By Curt Schleier

What a let down.

After four suspenseful episodes driven by an extremely well written script, FIVE DAYS concludes with a disappointing resolution.

The show is about the disappearance of Leanne Wellings (Christine Tremarco), the investigation that follows and how it affects everyone involved.

Part of the problem is that the show’s conceit -- what made it so irresistibly enticing – ultimately worked against it.  That is, the Five DAYS of the title covered in the show were five days of an investigation that lasted well over two months.  But the early episodes were much more closely spaced.  Not much happened between days one and three and 28 and 33.  But this concluding episode takes place more than six weeks since we last were there.  And this is one instance where absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder.  So much has changed during the intervening 46 days, my first thought was that  I’d missed an entire episode.  Catching up is handled awkwardly, disturbingly so for a series that seemed so graceful.

What happened?  For one thing, Matt Wellings (David Oyelowo), Leanne’s husband, was arrested for assaulting a pesky reporter.  For another, her father John (Patrick Malahide) is in an institution after committing suicide.  One thing remained constant” the police are no closer to solving the crime now than they were when the series began.  In fact, higher ups are demanding that the senior investigator reduce the number of detectives working the case, because they believe it so cold it will never be solved.

We already knew that Leanne’s mom, Barbara Poole ( Penelope Wilton) and daughter Tanya (Lucinda Dryzek) from a previous marriage had daddy issues.  But we certainly weren’t aware of just how severe they are.  Introducing that issue here just seems to dilute the story line further.


We also knew that Det. Sgt. Amy Foster was single and about to retire.  But she seemed in control, and unlikely, as she does at her retirement party, to get drunk and make a clumsy pass at a younger subordinate.  Again this diverts attention from what should be the main thrust of the episode, bringing the sordid mess to a satisfying conclusion.
But that doesn’t happen because the case’s denouement is so far out of left field.    I’m not going to reveal whodunit or why – it’s all pretty flimsy – in case you intend to watch this show in one of its repeats.  But suffice it to say, that it apparently all started with an accident. 

The burnt out van used by the flower seller where Leanne first disappeared is finally discovered and an important clue is recovered.  Loner Kyle Betts (Rory Kinnear), the suspect in the kidnapping of Leanne’s children, escapes custody. 

Ultimately, however, the rationale behind the crime is far fetched.  Also, a major reason that the police didn’t catch the perps much earlier is that Rosie Wellings ( Tyler Anthony), Leanne’s young daughter – she’s about six – kept a secret that no six year old would ever keep.

So, in the end, after entrancing us for four weeks, FIVE DAYS is a disappointment.