Nightsleeper, BBC One’s big new runaway train thriller, has seen many reactions, including jokes that the baddies should have just put some wet leaves on the line to cause chaos rather than using a hacking device!
The first episode, which aired on Sunday night, saw a huge amount of twists as Joe Roag (played by Joe Cole) set out on a sleeper train from Scotland to London only for a mysterious figure known as the driver to take control of it.
Joe calls up Abby Aysgarth, the Acting Technical Director at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, for help and the pair embark on trying to stop the train.
Some fans really enjoyed the show, which is being compared to Red Eye and Bodyguard. One wrote: “Just finished bingewatching. I did actually really enjoy it. Some ridiculous plot holes and unrealistic stuff but accept it for what it is absurdism and you should like it”. While another billed it “excellent Sunday viewing”. A third fan tweeted: “Just watched 1st episode of Nightsleeper and I’m hooked.”
But, well, it’s fair to say not everyone was keen. “This makes Hollyoaks look like Chekhov,” blasted one critic. While another wrote: “This is a total disaster – and not in the intended way. The script is wooden, the characters cliched, the casting poor, the plot is not credible.” And, in a particularly scathing, assessment another wrote: “So bad that even the train will deny being in it.”
Just finished binge-watching #Nightsleeper.I did actually really enjoy it. Some ridiculous plot holes and unrealistic stuff but accept it for its absurdism and you should like it!My main contention is Transport Sec would be communicating with ministerial email, not MP one!September 15, 2024
This is a total disaster – and not in the intended way. The script is wooden, the characters cliched, the casting poor, the plot is not credible. The only realistic thing about #Nightsleeper is that a train has been delayed. This show has already hit the buffers in Ep 1.September 15, 2024
It’s clear, though, that lots of people have started binge-watching the series, with all six episodes available on BBC iPlayer. The BBC is hoping that Nightseeper will be a Bodyguard style hit. As to whether this scenario could happen in real life, the BBC has helpfully posted an article answering that question. Good news it says it’s “fairly unlikely”.
A couple of observations we’d make watching the first episode is why didn’t Abby just move carriages to escape the noisy hen party on the train while she called Joe? And secondly, once a police description went out of him wearing a distinctive chequered jacket, why didn’t Joe dump the jacket?! Perhaps it’s his favorite?!
Nightsleeper continues on BBC One on Sunday nights. You can watch the whole series now on BBC iPlayer. See our best BBC dramas guide for more shows to enjoy.
