ITV thriller Coldwater debuted tonight, and viewers will no doubt have been startled by a violent opening scene in which protagonist John (played by Andrew Lincoln) fails to step in as a woman is being brutally attacked in a children's park.
The intense thriller's opening scene was defended by writer David Ireland, who admitted to GB News and other press that he hadn't realised how shocking it had been initially.
"I never really thought it was controversial or violent or shocking when I was writing," Mr Ireland shared.
"I mean, you know, I come from theatre, and I usually start my plays with a violent scene, you know, but then you kind of have a captive audience, you can't really leave."
ITV Coldwater's debut episode contains intense scenes
|ITV
He added: "So it's a bit risky, more risky doing that for TV, because people can just switch off.
"But I never realised... I never thought it was violent or shocking until I watched it."
The show's executive producer Alice Tyler agreed: "Yeah, I mean, it was - it's a really striking, challenging way to start a show, without doubt.
"And I think, you know, that was one of the things that kind of grabbed us immediately and felt really challenging.
ITV Coldwater's cast delved into the shocking nature of some of the scenes
|ITV
"But it's the foundational scene for John's whole journey through the series.
"You know, it's the thing that kicks off this sort of, well, pre-existing existential crisis that then just sees them spiral."
An ITV synopsis for the drama reads: "When his failure to intervene in a violent confrontation in a city playground brings his identity crisis to a head, John moves his family to the rural idyll of Coldwater.
"On arrival, he is befriended by neighbour Tommy (Ewen Bremner), a charming, confident pillar of the community.
"John is impressed by Tommy. However, he is blissfully unaware that Tommy is harbouring horrifying secrets.
"When John’s long-repressed rage finally explodes with disastrous results, he finds himself unexpectedly indebted to his new friend.
"But how long will it take for him to figure out just how dangerous Tommy really is?"
The Walking Dead star Mr Lincoln, who makes his comeback to British TV with the role, also admitted the intensity of the plot and character, which steered him away from accepting the role.
Andrew Lincoln's ITV Coldwater character John faces an intense journey in the drama
|ITV
When asked what had attracted him to take on the character, he replied: "I mean, for all of the what we've been talking about, all of the themes - that sort of made me say no to it in the first place, because it was frightening and challenging.
"And then I sort of met with the brilliant team at Sister and, of course, David [Ireland, series writer], and we started talking, and it was one of those scripts that I just couldn't get away from.
"I just thought it was... I hadn't read anything like it for a long, long time, and I admired David's theatre writing, and then we met.
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ITV Coldwater debuted on Sunday night
|ITV
"And I just said to my agents, 'I think I have to do this. It's frightening, and I think it will be challenging, but also I think it's about something.'"
He concluded: "And it became one of the most enjoyable experiences with these astonishing actors.
"It just keeps unpacking and spiraling off into this beautiful, mad, crazy, existential scream."