Marchlands

[taperjeangirl]

Just found the review of Episode 3...

Spoiler

After a meandering couple of opening episodes, the third part of ITV1's supernatural drama really begins to deliver frights and further the mystery surrounding the titular house.

The mystery is firmly routed in the death of the young girl, Alice, who lived in the house during the 1960s. The episode opens with her body being found, before jumping to the present day where the girl's mother Ruth, performed somewhere between caring and scaring by Anne Reid (Dinnerladies), is now a home help at Marchlands for a couple with a new born baby girl - also by the name of Alice…

Jump to the '80s and we have the Maynard clan with their 'sickly' girl, Amy. The girl's father Eddie (Ashes To Ashes star Dean Andrews), is torn between his wife's factual determination in helping their daughter's mental issues and his own doubts about her ailments.

Alex Kingston's role as Helen is unsympathetic and never more so when she tells her husband to "get a grip" after he asks, "What if ghosts are real?". It's a welcome move to have a mother so resolutely having faith in the "real" whilst the hubby supports the supernatural; all along stating, in somewhat disbelief, that he is "normal".

Andrews really does demonstrate what a fine actor he can be, showing fatherly concern for his daughter Amy while her problems are yet to be defined. Eddie starts to consider Amy's belief that she has a dead friend, Alice, in the house. His encroaching curiosity and fear is expertly realised.

The creep-o-meter bungs into action during a conversation between father and daughter where her testimony convinces him of Alice's existence. Genuine shivers are felt when Amy vividly describes the "ghost", leaving her father to ask: "Is she here now?" This sparks his own investigation and some very effective, and gripping, scenes with Andrews alone, looking for Alice.

There's more eeriness to be found in the physical manifestations of Alice and her house (not to mention her "appearances"). The Marchlands of 2010 - with Nisha (Shelley Conn), partner Mark (Elliot Cowan) and their new baby Alice - is positively aggressive, featuring a terrifying bath scene which will have every parent in the country letting their babies be dirty for a while.

We do have one final point, however, and it's really the only negative about the episode. A Rubik's Cube in 1987? Really? If there was a lazier, not to mention incorrect, way to state "THIS IS THE EIGHTIES" than the Crossroads clips and Alex Kingston's fondness for dungarees then this was it. Nobody, and we mean nobody, was still playing with them after 1983 let alone '87. Tut tut!

Other than that minor blip, Marchlands is kicking into a gear that didn't seem possible in its previous instalments - and much appreciated it is too. Best not to watch alone though, the scares are coming thick and fast. Especially the very end: it will... creep… you... OUT.

Right thats it....I can't watch..I will prob wee myself this week xx

Ok I gave in and read! I'm excited, I do love this kind of thing cos supernatural is the only thing that scares me!!!!

 

[LulaBug]

I wonder if it'll prompt complaints to ofcom if the baby is involved in the terrifying bath scene!

 

[annawrigley]

People on DS are saying that

Spoiler

the modern familys husband is somehow Alice's brother?

Alices mum did say she had been away for a while??

Like through Alice's dad I suppose, maybe

Spoiler

I actually thought this too, seeing as the priest suggested they try for another baby

Cant wait for thursday now x

Spoiler

But he couldnt be because when he was 'interviewing' Alice's mum for the job at the house it was as if they didn't know each other

 

[rosie272]

I think I'll ask my sis to come round and watch it with me this week - I'll be terrified with the baby in the bath scene

 

[Harveysmum369]

People on DS are saying that

Spoiler

the modern familys husband is somehow Alice's brother?

Alices mum did say she had been away for a while??

Like through Alice's dad I suppose, maybe

Spoiler

I actually thought this too, seeing as the priest suggested they try for another baby

Cant wait for thursday now x

Spoiler

But he couldnt be because when he was 'interviewing' Alice's mum for the job at the house it was as if they didn't know each other

Spoiler

I reckon,that Alice's mum was sectioned,thats why she had been away,had a baby,which got taken off her

 

[JessdueJan]

People on DS are saying that

Spoiler

the modern familys husband is somehow Alice's brother?

Alices mum did say she had been away for a while??

Like through Alice's dad I suppose, maybe

Spoiler

I actually thought this too, seeing as the priest suggested they try for another baby

Cant wait for thursday now x

Spoiler

But he couldnt be because when he was 'interviewing' Alice's mum for the job at the house it was as if they didn't know each other

Spoiler

I reckon,that Alice's mum was sectioned,thats why she had been away,had a baby,which got taken off her

Oh yeh I didn't think of that, good theory

 

[LulaBug]

But I am sure I read somewhere that Alice's mum was unable to have any more children. She got told or something that it wouldn't be able to happen, but I guess could be wrong.

 

[Harveysmum369]

But I am sure I read somewhere that Alice's mum was unable to have any more children. She got told or something that it wouldn't be able to happen, but I guess could be wrong.

