The Dry Season 1 Episode 1 Recap

The show begins with Shiv Sheridan (Roisin Gallagher) at the airport. She does a few stretches while waiting on her bag. When she reaches the front of the airport, she realizes her ride didn’t show up. She tries to contact Caroline Sheridan (Siobhan Cullen) but she doesn’t answer.

Tom Sheridan (Ciaran Hinds) and Bernie Sheridan (Pom Boyd) are watching TV when the phone rings. Tom questions if the phone is ringing, which he finds surprising. Bernie supposes the caller might be Agnes who is trying to determine the best time to visit. He suggests they are wanting to come by for the food before calling them “vultures.”

At the airport, Shiv asks a gentleman (Gus McDonagh) at a table across from her if he is okay. Surprised by her questions, the man asks if he is “hunching.” She points out that he is having an alcoholic beverage at 9am. She promises him that she isn’t being judgmental. When she offers to lend an ear, he asks if she is a religious nut. He alerts someone named Rob there is another religious nut present. She denies the allegations. He asks about her photos of saints. She explains the photos are actually her grandmother’s prayer cards. Annoyed, he makes it clear that he just wants to drink his alcoholic beverage in peace.

She assures him that she just wanted to help. He accuses her of harassment. They get into a heated argument about Jesus. Raising her voice, she admits to not caring about “fu**ing Jesus.” Looking around, she sees the patrons staring intently at her. She gathers her things and leaves.

Caroline is on the phone when she emerges from her vehicle. She tells the person on the other line that she is out of the office due to a family death. She is surprised to see Tom and Bernie sitting in the dark. She asks, “Who died.”  Bernie explains how they were spending quiet time with her grandmother. Caroline accuses her of “wallowing.” Tom assures her that Bernie is entitled to wallow because it’s her mum. After getting a closer look at her deceased grandmother lying in a wood coffin, she asks where Anthony “Ant” Sheridan (Adam John Richard) is at. Bernie says he is distressed.

Ant is snorting drugs off a man’s stomach when Caroline barges in. She demands to know who his friend is. Mikey (Dushan Lubovic) identifies himself. Reminding Ant of their grandmother, she orders him to get dressed. Stunned, Mikey asks if their grandmother is dead.

Shiv drags her luggage across the pavement to her parent’s house. Lifting her sunglasses, she stands and stares.

Ant drops antacid tablets in a glass of water while Caroline complains about the nearly empty refrigerator. She makes a list of things to get. He suggests she pick up something that “says death” and hope. She writes down “Carr’s water biscuits.” As soon as he asks about Shiv, she struggles through the door. Caroline rushes into Shiv to apologize for not picking her up at the airport. When Bernie and Tom find out, they give her a stern look. She reminds them that she has been busy arranging everything. Tom discusses her weight loss, which she denies. He asks when she had her last drink. She tells them over five months. Bernie assures her it is promising.

Shiv volunteers to speak at their grandmother’s funeral. Bernie and Tom don’t think it is necessary. She promises not to embarrass anyone, just wants to pay her respects. Caroline suggests they go to the store for a few things. Shiv reminds her that she hasn’t had an opportunity to visit with granny. Caroline assures her that she will be there when they get back. She is shocked by Caroline’s comment. Whispering, Tom claims it is her way of grieving.

As they load the trunk down with alcohol, Shiv and Ant discuss his restaurant job. He says his nightshift is killing him. She suggests easing up on the alcohol. He questions what she is talking about. She tells him that he doesn’t want to be like her. Caroline asks Shiv if she has celiac disease. Shiv is confused by the question. Handing her a loaf of bread, Caroline scolds her for not including gluten in her diet. She calls her an “ar**hole” in so many words. Shiv assures her that she was treated by a naturopathic doctor. To end the conversation, Caroline tells her to “get fu**ed.”

Tom asks Bernie if Shiv being there will ruin their enjoyment. She is confused by his comment. He says should they drink alcohol. Assuring him it is okay, she says sobriety is helping Shiv focus

Caroline, Ant, and Shiv pull up as Aunty Ag (Marion O’Dwyer) knocks on their parent’s door. Caroline asks her if her parents are out. She tells her that she is pretty sure Tom is inside the house. She scolds Shiv for what she did to her mother. Tom apologizes for not answering the door sooner because he and Bernie were in the bedroom. She calls their behavior disgusting, with granny’s corpse in the house.

Shiv is sad to see her grandmother lying in a coffin. She asks Caroline who picked out their grandmother’s outfit. Caroline says Bernie did. She contributes her bad taste to the side effects of Valium. When she begins to change her outfit, Caroline orders her to stop. Shiv explains how she wants people to see their grandmother for who she is. Agnes compliments their grandmother’s shirt, describing it as “modern.”

