Viewers have shed tears over the Best Interests finale, calling it the “most moving show of the year.”
The gripping drama tells the story of parents – played by Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen – who fight over the right to keep their disabled daughter alive.
The latest episode, which aired last night, follows parents Andrew and Nicci as they battle doctors in court over the fate of their disabled daughter Marnie (played by Niamh Moriarty).
The ending saw the court take the hospital side and take Marnie off life support, leaving her parents — and many viewers — in tears.
Many also praised Horgan and Sheen, who gave “powerful” and “heartbreaking” performances as grieving parents, with many saying the two are likely to receive a BAFTA nomination.
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Viewers were in tears over the Best Interests finale, calling it the “most moving show of the year.” Sharon Horgan and Alison Oliver are in the photo
The gripping drama tells the story of parents – played by Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen (pictured) – who fight over the right to keep their disabled daughter alive
“One of the best dramas I’ve seen in a long time. Superb performances from the entire cast. Michael Sheen, simply amazing. I see a BAFTA!’ said one.
“Sharon Horgan is going to win any award that goes for Best Interest, isn’t it?” added one more.
The four-part series begins with Marnie – who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a baby – going into severe cardiac arrest.
As a result, the 13-year-old has brain damage and is completely dependent on a ventilator for survival.
After Marnie’s doctor Samantha (played by Noma Dumezweni) suggests taking the teen off life support, Nicci desperately tries to fight the hospital’s position.
The series follows Andrew and Nicci (played by Sharon Horgan) as they go to court to decide the fate of their disabled daughter.
Left: Andrew played by Michael Sheen. Right: Katie played by Alison Oliver in the latest episode of Best Interests
Meanwhile, Andrew supports the medical team’s opinion and refuses to assist his wife in court, leaving their daughter Katie caught in the middle.
In the heartbreaking finale, the court found failing to keep Marnie alive on life support, while Nicci sobs as the verdict is read.
The family then says goodbye to their daughter, who has taken her life, before leaving together.
“I don’t know where we’re going, but we’re going together,” says Nicci.
The ending saw the court side with the hospital and take Marnie off life support, leaving her parents – and many viewers – in tears
The episode ends with the couple in the car reconciling and saying they’re going to miss their daughter – before saying they’ve “made her happy.”
Their eldest daughter ‘glass child’ Katie (Alison Oliver) then suggests going for Italian food, before a flash back to the family picnicking on a hillside.
In the scene, Katie is a toddler while Marnie is a baby, the family laughing and joking about the happier times.
Many viewers were particularly moved by Sheen’s performance, who said “I feel obligated, out of love” to let her daughter go, while others praised Horgan for her touching speech telling the court, “I can’t tell you how many times as a mother of a disabled child do you have to give up’.
Katie (played by Alison Roman) with younger sister Marnie (played by Niamh Moriarty, who has a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia)
Noma Dumezweni (pictured) plays Marnie’s doctor, who advises Nicci and Andrew to stop treatment
“Thanks BBC for setting this up. I’m crying so much right now, but it’s important that people try to understand all the difficulties they’re facing,” one fan wrote.
“Damn, I’m crying my eyes out here,” said another.
What a fantastic piece of drama. Thank you BBC for bringing these horribly difficult decisions to life. The best I’ve seen in ages,’ commented a third.
Another fan gave praise to the series overall, tweeting, “Despite its very sad subject matter, it remains heartwarming, deeply nuanced and true to itself, while delving into even more emotional depth with each episode.”
Many also praised Horgan and Sheen, who gave “powerful” and “heartbreaking” performances as grieving parents, with many saying the two are likely to get a BAFTA nod.
Elsewhere in the series, flashbacks show Nicci and Andrew discovering their daughter has muscular dystrophy and learning more about what this means for her future.
The doctor shares the news that their daughter had the incurable condition and tells them that “further deterioration seems likely, while she is unlikely to be able to walk unassisted and will see further deterioration of major organs.”
“I think you need to get ready or Marnie’s life won’t be a full one.”
He continued, “There are many beautiful stories in this life. Marnie’s life will be different. You will find so much joy as you adjust to that difference.”
Nicci wants every possible intervention for her daughter, including experimental treatments discovered on the internet.
The mother of two tells doctors, “She’s still smiling, she’s still loving.”
However, the medical team argue that continued intervention is not in Marnie’s ‘interests’, saying she is ‘deteriorating rapidly’, although there is suspicion that it is really a matter of money.
The series is written by Jack Thorne – who wrote the script for His Dark Materials.
Prior to the project, Michael said, “Jack Thorne is such an extraordinary writer and he has approached this incredibly important and urgent topic with humanity, honesty and humour.”
Niamh, who has a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia, previously said of the role of Marnie: ‘I didn’t think I would ever get a chance to prove myself and my talents’ and called for casting for disabled roles to use disabled actors.
She told the Irish Independent: ‘I hope she does [young people] will feel seen because when I was a kid I never saw myself on a screen and I think if I did it would have completely brightened up my world and made me feel so represented.”
The teenage actor, who grew up in Killiney, County Dublin, said it was hugely important to her to get the character’s “physical attributes” right.