Alice & Jack
Alice & Jack charts the rocky romance between the titular Alice (Andrea Riseborough) and Jack (Domhnall Gleeson) over 15 years. After meeting on a dating app and having a one-night stand, the two go their separate ways, but over months and years, something intangible but irresistible draws them to each other time and time again, and the two gradually become irrevocably intermingled.
Alice and Jack’s relationship is a complicated and messy beast, and the two aren’t the most conventionally likeable TV couple, but something is compelling, in an off-beat, fascinating way, about their flawed and constantly shifting dynamics. Their feelings don’t always make sense, and at times can be baffling, but that unpredictability nevertheless feels authentic to the often-illogical and confusing world of romance, and is bolstered by the unique chemistry between Riseborough and Gleeson.
Another thing in Alice & Jack’s favour is its intelligent structuring. Despite taking place over a decade and some change, the show moves between narrative beats without losing momentum, conveying the weight of the time between each jump forward through tight scripting and snappy editing.
While the show primarily focuses on the relationship between Alice and Jack, it also widens its scope and gives time to the supporting cast, who are affected by and in turn affect Alice and Jack’s relationship in interesting ways.
In particular, Aisling Bea is fantastic as Lynn, Jack’s wife whose life is turned upside down by Alice’s reappearance, effortlessly moving between pathos and comedy and stealing the show whenever she’s on screen. Critically, she also gets agency and sympathy from the narrative and isn’t just a passive Other Woman in her own story. Sunil Patel also deserves some kudos for his role as Paul, Jack’s beleaguered work friend, whose uncomplicated attitude to love serves as a direct foil to Jack’s complex and oft-incomprehensible love life in a way that challenges the programme’s core dynamic without undermining it.
Alice & Jack isn’t setting out to be everyone’s cup of tea. Its main characters can be off-putting, and their relationship is fraught and confusing at the best of times. However, what will be a weakness for some audiences could be a big strength for others, and viewers who want an alternative take on the romance drama formula – or just want to watch a couple of weirdos screw up their lives in entertaining ways – could find a lot to love in this show.
Umar Ali
Alice & Jack is released on Channel 4 and Channel 4 Online Player on 14th February 2024.
Watch the trailer for Alice & Jack here:
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