Bernie greets guests as they arrive. As Shiv serves sandwiches, she encounters Uncle Joe (Des Nealon) who asks her if she has a man in London. He suggests she get on the ball because of her age. Aunty Rita (Charlotte Bradley) assures him that she can freeze her eggs for later. She asks what type of work she is doing at the moment. She says several projects. Caroline suggests she get a job in an art gallery. Aunt Ag says Bernie told her that Shiv couldn’t keep a job. Bernie denies saying it. Whispering, Agnes tells Joe that Shiv is a serious alcoholic. Tom interrupts, saying Shiv has been sober for six months. Rita is stunned that she is an alcoholic. Agnes calls her behavior a “disgrace.”

Bernie assures them that granny was proud of Shiv after she quit drinking. Shiv calls her grandmother an “inspiration.” Bernie describes the way granny felt about Shiv as a “blind spot.”

Ant and Shiv prepare food for the guests. She asks him if he remembers attending Carl’s funeral. He admits to remembering playing Carl’s Xbox. When he laughs about turning up the volume to drown out Tom’s sobbing, Shiv gives him a strange look. He assures her that Tom would respond the same way if he had died. Caroline opens the door for Rory (Eoin Duffy). Shiv is shocked that Caroline and Rory are still a couple. Ant says they have been together 13 years. She questions if Rory is the only man Caroline has been with sexually. Ant is grossed out by her questions.

Rory is surprised to see granny in a coffin. He claims to have been confused when they said they were going to bring granny home. Tom asks if this is his first wake. As he reaches over to touch granny, Caroline slaps his hand and orders him to stop.

Ant opens the door to Mrs. Corcoran (Caitriona Ni Threasaigh). When Shiv peeps around the door to see Mrs. Corcoran, she sees Jack (Moe Dunford) as well. She quickly makes herself scarce. She watches as he gives Bernie his condolences.

Shiv sits watching Jack out the window as the guests sing. She comes around the corner just in time to hear Ant and Caroline discussing the purpose of her visit. Ant assumes she has been fired while Caroline believes she has returned to drain her parent’s bank accounts. She assures him that the only way to get attention around there is to die from alcoholism. He agrees with her theory.

Shiv walks outside to speak with Jack. He claims the singing prompted him to stay outside. They discuss how long it has been since they last saw each other. He compliments her appearance. She asks about his art exhibition. He says some of the attendees acquired some of his work. She tells him that is wonderful. He calls it, “Bullsh**,” not success. He admits he lacks the balls to leave there. She asks why he doesn’t leave. He believes his country needs him because he is a decent artist.

Scooting next to her, he asks if she is “still that wild little bit**.” She hesitantly kisses him until Mrs. Corcoran approaches. He hands her his beer can before inviting her to his studio. He and Mrs. Corcoran make their exit. As she prepares to return to the house, she runs into Mina (Helene Patarot). Tom is so thrilled to see her that he asks everyone to stop singing, so he can introduce her. She gives Bernie a cactus.

Caroline gives Shiv a photo of her and Carl. She describes them as being “besties” before asking about Jack. She asks if they kissed. Shiv denies kissing him. She reminds her of how he treated her like crap. Caroline assures her that it didn’t stop her before. Rory interrupts to see if Caroline is ready to go home. Ant bums a ride into town while Shiv agrees to remain behind to clean up.

Aunt Rita is comforting a drunken Bernie when Shiv enters the room. She assists her to bed. Bernie tells Shiv that she and Tom sleep in separate rooms because of his back. Shiv goes on a rant about her roommate hosting parties. To avoid drinking, she has been living at the gallery. Her boss discovered what she was doing and fired her. Now, she doesn’t have enough money to cover her rent. Weepy, Shiv tells her that she has no idea what to do in London after losing her job. She asks if she can stay with them. Bernie doesn’t comment, vomits instead.

Shiv haphazardly pulls her luggage into her grandmother’s room.  She pulls several boxes filled with empty miniature alcohol bottles out from underneath the bed. She picks up one of the bottles, unscrews the lid, and sniffs. She says “granny” as she flops backward on the bed as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Dry Review

Let me start by saying the show was a major disappointment. I was hoping for a close-knit, loving, and supportive family. Instead, we get an insensitive, cruel, and uncaring family.

I am not a fan of character bashing. In fact, I view it as nothing less than bullying. It sets a bad precedent in a society where it is already a major issue.

Shiv is struggling to stay sober. She returns home, where she hopes to have a support system waiting. Unfortunately, she gets the exact opposite.

Like always, there are two sides to every story. Alcoholic Shiv had a history of mistreating her mother and grandmother. Some years later and sober, she injects herself back into her family’s life, with little warning.

I am a fan of Siobhan Cullen. Her performance in Dalgliesh as Josephine Fallon was outstanding. She does a fantastic job bringing self-absorbent, crude, and inconsiderate Caroline Sheridan to life.

The first scene was a turnoff, with the excessive foul dialogue. Some people may see this and immediately flip the channel. In other circumstances, that is exactly what I would have done.

The episode deserves a 5. Get more The Dry recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link to learn more.