I thought it was due to Alice's dad they couldn't have kids,his sperm count was too low?x

 

[crossroads]

I've only seen the second episode of this. I missed the first! :doh:

No wonder I haven't a clue what's going on!

The only thing I do know is that THE SWEATY BLOKE IS VERY SEXY

 

[annawrigley]

People on DS are saying that

Spoiler

the modern familys husband is somehow Alice's brother?

Alices mum did say she had been away for a while??

Like through Alice's dad I suppose, maybe

Spoiler

I actually thought this too, seeing as the priest suggested they try for another baby

Cant wait for thursday now x

Spoiler

But he couldnt be because when he was 'interviewing' Alice's mum for the job at the house it was as if they didn't know each other

Spoiler

I reckon,that Alice's mum was sectioned,thats why she had been away,had a baby,which got taken off her

Oooh yeah then it could be possible! Guess we'll have to wait and see

 

[AppleBlossom]

But I am sure I read somewhere that Alice's mum was unable to have any more children. She got told or something that it wouldn't be able to happen, but I guess could be wrong.

I thought it was due to Alice's dad they couldn't have kids,his sperm count was too low?x

Spoiler

If that was the case, when he said to her "where were you?" when they're talking about Alice's death, maybe she was with another man and fell pregnant with his child who turns out to be the future guy. So would be Alice's half brother. And maybe she was sectioned because she believed she could "see" Alice and so the baby was taken off her so the guy wouldn't know it was his biological mother?

 

[Tsia]

i watched both 1 and 2 on itv player as so many were raving about it. its good!

roll on thursday

 

[Jody R]

But I am sure I read somewhere that Alice's mum was unable to have any more children. She got told or something that it wouldn't be able to happen, but I guess could be wrong.

I thought it was due to Alice's dad they couldn't have kids,his sperm count was too low?x

Spoiler

If that was the case, when he said to her "where were you?" when they're talking about Alice's death, maybe she was with another man and fell pregnant with his child who turns out to be the future guy. So would be Alice's half brother. And maybe she was sectioned because she believed she could "see" Alice and so the baby was taken off her so the guy wouldn't know it was his biological mother?

Spoiler

but if that were the case, wouldn't we be seeing her pregnant? And if she had already had the baby I doubt the evil MiL would be able to keep quiet about it, she'd be throwing it in her face. Even if she had been sectioned and let out again already. And if the baby were present day husband he would be older than he is if she was getting pregnant with him when Alice was dying. So if she was with another man when Alice died that can't be when she got pregnant again (if she did)

This is driving me mad, I need to know

 

[Harveysmum369]

But I am sure I read somewhere that Alice's mum was unable to have any more children. She got told or something that it wouldn't be able to happen, but I guess could be wrong.

I thought it was due to Alice's dad they couldn't have kids,his sperm count was too low?x

Spoiler

If that was the case, when he said to her "where were you?" when they're talking about Alice's death, maybe she was with another man and fell pregnant with his child who turns out to be the future guy. So would be Alice's half brother. And maybe she was sectioned because she believed she could "see" Alice and so the baby was taken off her so the guy wouldn't know it was his biological mother?

Spoiler

but if that were the case, wouldn't we be seeing her pregnant? And if she had already had the baby I doubt the evil MiL would be able to keep quiet about it, she'd be throwing it in her face. Even if she had been sectioned and let out again already. And if the baby were present day husband he would be older than he is if she was getting pregnant with him when Alice was dying. So if she was with another man when Alice died that can't be when she got pregnant again (if she did)

This is driving me mad, I need to know

Spoiler

But if she was sectioned,say at the end of the series,and her family disowned her,she wouldn't have seen them again..the first family is set 6 months after Alice died,I think the modern bloke is older than he looks..x

 

[AppleBlossom]

But I am sure I read somewhere that Alice's mum was unable to have any more children. She got told or something that it wouldn't be able to happen, but I guess could be wrong.

I thought it was due to Alice's dad they couldn't have kids,his sperm count was too low?x

Spoiler

If that was the case, when he said to her "where were you?" when they're talking about Alice's death, maybe she was with another man and fell pregnant with his child who turns out to be the future guy. So would be Alice's half brother. And maybe she was sectioned because she believed she could "see" Alice and so the baby was taken off her so the guy wouldn't know it was his biological mother?

Spoiler

but if that were the case, wouldn't we be seeing her pregnant? And if she had already had the baby I doubt the evil MiL would be able to keep quiet about it, she'd be throwing it in her face. Even if she had been sectioned and let out again already. And if the baby were present day husband he would be older than he is if she was getting pregnant with him when Alice was dying. So if she was with another man when Alice died that can't be when she got pregnant again (if she did)

This is driving me mad, I need to know

Spoiler

I was thinking that maybe on the day Alice died her mum was with another man and her husband found out, hence the confrontation. If she had slept with another man at that point she wouldn't be "showing" because the scenes are set not long after Alice's death. And the mum herself might not even know she is pregnant, iykwim? And if the case was that she was pregnant, present day man would only be in his early 40's. Maybe a reason she may have got sectioned is because the evil MIL finds out about the affair and then when she has the baby it tips her over the edge. I could be waaaay off but I like to keep guessing what might be happening lol

 

[Jody R]

But I am sure I read somewhere that Alice's mum was unable to have any more children. She got told or something that it wouldn't be able to happen, but I guess could be wrong.

