BBC’s devastating new ’80s drama just robbed itself of a perfect ending with one cliché mistake

Mix Tape ending spoilers follow.

The recently debuted BBC drama “Mix Tape,” inspired by the same-titled novel, is a poignantly heartwarming series that lingers in your mind even after you’ve finished watching – however, it doesn’t immediately capture you like this. Despite a sluggish beginning, “Mix Tape” transforms into a production that stirs nostalgia for a period of your life dominated by your first love experiences.

The story revolves around two former lovers, Alison (Teresa Palmer) and Daniel (Jim Sturgess), whose modern-day relationships seem as worn as a repeatedly played cassette tape. Having been in love back in the ’80s, Alison and Daniel are now dissatisfied with their current marriages. However, a twist comes when Daniel discovers Alison’s new book and decides to reconnect with her.

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Ever since Alison unexpectedly ended their relationship, moved from Sheffield to Ireland, then Australia without providing any reason, she has been a persistent thought in Daniel’s mind. This emotional breakup is portrayed on screen by the young actors Florence Hunt and Rory Walton-Smith, who are the stand-ins for the characters played by Phoebe Dynevor and Ben Miller in Bridgerton.

In their current reunion, it aligns perfectly with a love story series, destined to be. Initially, there’s an uncertainty, but it swiftly transforms into something profoundly emotional and healing, addressing old scars from the past. It offers clarity, along with optimism for what’s to come.

This emotional affair is quite convincing to get caught up in; Mix Tape masterfully portrays their love story, as Hunt and Walton-Smith skillfully construct its base through the ’80s flashback scenes.

Amidst the nostalgic melody of a timeless soundtrack, Mix Tape guides us through a heartwarming tale of deep, authentic love, and subsequently reveals the insidious forces that gradually tear them apart.

Alison’s disorganized family situation, which includes a father who’s rarely around, a mother battling alcoholism, and a brother facing difficulties, significantly impacts her life. Nevertheless, it was an assault perpetrated by her mother’s partner that served as the primary reason for Alison to escape and abandon everything she knew.

Although he did pursue her later on, numerous misconceptions prevented Daniel and Alison from reigniting their relationship, ultimately leading them to part ways independently.

Looking back a quarter of a century, my heart still yearns for that special someone. But alas, due to Hunt and Walton-Smith, I find myself longing for their reunion – only to realize they are now married, and infidelity doesn’t exactly spark romance.

Thus, the plot of “Mix Tape” deviates from its strong narrative to soften the impact of their impending romance, making it less intense and more acceptable.

Rather than embracing the complexities of the predicament, Mix Tape succumbs to the tired trope of portraying the partners of the unfaithful couple as villains, presumably to give the infidelity a veneer of justification.

Daniel’s spouse, Katja (Sara Soulié), is portrayed as an unthoughtful complainant who stifles his artistic aspirations, contrasting sharply with Alison’s supportive nature. With their child having moved out, she focuses primarily on her own desires and undermines anything that Daniel might pursue. To further elicit feelings of indifference to disapproval towards Katja, the narrative reveals that she engages in infidelity, unlike Daniel.

Simultaneously, Alison’s manipulative husband, Michael (Ben Lawson), continues his underhanded tactics to exert control over her. While pretending to be supportive and proud, he secretly undermines her.

The relationships they entered later on could serve as a device to emphasize the point that they both ended up with unsuitable partners. Alternatively, one might interpret their marital struggles as a method to provoke viewers into contemplating whether Alison and Daniel were destined for each other or if their bond was simply superior in comparison due to its relative perfection.

In the narrative of “Mix Tape”, its impact could have been stronger if it had emulated the dramatic style of the BAFTA-winning BBC show, “Mr Loverman”. Notably intricate, “Mr Loverman” delves into a theme similar to adultery as Barrington’s (Lennie James) long-term affair with his friend Morris (Ariyon Bakare) is eventually exposed.

In the end, the couple acknowledges and pursues their same-sex relationship, which leaves Barrington’s wife, Carmel (Sharon D. Clarke), in shambles. The play Mr Loverman doesn’t skirt around the aftermath of this decision or Barrington’s longstanding neglect of Carmel.

It’s heartbreaking to see her endure decades of dismissal and emotional harm, but remarkably, viewers can still cheer for Barrington and Morris’ bond, without having to paint Carmel as the antagonist.

Although Morris and Barrington’s love may be genuine, what truly captivates us is how the show delves into their struggles. They endure the pain of living incomplete lives, the anguish stemming from being denied the freedom to express their sexuality and the longing for a relationship they both desired.

They’re caught in a complex dilemma, struggling to reconcile what they’ve been taught is correct with what they emotionally believe is right.

In a similar manner, “Mix Tape” might have followed this pattern as well. However, it skillfully delves into the emotional complexities between Alison and Daniel, revealing their profound feelings for each other, their sorrow at being separated, and why this reunion is so significant after their long separation. The inclusion of the limiting spouses was unnecessary in this context.

Instead of assuming that the Mix Tape’s message about adultery was straightforwardly good versus bad, it might have been more accurate to acknowledge its complexity and the grey areas that often exist in real life. Sometimes, individuals who engage in infidelity may not be cold-hearted or unscrupulous, but rather confused souls struggling with their own pain. Everyone is prone to making mistakes.

The show fails to acknowledge love’s imperfections in its conclusion, which undermines its authenticity. Additionally, the overly sentimental finale where Alison, who had previously been unable to contact Daniel, receives a ‘I’ve always loved you’ text message at the exact moment she enters the pub to surprise him, seems contrived and detracts from the believability of the ending.

But we suppose that’s the kind of cheesy, cliché move we can approve of.

Mix Tape is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.

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2025-07-17 14:49