Too Close spoilers: Episode One

Connie Mortensen commits a terrible, unimaginable, crime.

Forensic Psychiatrist, Emma Robertson, is having a sneaky cigarette in her child’s bedroom, when her husband, Si, calls. She lies about her whereabouts and tells him she’s been asked to take on the Mortensen case. Connie is now being held in a secure psychiatric unit awaiting trial, and Emma’s been tasked with assessing her state of mind on the night of her offence. During their first session, however, Connie claims to have no memory of that night; instead, she mocks Emma and begins probing into her personal life.

During their second session, Emma digs into Connie’s relationship with friend and neighbour, Ness Jones, discovering how they first met. In turn, Connie needles Emma about her sex life with Si, suggesting that her marriage is devoid of passion. On her way home, Emma obsesses over Connie’s words, and attempts to prove Connie wrong.

During their next session, Emma unearths an obsessive element to Connie and Ness’s relationship, but Connie also senses that Emma is grieving deeply. When Connie is confronted with indisputable photographic evidence of the consequences of her crime by her solicitor, she reacts violently, and Emma is the one caught in the firing line.

Yet during a dinner party with Si’s sister, Hattie Robertson, and other guests, a drunk Emma is surprised to find herself protecting Connie against their vitriol. Si and Emma’s resulting strained communicaOon makes it clear that Connie’s case is painfully close to home for them.

For her next session with Connie, Emma turns up hungover from the dinner party. She asks Connie about her husband, Karl Mortensen, and we see Connie in the midst of busy domestic life with Karl and their children, Annie and Josh. It transpires that Connie is on antidepressants and Karl reveals to her that he’s unhappy too.

Connie and Ness go on a daytrip, and when their car breaks down, they find themselves taking a romantic walk where they get stoned and almost kiss. Are they going to begin an affair?

Back in the therapy session, Emma is severely hungover, and Connie is able to take advantage of her unprofessional state. As Emma leaves the unit, she passes some visitors for Connie, revealing that the affair isn’t quite as we might have suspected.

Cast

• Alex Hughes as Adrian
• Barbara Drennan as Hattie
• Chizzy Akudolu as Addy Smith
• Denise Gough as Connie Mortensen
• Eileen Davies as Julia De Cadenet
• Emily Watson as Dr Emma Robertson
• Grace Calder as Savannah
• Henry Helm as Josh Mortensen
• Isabelle Mullally as Annie Mortensen
• Islah Abdur-rahman as Nav
• Jackie Clune as Leah Worthington
• James Doherty as Blair
• Jamie Sives as Karl Mortensen
• Joan Iyiola as Anya Adetola
• Karl Johnson as James De Cadenet
• Nina Wadia as Dr Anita Rhys Evans
• Paul Chahidi as Phil Cook
• Rina Fatania as Headmistress
• Risteárd Cooper as Si Robertson
• Thalissa Teixeira as Vanessa Jones
• Thea Barrett as Polly

• Writer – Clara Salaman
• Producer – Letitia Knight
• Director – Sue Tully

Too Close airs on ITV at 9pm tonight