Trauma review: John Simm and Adrian Lester’s game of cat and mouse gets off to a strong start

Trauma review: John Simm and Adrian Lester’s game of cat and mouse gets off to a strong start

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Dan Bowker’s (John Simm) life is changed forever when his son is stabbed and dies in the trauma department overseen by high achieving trauma surgeon Jon Allerton (Adrian Lester). Dan is convinced that negligence on Jon’s part had a hand in his son’s tragic death, while Jon swears he did everything he could to try to save Alex. Grief-stricken Dan isn’t convinced however, and will do whatever it takes to get answers.

Trauma didn’t waste any time getting to the crux of the story, which wasn’t the tragic death of Alex (the poor kid was killed less than 30 minutes in) but the ripple effect his murder caused and how hard it hit his dad Dan. Like Bartlett’s previous, brilliant drama Doctor Foster, it’s not the event (in that case an affair) that’s the issue, it’s the trail of destruction it leaves behind.

The electric, two-hander scenes between Jon and Dan were very Bartlett: arch, machine-gun dialogue, loaded sentences and cutting insults, and both actors excelled, proving why they’re two of the UK’s finest actors. They play off each other well – Undercover star Lester’s aloof and clinical Jon heightening Simm’s unhinged and angry Dan and vice versa.

Trauma review: This game of cat and mouse is off to a strong start
John Simm’s Dan is wracked with guilt after the death of his teenage son (Picture: ITV)

Credit must be given to Lyndsey Marshal too, whose heartbreaking performance as Dan’s wife Susie added depth to what could otherwise be two-dimensional role. The moment she learned Alex had died was hard to forget.

At the end of the episode, Dan was sweeping floors at the same hospital as Jon, meaning the two men are about to see a lot more of each other. And given Jon’s brief sighting while in the car with Alana (Jade Anouka), we think she’s going to end up as a pawn in this game.

Trauma review: This game of cat and mouse is off to a strong start
Will Alana end up a pawn in Jon and Dan’s war? (Picture: ITV)

So whose side should we be on? At the moment Jon looks like the villain; he did pause for a considerable amount of time while operating on Alex, and admitted he had had a drink before heading to the trauma department. Or is it the fact he is self-assured and rich, while Dan has just been made redundant and is wracked with guilt, that makes us struggle to warm to him?

There are only two episodes left, so it will be interesting to see how well this is wrapped up – if at all. But it’s off to a strong start.

MORE: Everything you need to know about John Simm and Adrian Lester’s new drama Trauma

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