The Originality of "Run"

The concept of "Run", a British series you can find on Netflix is original.  It is a four episode series and each episode focuses on one specific character.  In that episode there will be a secondary character, not very prominent, who will take the focus of the following episode.  In the end, the series comes full circle and connections between all the characters are made more clear. 

The show takes place in London - the gritty, seamy underbelly of that city.  The lower class, immigrants and drug addicts are signifiers that may be used to describe of the central character of an episode.

I was drawn to the show on the strength of Olivia Colman's performance in "Broadchurch", another British television series on Netflix.  She stars in "Run" as a hard-drinking mother of two violent young men and is the character of focus in the first episode. 

The second episode portrays the life of a Chinese immigrant woman who sells things on the Black Market.  Her debts are a source of mental and physical slavery.

In the third episode, a heroin addict tries to get his life together and win the respect of his estranged daughter.

Finally, the fourth episode focuses on a Polish immigrant who's husband has been recently murdered.

All these characters are drawn together in intricate ways and the way they interconnect throughout the series is interesting to watch.  Thus, the writing of the show is worthy of acclaim.  Though I liked the writing, the originality of the concept and some of the intense moments, I wasn't won over by "Run" as I have been by other Netflix British shows I have already seen, such as "Broadchurch" and "Happy Valley."  It's 42 minute running time seems to drag a bit and you may not feel totally invested in the characters.  Overall, it is a good series but it may not blow you away like some of its contemporaries.