58 minSeason 1 • Episode 2
LatestMoral dilemmas occupy Jimmy as he plans the Switzerland trip, but tempers flare when Tully’s wife Anna discovers the plan and declares she will not support Tully’s assisted dying.
A friendship forged between James and Tully in a small Scottish town in 1986. One weekend, they make a vow to each other to go at life differently. But then, 30 years on, half a life away, the phone rings. Tully has the worst kind of news.
Acting
Curran and Compston: devastating chemistry across two timelines
Writing
Andrea Gibb's script: profane, tender, authentically Scottish
Direction
Peter Mackie Burns balances 80s joy with present grief
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Andrew O'Hagan's novel, itself inspired by real friendships and Scotland's ongoing assisted dying debates. The title references the insect that lives mere hours—poetic, brutal.
The 1986 scenes were shot in Greenock, Compston's actual hometown, adding layers of authentic nostalgia to Jimmy's memories.
GB
