Patience spoilers follow for episodes 1-3.
Channel 4's latest crime drama starring Breaking Bad's Laura Fraser and Heartstopper's Ella Maisy Purvis isn't going to be the nail-biting watch you may be hankering for – but that's not to say Patience lacks all appeal.
The sleuthy show sees Fraser painted as a workaholic, 'neglectful' mum, police detective Bea Metcalf. Bea eventually develops a pseudo-maternal relationship with Patience Evans (A Kind of Spark's Purvis), an autistic police archivist who works alongside her.
Patience has an episodic case-of-the-week structure that doesn't really break the mould of the genre in that respect.
However, seeing things unfold through Patience's experience does encourage broader contemplation on neurodivergent experiences in the workplace.
Purvis, who has autism and ADHD, told The Big Issue in a recent interview: "What I was really excited about was that Patience has a lot of agency.
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"Usually disabled people are infantilised or left to the side, but she goes on a really interesting journey."
In particular, Patience gives room for rumination on the expectations we as a society automatically place on everyone.
It speaks to an assumption that neurotypical-ness is everyone's lived experience unless stated otherwise, instead of automatically taking people as blank slates and allowing them to show up in their authentic individualistic ways.
Admittedly, Patience can be frustratingly blunt and obvious in its delivery – it's no Professor T (Ben Miller has previously confirmed in interviews that his criminologist character Professor Jasper Tempest has autism).
Professor T's exploration of Jasper's neurodiversity is exquisite and less on the nose. However, Patience does get you to consider other lived experiences more deeply. And isn't that – in part – the point of diverse representation?
Patience also explores another side to motherhood rarely touched on in mainstream media, whereby a woman is not the primary caregiver.
Bea's dedication to her job creates a self-doubt in her around her capabilities as a parent. This doubt is nurtured by her estranged husband, who questions her commitment to their son.
This spin on the narrative brings about questions concerning the double standards placed on career-orientated mothers, which we hope the show continues to explore and develop.
In that respect, Bea is able to assuage some of her guilt through her mentor-like relationship with Patience.
Fraser and Purvis have a lovely, natural chemistry that helps bring warmth to the show as the characters enrich each other's points of view in life.
"I've played maybe seven detectives now," Fraser told The Big Issue. "But this one is slightly different. The friendship between Bea and this young woman Patience really grows, and I found that touching."
It's the development of that bond that is most interesting.
Patience is available to stream in full now on Channel 4. Its TV airings continue with episode 2 tonight (Thursday, January 9) at 9pm, followed by episode 3 next Wednesday (January 15) at the same time.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
