Ep 1. Bad News

Patrick Melrose is a British-American miniseries that follows the life of the titular character, Patrick Melrose, from his traumatic childhood to his adulthood as a troubled yet charismatic man struggling with addiction and the demons of his past. The show is based on a series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn.

In the first episode, titled "Bad News," Patrick (Benedict Cumberbatch) receives word that his father, David Melrose (Hugo Weaving), has died. Patrick is initially indifferent to the news, as he has a strained and abusive relationship with his father. However, as he begins to process his emotions, he becomes overwhelmed with memories of his traumatic childhood and his father's role in it.

The episode takes place over the course of a single day, as Patrick travels to his family's estate in the south of France to retrieve his father's ashes. Along the way, he reflects on his troubled childhood, which was marred by his father's emotional and physical abuse, his mother's neglect, and the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his father's close friend.

As Patrick interacts with his family and old acquaintances, he struggles to maintain his facade of cool detachment and wit, while his inner turmoil threatens to consume him. He resents the fact that his father's death is bringing up all these painful memories and forcing him to confront his past.

The episode is shot in a stylish and surreal manner, with flashbacks and hallucinations interspersed throughout. The scenes in Patrick's childhood home are particularly vivid and haunting, capturing the sense of dread and claustrophobia he experienced as a child.

Cumberbatch delivers a powerhouse performance as Patrick, capturing both his charm and his inner turmoil. Weaving is equally impressive as the cold and distant David Melrose, who casts a long shadow over his son's life even in death.

Overall, "Bad News" sets the stage for a compelling and cathartic exploration of trauma, addiction, and family dysfunction. The show is not for the faint of heart, as it deals with some heavy subject matter, but it rewards viewers with a powerful and moving story.