The Midwich Cuckoos: Village of the Damned

John Farr’s updated version of John Wyndham’s 1957 sci-fi novel is, despite a few eye-rolling “as if” moments, a lush, bingeable treat, even though it sometimes moves at a glacial pace, possibly to stretch the elastic to seven episodes.

No spoilers but suffice to say, after a mid-series slump, the show blossoms into a captivating conspiracy thriller with an enjoyably explosive finale.

This adaptation is so humourless that it treats the immaculate conception of hypnotic schoolkids like it’s the News at Ten.

As it is, we are left with no more than an adequately told, already known story dragged out for at least two hours longer than necessary while using about 10% of the talent its actors have to offer. Damn.