickly forms a bond with Fred, who is very charismatic and appears to be cooperative with the investigation. She soon realizes that he is a master manipulator who carefully chooses what he reveals to the police.
Janet begins to see the human side of Fred and becomes more emotionally involved with his case, even visiting him in prison outside of work hours. This causes tension with her family, who are concerned about her safety and her mental state.
As the investigation progresses, dark secrets are uncovered, and the true horror of the crimes committed by the Wests is revealed. The role of the Appropriate Adult becomes more crucial than ever, and Janet is forced to confront her own beliefs about the criminal justice system as she is drawn further into Fred's web.
The show is not only a procedural crime drama but a character study of Janet Leach and Fred West. The acting is exceptional, with Dominic West and Monica Dolan delivering chilling performances as the notorious couple. Selin Hizli is outstanding as Janet Leach, bringing both vulnerability and strength to her role.
The show is also visually striking, with bleak and haunting cinematography that captures the mood of the story perfectly. The pacing is intentionally slow, allowing the audience to feel the weight of the case, the toll it takes on the investigators, and the emotions that run high throughout.
The show is not without controversy, as family members of the victims have criticized the show for perceived humanizing of Fred West. However, the show is not a glorification of the Wests' crimes but an exploration of the impact of horrific crimes on both the victims and their families, as well as the people who are involved in investigating them.
Overall, Appropriate Adult is a gripping and thought-provoking show that will leave a lasting impact on its audience. It is a rare example of high-quality true crime drama that respects its subject matter while still remaining entertaining to watch.
Appropriate Adult is a series that ran for 1 seasons (5 episodes) between July 3, 1905 and on ITV1