Channel 5’s Latest Thriller: The Au Pair
No one specifically requested that weeknight television transform into a realm of cheesy thrillers, yet Channel 5 has boldly ventured into this territory – and with generally enjoyable results. The latest installment in its steady stream of delightfully absurd potboilers, The Au Pair, manages to capture all the channel’s signature elements, providing warmth to cozy crime enthusiasts. This emotionally charged guilty pleasure enters the scene with all the flair of a Cluedo-style mystery, complete with a dagger ominously protruding from its back.
The plot centers around a seemingly nefarious childminder who meticulously gaslights her new employer, unfolding into an absurd yet captivating narrative. The cast, while not exactly A-list, includes familiar faces: Sally Bretton, known for her role in the lighthearted drama Beyond Paradise, and David Suchet, revered as sleuthing royalty for his iconic portrayal of Poirot.
The secret to a successful Channel 5 thriller lies in walking the fine line between engaging and ludicrous without tipping over into the realm of the unbelievable. This delicate balance is executed quite well in The Au Pair. The story introduces us to the titular French au pair, Sandrine, played by Ludmilla Makowski of Lupin fame, at a bistro in Provence. Here, she receives a mysterious document from another woman, hinting at a dark secret from her past.
The scene shifts to the picturesque Cotswolds, where Zoe (Bretton) crafts a successful career as a dressmaker while navigating the complexities of being a stepmother to the snobbish teenager Amber and the charming Noah. Their father, Chris (Kenny Doughty), is a dedicated doctor and Zoe’s supportive husband, with Suchet portraying Zoe’s elderly father, George, who battles diabetes.
This idyllic life takes a turn when someone begins tampering with George’s insulin and Noah’s bike suddenly malfunctions, sending him careening into a ditch. Fate intervenes as Sandrine happens to be nearby, arriving just in time to assist Noah and notify his parents. What a fortunate coincidence!
- But fortune has little to do with it. Sandrine, for reasons yet to be unveiled, is intent on infiltrating Zoe’s life and eroding her sanity. With a sleuthing prowess reminiscent of an Agatha Christie character, she quickly deduces that Zoe and Chris are in dire need of an au pair – a position she cunningly secures for herself.
- Immediately, she embarks on a campaign of misdirection, exploiting Zoe’s vulnerabilities stemming from a recent miscarriage, while subtly manipulating Chris into believing his wife is losing her grip on reality. Furthermore, she encourages Zoe to pursue IVF again despite Chris’s reservations, a plan that the unsuspecting Zoe agrees to without consulting her husband.
- There are also several amusing sequences showcasing Sandrine unwinding to energetic French electronica, dancing as if she’s at her first rave. This is presumably intended to reveal her true identity, suggesting that the exuberant “real” Sandrine starkly contrasts with the meek facade of the au pair. However, these dance scenes merely add another layer of absurdity to an already preposterous thriller.
While the plot may stretch believability – particularly the misunderstandings between Zoe and Chris regarding Zoe’s so-called strange behavior, such as when she mistakenly administers the wrong dosage of insulin to George – these could easily be resolved through straightforward communication. Yet, without such misunderstandings, the mystery in The Au Pair would unravel faster than one could say “au revoir.” Thus, instead of recognizing the obvious threat posed by her new employee, Zoe remains oblivious to Sandrine’s sinister intentions.
As the series progresses, Sandrine’s true motives are expected to unfold over the next three episodes, airing throughout the week. In the meantime, there is much to appreciate about this delightfully absurd thriller, particularly Makowski’s portrayal of the quintessential pantomime villain.
The Au Pair continues tomorrow at 9pm on Channel 5.
