A 'does what it says on the tin' title that nonetheless doesn't do justice to this hour-long drama based on a real case. We have nothing against BBC3, but don't often watch it, and this was a worthwhile exception. 17-year-old Ashley (Georgina Campbell) meets Reece (Royce Pierreson) at a party. They have friends in common and even went to the same school, and their obvious mutual attraction soon blossoms into a relationship that has Ashley telling friends she's happy and in love. Reece, however, has a possessive streak and strange ideas about domestic harmony, and things turn sour when Ashley discovers she is pregnant. He promises her the earth to keep their baby, but refuses to live with her and is unfaithful. His short fuse has him lashing out, in front of their daughter, and his physical strength and manipulative talk inflicts real damage on her bodily and mental health.
The spoiler is in the title, but what makes this worth watching are the nuanced performances from the leads (and nice to see Kate Hardie on screen again). They are good enough to make you understand what is often incomprehensible: why would anyone stay with a violent partner? Ashley is young, impressionable and in love, wanting a father for her daughter, and drained of her natural confidence by her intimidating boyfriend. He has a predator's instinct for undermining her, and literally and metaphorically battering her into submission to his will.
A brave drama. The news may feature celebrity-led protest against gender-based atrocities abroad, but domestic violence on our doorstep is on the rise too.
