India, May 19 -- Television trends might drift off and come back again, but the pull of a forbidden romance never really disappears. Channel 4's newest series, Falling, kind of commits to that timeless itch; it sort of leans on classic storytelling with real self-assurance. Made by Jack Thorne, who's also behind his gripping work on Adolescence, this six-part drama brings back that old-fashioned melodrama vibe in a way that feels both daring and direct.

Deep in the middle, you have a devoted nun and a Catholic priest, both of them living their lives with a strict routine until it all gets nudged sideways by an unexpected, intensely mutual attraction. The idea of religious figures questioning their vows may sound familiar enough, but the ...