Pete is being questioned by the police about the swapping of the two boys. Here’s our Playing Nice episode 3 review.
Contains spoilers for Frozen. Yes, really.
Imagine being accused of kidnapping a child while leaving yours behind in the Neo-Natal Care Unit. Well, that’s exactly the situation Pete (James Norton) finds himself in at the beginning of episode 3 of Playing Nice.
Miles also leaked Pete’s private writing about the swap to the Mail which he finds out when a reporter shows up at his door. Pete has a great ability to get himself into loads of trouble and then make things even worse by not really thinking. Yet, Norton makes Pete infinitely likable and empathetic.
Pete’s life is quite literally falling apart. The now very public case is costing him not just his child – or children really – but his relationship, his reputation, his job. Episode 3 focuses even more on Pete over Maddie, which is both disappointing and refreshing. Maddie’s struggle with depression feels narratively important, but it’s also lovely to see men’s mental health be discussed, especially in relation to parenthood.
Playing Nice consists of only four episodes, which means that every episode is full of twists and turns. The series occasionally moves a little too fast and has no time to let the scenes and situations breathe or develop organically. There’s simply so much to get through that time is constantly running out.
Yet, the plot is delectable and undeniably interesting. With nothing to lose anymore, Pete begins to look into Miles’ past and lo and behold, finds some anomalies. Has this guy lied about his past this whole time? Playing Nice doesn’t really need this kind of a big plot twist, the narrative was intriguing and rich without it, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t lean closer to the screen once Pete showed up in Scotland.
The new episode really emphasises just how evil and despicable Miles is. McArdle is fantastic here, but it often feels like Miles resembles more of a villain in a Disney movie, like Hans in Frozen, the handsome, kind prince who turns out to be the villain. With Playing Nice otherwise striving for reality and authenticity, it can feel a little out of place. Despite Pete’s trip to Scotland and his findings, Miles’ motives aren’t quite clear still. Villains are always more fascinating when we see how they ended up the way they are and have some level of understanding what fuels their actions, but there’s still time to find that out.
Episode 3 sets up a fascinating finale. Because Playing Nice has been so plot-driven, I’m hoping the finale will have the time to flesh out some of those themes of parenthood, mental health and abuse and bring them to a satisfying conclusion.
