Ambitious drama

Steven Baxter(Christopher Eccleston) is just an ordinary bloke. After enjoying a night out in Manchester with his friends, he has a revelation and disappears without warning. When he returns 40 days later he claims he is the Son of God.

Of course he is greeted with disbelief and sarcasm by the majority but when he performs a miracle at Manchester City's Maine Road stadium(no, he doesn't make a trophy appear), people soon start to believe his story. Holed up in a Police station to protect him from the thousands outside, Steven prepares his sermon. He tells the public that they have to get their act together and produce a new testament within 5 days or it's all over.

This fine drama from Russel T. Davies is an intelligent and provocative look at faith and society in Modern Britain. The hysteria, anger and skepticism that greets Baxter's preaching is realistically depicted. Ecclestone is perfectly cast in the lead role, giving a sensitive and finely judged performance. The actors playing Baxter's friends and disciples are very good with Lesley Sharp and Ahsen Bhatti particularly impressive.

The first half of 'The Second Coming' is as good as I've seen from a TV drama for some time. The second is prone to wandering in unrelated directions and suffers from too much padding. As for the climax, well it certainly is suprising. Some viewers will see it as a major cop-out, others may think it is the only logical conclusion. 'The Second Coming' is flawed but those flaws are a direct result of the film's ambition. What's indisputible is that this is a cut above the average TV drama and is well worth seeing.