Two Weeks in August stars Jessica Raine and Damien Molony break down that illicit kiss in episode 1: “It’s infuriating”

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*Warning – contains spoilers for Two Weeks in August episodes 1 and 2.*

The first episode of “Two Weeks in August” ended on a dramatic note: Jessica Raine’s character, Zoe, unexpectedly caught her husband, Dan (played by Damien Molony), kissing her friend Solomon’s wife, Jess (Antonia Thomas), while he was drunk.

In the second episode, Zoe noticed a change in Dan. He’d been struggling with depression and had previously attempted suicide, but after their kiss, he seemed much more upbeat. This actually bothered Zoe, and she found his newfound energy frustrating.

Writer Catherine Shepherd explained to TopMob that she chose an illicit kiss to start the show’s drama because a kiss is ambiguous – it’s not immediately clear how serious the transgression is, and she found that intriguing and enjoyable to explore.

It felt like a betrayal, though not a complete affair. I thought it would create fascinating drama at the start of the vacation – everyone would be unsure of the consequences and how much it would impact things. Some characters would revel in the conflict, wanting it to be a huge disaster, while others would prefer to just ignore it and move on.

A kiss feels like it changes everything, even if it seems small. It’s a classic teenage mistake – a betrayal, and definitely wrong – but it’s hard to know how wrong. It’s like a tiny spark that can cause a huge reaction, and that’s what made it so interesting.

Meanwhile, Raine spoke to us about Zoe’s initial reaction, which she says she found “fascinating”.

Raine described the scene as incredibly captivating, noting the character’s stunned reaction. Then, another character, Nat, looks at her with concern, prompting her to quickly tidy up and go to bed. Raine appreciated that the character’s response wasn’t overly dramatic, a departure from typical television portrayals, and that a subtle shift was happening.

She’s completely stuck and takes forever to make a decision. Then, Dan’s sudden burst of energy after the kiss is really annoying, but it’s brilliantly done. He goes from being deeply depressed and pessimistic, and the director, Tom George, even had him skip at one point, which I found incredibly frustrating.

Molony, who was speaking alongside Raine, added: “Yeah. Can you be a bit more Tigger?”

Raine went on, “It’s just… it’s really hurtful for Zoe. She’s worked so hard for the past year to help the family and get Dan out of his depression. And now, all it took was a kiss with Jess to completely shake things up. It’s like a huge, slow change happening inside her – something fundamental is shifting, and it’s going to change everything.”

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According to Molony, Dan’s emotional state – including his feelings leading up to the crash and the guilt he felt afterward – contributed to the events. Dan felt guilty about potentially abandoning others in an attempt to escape his own pain.

He’s struggling with feelings of guilt and self-disappointment, and he doesn’t know how to move forward. He’s also hesitant to seek professional help and feels lost about how to heal himself and repair his relationship.

The tension between them comes from the fact that they once shared a lot of love and happiness, but now only remnants of those feelings remain. There’s still a spark of something left, offering a chance for reconciliation, but honestly, they both seem completely drained.

Zoe’s constant act is draining for her, and it’s also difficult for Dan to watch her pretend to be someone she’s not. He wants her to be real. This created a compelling beginning for their relationship on the show, as we see them both try to navigate this issue and find a way forward.

The kiss wasn’t about making a big life change, like abandoning a marriage to be with Jess. It was a moment of pure feeling – a realization of what it means to truly live and feel free, something the character hadn’t felt in a long time.

I believe this event is likely the end of their relationship, but it also presents a fresh start for Dan personally, and that was a really interesting aspect to explore.

Two Weeks in August will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Saturday 23 May 2026.

Don’t miss “Add Two Weeks in August”! Watch it on the TopMob app – download now to get daily TV recommendations and stay up-to-date with the latest features.

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 Bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-05-24 00:35