REVIEW: Playing in Nice (S1 E1/4)

One of the first significant (or at least high-profile) crime dramas of 2025, this ITV four-parter (shown in two-episode bursts).

This is a juicy sounding domestic film noir set in beautiful, brilliant Cornwall and with a central premise so dark and domestic, this subgenre was made for it. As in any domestic film noir, there must be characters who lead, if not a supposedly perfect lifestyle, then certainly a sedentary one. Pete (James Norton) and Maddie (Niamh Algar) are two such characters – Pete, stay-at-home dad to little Theo, and Maddie, restaurant owner and chef. In an opening montage based on Kevin Morby’s Beautiful strangers, we see them at work, on the beach and cooking together. They have a close bond with their son.

But – whoosh, no problem here – the song is over and they are called to the local hospital, where they are told that Theo is, in all likelihood, not their genetic son: two premature babies were born on the same day at the hospital. to the hospital, and it’s almost certain they got the wrong baby.

Can you imagine being told that? Pete reacts emotionally and refuses to admit this is happening, while Maddie is more pragmatic – she tries to remember what happened at the hospital, even encouraging contact with the other couple. In what seems like a flash (a little too quickly, it seems), the other young boy’s parents – Miles (James McArdle) and Lucy (Jessica Brown Findlay) – enter the scene, wanting to be part of their lives and, ultimately, part of Théo’s. It’s a very emotional and well-handled concept, with everyone trying to come to terms with this nightmarish situation.

But… but, but, but. As Miles tries to befriend Pete (going surfing together, proposing a mutual nanny, inviting him and Maddie on vacation), there’s some heavy signaling that tells us things are going to get bad soon – he there are side glances to the camera where Miles’ permanent smile falls, the odd comment directed at his wife that suggests coercive control and general authoritarianism.

And, as the episode unfolds, things start to happen that threaten their relationship and, therefore, the hold they have over Theo. Pete and Maddie are reported to social services after a cannabis incident, Theo gets into a fight with another boy at daycare, and Maddie’s postpartum mental health is mentioned in passing by Pete to Miles, who you just know is the latter will use at some point. And it can be lightly inferred that Pete and Maddie both have close friends of the opposite sex, whose relationships could be used against them.

Aaaaand, it’s also worth mentioning – and this is a by-the-numbers thriller – bits and pieces of flashback information (particularly what happened at the hospital) are dribbled out to us.

So we know something went wrong at the hospital, we know Miles and Lucy are wrong (especially Miles), but we don’t really know why yet.

Paul Hirons

Playing Nice is broadcast in the UK by ITV1 and ITVX