Cold Call

Premiered in 2019, Channel 5's psychological thriller, Cold Call, is not just another stereotypical suspense drama grabbing the audience's attention right from the first sight. The four-part series presents an engrossing narrative of an ordinary woman's extraordinary struggle against a cruel and vindictive scamming racket. The series primarily unravels in Manchester, with the situations and hurdles escalating in each episode making it a truly nerve-racking experience.

The lead character, June Clarke, is portrayed by the award-winning actress, Sally Lindsay. June is an ordinary working woman, caring for her ageing mother and daughter simultaneously. Her life is turned upside down when she falls prey to a cold call scam that leads to her losing her job and shattering her whole world within no time. The magnitude of her loss and her desperate willingness to set things right forms the core of this unmissable spiralling narrative.

June, a care home worker, is the representative of an everyday woman fighting against overwhelming odds and the hostile world. The strength of the series lies in Sally Lindsay's remarkable performance, which beautifully communicates the desperation, courage, and vindictiveness of a woman surreptitiously stepping into a world she is entirely unprepared for.

Cold Call introduces a wide array of characters that play pivotal roles in transforming the plot. The series flexes its storytelling muscles by revealing more about the fraudsters affecting June’s life with each episode. As June pursues the cold callers who duped her, she is forced to wage a war against a sophisticated network of white-collar criminals, deceitful stakeholders and silver-tongued con artists working from fancy spaces. The characters bring depth to the narrative and provide a range of diverse perspectives.

The storyline is gritty and intense, underpinned by the cold-call scam that is sadly a harsh reality for many. The gripping plotline and multiple climaxes take the viewer on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The story perfectly blends elements of crime, thriller, and realism.

The tight narrative and cliff hanging storylines ensure viewers are left eager for each subsequent episode asking, what's next? Defined as a dark 'empowerment thriller,' the show offers a hard-hitting insight into the duplicitous universe of cold-call scams, characterising scammers as heartless predators.

Cold Call is a perfect example of Channel 5's newfound ambition: producing high-quality drama that can compete with the best of what other channels can offer. The compelling storyline does not deviate from its central idea and runs as a focused ribbon throughout.

The cleverly constructed script keeps the viewers engaged, and the well-timed revelations in each episode make it an addictive viewing experience. Along with the main plot, Cold Call offers a critical examination of the hardships of life, the fragility of trust and the dangerous consequences of deception. It doesn't refrain from showing the moral ambiguity of the characters and doesn’t offer an easy resolution to the crisis.

The show’s exploration of the theme of deception and manipulation, wrapped within the cold call scams, reflects current societal issues, making it contemporary and relevant. The series forces us to confront the ease with which people can be exploited in the digital age.

Cleverly combining suspense, emotion, and crime, Cold Call is a series that sheds an unflinching light on the implications of becoming a victim of a sophisticated scam. From its riveting storyline to the extraordinary but believable characters, the series offers an engrossing viewing experience that leaves audiences at the edge of their seats, contemplating the shocking and sobering reality of scams in our society.

In conclusion, Cold Call, with its intricate plot, stellar performances, realistic setting, and thought-provoking storyline, is a complex and thrilling drama not to be missed. It deals with profound issues in today's world, making viewers ponder upon the intricacies of life, fraud, and trust, while also maintaining the excitement of a classic thriller.