Passer By

[Grapes]

Sorry to post another question about this, but did anyone find this unrealistic/unfair in terms of what James Nesbitt was being punished for? Surely it was out of order that he was being held responsible by all concerned for the behaviour of two horrendous yobs? I mean, wouldn't quite alot of men be afraid to intervene in a situation like that, knowing they would have no chance against two vicious louts?

[SophieSmith]

He was not being held responsible...he wasn't the one on trial. He was eaten up by guilt which lead to others questioning his confidence as a person, and rightly so in my opinion. He tore himself apart, no one else did that. I agree it was a bit unrealistic though.

[andy hughes]

Fair comment Sophie - JN's character was castigated, not for not interveing at the time, but for not reporting the incident until a week later, and then being browbeaten into being a useless witness by the defence council. All the rest of the self-indulgent nonsense was so much dramatic licence, as I have already declaimed - at some length!

[apricot]

I thought the point was that there was a serious flaw in the JN character, not just because of the incident on the train but also his lack of action as he got off the train, then his reluctance to make a statement and also when on the witness stand. He again failed to accept that he was NOT a responsible person. He also evaded responsibility with his family. I think the issue was that we all like to think we will do the right thing but some people do not not have the strength of character to follow it through. The obvious thing to do would have been to accompany the girl off the train carriage and ask the guard to look after her.

[henrietta]

I'm going to get screamed at I'm sure, but I did wonder why the woman stayed on the train/didn't change carriages when JN went to get off? There had been no violence, and no knife shown, so there was nothing to stop her. Why did it all have to be JN's fault? But then there wouldn't have been a story...And I know it's disgraceful etc etc, lack of freedom for women, bound to provoke a feminist rant etc etc, but there is no way I would get on a half deserted train and what's more onto a carriage with only 3 men in it at gone midnight (and don't all rush to tell me that some people have to, please!) I think it was a great idea for a drama but failed as it was so implausible.

[Grapes]

Well I only watched the last half of the second one so I guess I got the wrong end of the stick. Although I totally agree with Apricot - there is no way i would have stayed in that train, in fact I can think of quite a few occassions when I have got off a train and got on at a different carriage to avoid being on my own with a creepy man staring at me.

[Grapes]

I mean Henrietta