Coming home isn’t always easy, but in the miniseries The Town, premiering 8 p.m. tonight, Thursday, April 30 on Wisconsin Public Television, returning home proves especially difficult for 30-year-old Mark Nicholas (Andrew Scott, Sherlock). Having spent the last 10 years building a new life in London, independent Mark is forced to return home after a devastating family tragedy. Despite his reluctance, he’s quickly drawn back into the complicated world he left behind.
You’ll likely recognize a number of the show’s cast members, including Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) and Julia McKenzie (Miss Marple). But despite the familiar faces, the drama, written by Mike Bartlett and directed by Colin Teague (Doctor Who), offers a refreshing new take on mystery.
“A thrillingly sinister take on suburbia … The atmosphere of menace and melancholy never dissipated, and Bartlett was brilliant at showing how shock reveals the weirdness of normality.” - Daily Telegraph
The Town’s premise and plot are captivating, but the scenery is an added bonus. It is set in contemporary Britain in the fictional market town of Renton, a place that’s not a city, and yet not the countryside. The people of Renton face the same challenges we all do, but are determined to enjoy life as much as they possibly can.
At the heart of The Town is a man struggling to find a place in the community he grew up in, while also fighting to find answers to the many questions that have arisen since he left.
“Playwright Mike Bartlett captures brilliantly the bleakness of a location you return to from duty not desire; the oppressiveness of being for ever the person you were as a teenager, rather than the adult you’ve become, coupled with the realization that everything and nothing has changed … Both surprising and intriguing.” - Guardian
I thought the Premier of The Town was excellent. When will the rest of the mini series be shown?
Thank you.
Hi Cheryl!
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed the premiere. Episode 2 will air 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7, and Episode 3 will air 8 p.m. Thursday, May 14.
I am wondering, will Episode 1 be shown again before Episode 2 is aired?
Thanks
Hi Mark, unfortunately there are no encore showings in the schedule.
I work nights and miss a lot of programs. Why isn’t this (and some other programs) online?
We watch quite a bit of PBS programming, and I don’t even recall seeing any promos for this.
The British dramas are great!
Thanks.
Hey Donna. Thank you for the question. WPT acquires and broadcasts programs from a variety of producers, including PBS, BBC and many others. While much of what we broadcast is available online, we are unable to acquire online streaming rights for every program. We realize the number of viewers who watch online is increasing, and we’re making it a priority to provide even more programs that are available online anytime. Thanks again, David.