Watch Ordinary Lies

Ordinary Lies is a British drama television series that premiered on BBC One in 2015, which is now available for streaming on BritBox. The show follows the intertwined lives of the employees of a car dealership in Manchester, England. Each episode focuses on a different character, revealing their secrets and lies and the consequences of their actions.

The first episode kicks off with the story of Kathy (played by Cat Simmons), a receptionist at the dealership who is tired of her mundane life and looking for adventure. She lies about her marital status to impress a potential love interest, but her web of deceit quickly spirals out of control. Meanwhile, the charismatic salesman, Mike (played by Con O'Neill), struggles to juggle his job, family, and a gambling addiction, leading to devastating consequences.

In the second episode, we meet Beth (played by Jo Joyner), the recently promoted head of sales who is in over her head. She also struggles with her marriage, as her husband constantly travels for work and leaves her feeling neglected. Beth's lie leads to a series of events that put her career and marriage in jeopardy.

The third episode focuses on the story of Marty (played by Jason Manford), a family man who lies about his financial situation to impress his coworkers. When his lies catch up with him, he finds himself in debt and turns to illegal activities to keep his head above water.

Other characters featured in the series include Jenna (played by Angela Griffin), a saleswoman grappling with the aftermath of a traumatic event, and Rick (played by Mackenzie Crook), a dedicated employee with a dark past. The threads of their stories intertwine throughout the series, leading to unexpected twists and turns.

Ordinary Lies explores themes of infidelity, addiction, friendship, and loyalty. Each episode is tightly written and expertly crafted, painting a portrait of ordinary people who make mistakes and struggle to keep their lives together. The performances of the cast are excellent, particularly the standout performances of Simmons and O'Neill.

One of the strengths of the series is its ability to keep the audience guessing. Each episode is presented from the point of view of a different character, so the audience is never quite sure who to trust. The show is full of unexpected twists and turns, and the resolution of each episode is satisfying without feeling contrived.

The setting of the car dealership is also an interesting choice, as it allows the series to explore the different levels of hierarchy that exist within a workplace. From the receptionist to the CEO, each character is struggling with their own pressures and responsibilities, and the series does a great job of highlighting the different ways that people cope.

Overall, Ordinary Lies is a compelling drama with excellent writing and performances. It is a character-driven series that will keep audiences engaged and make them question their own moral compass. It is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a good drama and is looking for something with depth and substance.

Ordinary Lies is a series that ran for 2 seasons (12 episodes) between March 17, 2015 and on BritBox