Viewers of BBC One drama Strike were up in arms last night at as the boyfriend of Robin Ellacott played the victim over her rape.
Fans were mystified at Robin for resuming her engagement with Matthew Cunliffe after he cheated on her and justified it with his own self pity.
And that disappointment swiftly turned to anger when it became apparent the tenacious and brilliant Robin was prepared to walk up the aisle with her odious partner, despite fans willing her to dump Matthew and take up with colleague Cormoran Strike.
Seriously, why on earth would she marry Matthew after he cheated on her and has done nothing but moan about her choices. Hoping she finds out he blocked #Strike before she sleeps with him #annulment
— Debs (@grid_spy) March 4, 2018
Ack, Robin! Way to marry Mr Wrong who makes it All. About. Him. Nevertheless, here’s hoping there’s lots of sleuthing in your future. And that Mr Wrong gets dumped ASAP. #Strike
— Womble (@womble_don) March 4, 2018
He no doubt means sorry, but Robin you’d be a fool to take him back #Strike #CareerOfEvil
— Sharon (@The_Retro_Rose) March 4, 2018
Read more: Strike viewers are all united in hatred of one thing this series
Although the wedding event didn’t quite pan out the same way as in the book penned by JK Rowling (under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith), viewers had no time for the manner in which they felt Matthew had manipulated Robin into getting married.
And they most certainly did not predict a happy ever after for the couple, having also seen Matthew sneakily block Cormoran’s number from Robin’s phone in an attempt to remove him from her life.
Wow, Robin’s fiancee is toxic#strike #CareerOfEvil
— Amanda (@84Mand) March 4, 2018
I can’t believe Robin married Matthew, he will control her and moan about her job and will hate her working with #Strike I really wanted Cormoran to come and stop her from making a huge mistake, Matthew cheated on her and will probably do it again 😒
— Hannah (@hannahfun1) March 4, 2018
As if she married the guy who not only cheated on her, but will literally moan about her job for the rest of her working days until she’s old and retired. Good one, Robin, ya mug #Strike
— The Prosecco Diaries (@Sairey_bearey) March 4, 2018
So she married the guy who wants to control oh dear Robin. Trouble and strife ahead #strike
— Emma (@Contessgadabout) March 4, 2018
And even though a life with flawed hero Cormoran would certainly have drawbacks, viewers were not in a hurry to deny his and Robin’s exceptional personal and professional chemistry – particularly when Matthew slipped into behaving deceitfully so easily.
Can’t come to terms with the fact Robyn married Matthew. He’s a douche, who only thinks about himself and doesn’t get what she wants. I know #Strike isn’t perfect but he’s better than that grade A butt hole!
— HRH lady Hattie (@LikleyLass) March 5, 2018
Can I just say: #Strike loves Robin. They need to be together, please. C’mon, Jo! Their chemistry and teamwork are solid!!! (Partly I blame Tom and Holli for being so good at their roles.)
— Camille Oliveras (@kayeoliveras) March 5, 2018
Yes, agree. Sense character Matthew Cunliffe is boring on surface however there is a dark controlling element brewing just underneath. Apology for infidelity or using self pity as an excuse(?) Blocking/deleting telephone number for #Strike with a vengeful tone. Actor @KerrLogan👏
— Q Regal Cat and T (@QandT21) March 4, 2018
The fact Robin looked straight into wedding latecomer Cormoran’s eyes as she vowed “I do” hardly went unnoticed, either.
She may be married, but Robin looked at CORMORON when she said “I do” #Strike pic.twitter.com/TCAsrG7zPj
— Emma (@ellemmablog) March 4, 2018
Hilariously, actor Kerr Logan – who plays Matthew – spent the duration of last night’s episode retweeting and replying to abuse piled on his character.
He even noted his own wife in real life wouldn’t want Robin to stay with Matthew – even if Cormoran wouldn’t be her first choice either.
My actual wife- ‘I actually don’t think I want Robin and Strike to get together though.’ Me- ‘You want her to stay with delightful Matt yea?’…… ‘Definitely not.’ #Strike #WeloveMatt?
— Kerr Logan (@KerrLogan) March 4, 2018
Elsewhere, viewers also had a bone to pick with Robin’s mum who – in trying to help her daughter decide whether to proceed with the wedding or not – offered £500 as a gift to either spend on a pair of wedding shoes or on the deposit for a flat in London.
Many of those familiar with the property rental market in the capital couldn’t help to scoff at the reality of that amount being enough to secure anywhere to live.
£500 for a deposit on a flat in London? When is #Strike set? Robin’s mum is having her off there
— Luke Archer (@LukeArcher6) March 4, 2018
£500 for a flat’s deposit in London? The mother is either joking or drunk. But she seems to know the price of a ‘very nice pair of wedding shoes’ though #Strike
— Stephanie Vandem (@StephanieVandem) March 4, 2018
Robin’s mum just gave her £500 as a deposit to rent a flat of her own in London and I let out something between a howl and bitter scream. #Strike #AreYouKidding
— Dr Fern Riddell (@FernRiddell) March 4, 2018
Hahaha, Robin’s mum saying that £500 could be a deposit on a rental flat, what a joke #strike #CareerOfEvil
— Martha Scargill (@needforcheese) March 4, 2018
Some onlookers joked Robin’s mum may be confused about what decade it is.
£500 for a rent deposit, where is she renting, 1998? #Strike
— Gareth Hathway (@hath79) March 4, 2018
I’ve never seen anything so ridiculously unrealistic as this episode of #strike £500 for a deposit on a flat in London? The book is supposed to be set in 2011, not 1991 🙄
— Behavioural Guessonomist (@woodpunk) March 4, 2018
However, despite all their mocking, £500 is the amount apparently donated by the production crew to the residents of the Elephant and Castle location in south London where parts of last night’s episode was filmed… so maybe £500 was enough, in a very roundabout way.
Perronet House at Elephant and Castle features inside and out on this evening’s #Strike on #BBC1. Film company gave £500 to residents association. pic.twitter.com/pCXsU6rcEE
— Elephant & Castle (@roundaboutnews) March 4, 2018
Read more: BBC viewers fuming following last night’s Strike announcement
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