I thought it was due to Alice's dad they couldn't have kids,his sperm count was too low?x

Spoiler

If that was the case, when he said to her "where were you?" when they're talking about Alice's death, maybe she was with another man and fell pregnant with his child who turns out to be the future guy. So would be Alice's half brother. And maybe she was sectioned because she believed she could "see" Alice and so the baby was taken off her so the guy wouldn't know it was his biological mother?

Spoiler

but if that were the case, wouldn't we be seeing her pregnant? And if she had already had the baby I doubt the evil MiL would be able to keep quiet about it, she'd be throwing it in her face. Even if she had been sectioned and let out again already. And if the baby were present day husband he would be older than he is if she was getting pregnant with him when Alice was dying. So if she was with another man when Alice died that can't be when she got pregnant again (if she did)

This is driving me mad, I need to know

Spoiler

I was thinking that maybe on the day Alice died her mum was with another man and her husband found out, hence the confrontation. If she had slept with another man at that point she wouldn't be "showing" because the scenes are set not long after Alice's death. And the mum herself might not even know she is pregnant, iykwim? And if the case was that she was pregnant, present day man would only be in his early 40's. Maybe a reason she may have got sectioned is because the evil MIL finds out about the affair and then when she has the baby it tips her over the edge. I could be waaaay off but I like to keep guessing what might be happening lol

Spoiler

But modern day husband (Mark) was friends with 1980's Amy's brother Scott and they seemed to be the same age.

Mark would have to have been born in either 1968 or early '69 to be Ruth's son from an affair she was having on the day Alice died and that would make him about 18 or 19 in 1987, by which time I would have expected him to be off at university (I'm making an assumption about that because he and Nisha seem to have good jobs and be fairly well off to buy the house etc). Amy's brother Scott isn't that old, he's still at school.

Also Alice has been dead for six months when the series starts, so if her mum got pregnant on the day she died she would be six months pregnant. Since she and her husband hadn't had sex since Alice died I'm sure someone in her family would have realised. After all, they are all pressurising them to try for another baby and her mother in law is watching her like a hawk. Even if she wasn't showing she would pick up on symptoms.

I do think it's possible that Ruth had an affair or a one night stand, she clearly feels guilty that she wasn't there for Alice, I just don't think that she got pregnant then.

We have seen her have sex with her husband 'now' though so perhaps Mark could be their son, Alice's full brother, not raised by her, but perhaps by his dad or his grandparents. He did grow up in the village though and I'm sure someone would have mentioned to him that his sister was dead and his mum was gone, especially if she was in a mental home. Maybe that's why he wanted to come back, but he doesn't seem to be doing much to find out about her, it's more secret things with Olive at the moment.

All this guessing and waiting and seeing is driving me mad, I can't wait for Thursday now.

 

[Jody R]

Spoiler

Just did some digging on ITV Player. Alice died on 21st November 1967 so six months later would be 21st May 1968. If Ruth were to get pregnant on the day Alice died (since we are assuming she was with another man on the day Alice died) then the baby would be born somewhere in August 1968.

So the baby would be 19 in 1987. Mark could be a year or two older than Scott, so that baby (if there is one) could be him. But I still think Ruth would be aware of her pregnancy and showing signs of it, if not a bump then morning sickness or something and the MiL would have guessed what it was.

She's not one to dismiss signs like that as being upset, she'd know Ruth was pregnant. And she'd be raving about it and setting the priest on her or throwing her out.

And I stil think that the Mark in 1987 was the same age as Scott and his friends, partly because of my going off to uni theory and partly because Scott might be sixteen at a push but I think he's a little bit younger than that and I can't see a 19 year old hanging about with a fifteen year old or younger, even in a little village.

I just hope the end of the series is worth all the guessing we've been doing to work it out

 

[New2Bumps]

If something is just your theory please post it openly! I dont' want to read proper spoilers but I dont' mind reading ppl's own theories, but now I can't tell which is which and dont' want to press the spoiler button incase! lol Share your theories ladies!

 

[annawrigley]

As far as I can remember there've not been any 'actual' spoilers for a while. Please dont shoot me if I'm wrong

 

[Harveysmum369]

ok,my theory is-the modern husband is actually Alice's brother,working on Alice's mum being sectioned(hence the being away for a while),she got pregnant,got the baby taken off her therefore they don't know each other.xx