Coldwater fans say same thing minutes in as they fume over 'baffling' detail

Coldwater fans said the same thing minutes into the second episode as they fumed over a "baffling" detail.

The six-part ITV drama, penned by David Ireland, centres on a character named John (Andrew Lincoln) who is secretly frustrated with his life as a middle-aged, stay-at-home father.

After failing to step in during a violent altercation in a London playground, John decides to uproot his wife Fiona (Indira Varma) and their children for a fresh start in the tranquil Scottish village of Coldwater.

John and Fiona soon find themselves drawn into the world of their neighbour Tommy (Ewen Bremner), a charismatic and seemingly devout man who is married to the local vicar, Rebecca (Eve Myles).

During the first episode on Sunday (September 14), John encountered a violent man in the woods, with whom he had a previous run-in, reports the Daily Record.

When the situation escalated, John assaulted the man with a rock, leaving him for dead.

After confiding in his neighbour, John stayed at home while Tommy drove to the crime scene. However, the event took a sinister turn when Tommy discovered the man alive and seeking help.

Despite initial appearances that he was going to assist, Tommy ended up killing the man and took him to a caravan, before setting it alight.

On Monday (September 15), John grappled with his guilt as news of the man's death spread throughout the village.

John then took his family on an unplanned trip to church, where he experienced multiple flashbacks of his attack on the man.

John, wracked with guilt, then made his way to the police station to confess his crime, only to be dissuaded by Tommy at the last moment.

Later, a peculiar hunting trip shifted John's outlook as he fell further under Tommy's sinister influence.

After switching off the first episode, the show's viewers took a similar stance tonight as many shared complaints about John's character and the drama's plot.

"Andrew Lincoln's character in #Coldwater is infuriating. So many good actors in this as well but expected better," one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Another added: "Oh for gods sake. This is the oddest drama I've watched in years!" while a third said: "Every character in this is insufferable."

A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: "This drama is rubbish. What a stupid story about nothing. Sharpen up @ITV - what a waste."

A fifth viewer similarly shared: "This is like one of those rubbish Channel 5 dramas. Full of characters you can't like," with another adding: "This is a bit baffling and too slow for people to stick with. They should've give us more of a heads up about what's going on before airing it."

Coldwater is available to stream on ITVX