Theme of failure a recipe for success for television

Date Published: 28-Mar-2011

Watching television programmes with the intention of critiquing them is totally different to watching them as a viewer, so I am two people watching Families in the Wild on RTE on Tuesdays.

As a viewer I am sucked into the drama of three families who have been chosen to spend a week with David Coleman, clinical psychologist and his team in a holiday home in a beautiful part of Kerry; but as a TV critic I can’t help but feel that taking part in this experiment in front of cameras so the nation can watch might be more harmful than helpful.

As a viewer, I fantasise that Coleman will swan into our house sometime and sort us all out.

Any family that has gone through any domestic crisis, whether it be a difficult child or teenager, a tragedy, illness or violence would identify with the wish that someone would come and fix it.

With only two weeks into the series, I am already identifying with aspects from all three families taking part and wishing the best for them. I nearly cried when it was revealed that one young boy hasn’t felt loved for 10 years, not since his two younger sisters were born, and as there is no sign of Dad, I assume that is affecting him too.

David Coleman speaks so calmly, so quietly, that he could tame a tornado. His skills are really coming into play with the families, more so than in the previous two series which dealt first with male teenagers and then with female teenagers.

The TV critic in me wonders how many hours of filming did they really have to do to capture the emotional moments. I imagine the crew were working almost around the clock.

Not only do the families have to take part in activities, and tough challenges like rock climbing, hill walking and canoeing, but have to sit around in therapy sessions either individually, in couples or in groups.

A week of that for both the families and the TV crew must be harrowing.

Yet, this particular series is quite polished and you do forget you are watching TV. You really do feel like a fly on the wall sometimes which is what programmes like these are aiming for.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.