Two Weeks in August review: A gloriously awkward summer holiday that should have been cut short

by

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Imagine a vacation with a group of famous friends, but instead of relaxation, they’re facing intense personal conflicts and questioning the meaning of life. That’s the premise of this dramatic series.

The White Lotus! Oh, and The Four Seasons! But also: Two Weeks in August!

This eight-episode BBC series follows married couple Zoe and Dan, played by Jessica Raine and Damien Molony, as they try to reconnect on a vacation in Greece with their friends. They have young children, and though they’ve organized the trip, it’s clear things aren’t going well between them. Dan is withdrawn and easily frustrated, and Zoe seems unnaturally cheerful, all while they struggle financially to make the two-week getaway work.

The story introduces Solomon (Nicholas Pinnock) and his wife, Jess (Antonia Thomas), along with Nat (Leila Farzad), who is focused on her career, and Jacob (Hugh Skinner). Jacob’s unexpected guest, Will (Dylan Brady), whom he met on a dating app, adds another layer to the dynamic.

This show doesn’t build up to uncomfortable social situations—it throws you right into them. From the beginning, the characters are dealing with embarrassing mistakes, money issues, and hidden competition with each other.

Catherine Shepherd, a talented comedy writer and actress known for her roles in shows like Sally4Ever, Cardinal Burns, and especially as April in Peep Show, expertly uses awkwardness to create hilarious moments in this piece. She’s particularly good at finding the humor in uncomfortable situations.

Things get especially intense when a major conflict happens between people in the group. The fallout often feels like something out of the recent movie The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Like that darkly comedic film, it forces everyone involved to confront difficult questions and makes you think about how you would react in a similar situation. What would you do?

The event dramatically changes the lives of all the characters, particularly Zoe, who embarks on a deep journey to understand herself and rebuild her life. However, it remains to be seen whether these changes are genuine and will last, or if they’re simply a result of the excitement of the moment.

The entire cast is excellent, but the film truly showcases Raine’s talent. Her complex performance, shifting from quiet and reserved to wildly energetic, is reason enough to see the movie.

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Despite its strong start, the series tries to cover too much ground over its eight episodes. With six main characters already, the introduction of new figures like Will, and the unpleasant expats James and Flick, distracts from the central story. Adding a layer of Greek mythology into Zoe’s journey feels creatively ambitious, but ultimately overwhelms a series that was already struggling to balance everything.

Viewers might also feel the show’s humor is awkward at times, and the problems faced by the characters don’t seem very serious at first. It makes you wonder when something truly shocking, like a murder, will happen – similar to the show The White Lotus!

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I noticed the show really changed as it went on. It started out light and funny, focusing on small annoyances, but by the second half, things got much more serious. The comedy faded as the problems got bigger and the stakes were raised – it wasn’t about little things anymore.

Two Weeks in August is available to watch in full now on BBC iPlayer.

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Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies, plus a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-05-24 00:37