Reception
The storyline which saw Mark become addicted to cocaine was criticised for its lack of realism by Daily Mirror writer Jim Shelley. He stated that although Mark had previously been one of the more normal characters in the show, there was no obvious reason behind his descent into cocaine addiction, deeming the storyline: "TV crack - instant, mind-altering, utterly addictive." The Stage writer Mark Wright examined the cocaine addiction storyline in contrast to complaints from drinks industry body the Portman Group that a scene featuring characters Maddy Young and Sam Strachan downing tequila shots was "highly irresponsible", writing: "To put this storm in a shot glass into perspective, the offending scene took place in the same episode that Mark Williams was in the gents chopping out a line of cocaine. Yes, Mark Williams played by Robert Powell. He was Jesus, you know! Now who’s talking social responsibility?"
The character has been generally well received by fans of the show. In the 2006 official fan awards, the storyline surrounding daughter Chrissie's true paternity was awarded 4th best of series 8, and Mark and Tricia were voted the series 5th Best Couple. In 2007, episode "One For My Baby" in which Mark's wife Tricia died, was voted best episode of series 9, which Mark and Tricia this time voted the series 3rd Best Couple.
Read more about this topic: Mark Williams (Holby City)
Famous quotes containing the word reception:
“Aesthetic emotion puts man in a state favorable to the reception of erotic emotion.... Art is the accomplice of love. Take love away and there is no longer art.”
—Rémy De Gourmont (1858–1915)
“He’s leaving Germany by special request of the Nazi government. First he sends a dispatch about Danzig and how 10,000 German tourists are pouring into the city every day with butterfly nets in their hands and submachine guns in their knapsacks. They warn him right then. What does he do next? Goes to a reception at von Ribbentropf’s and keeps yelling for gefilte fish!”
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“To aim to convert a man by miracles is a profanation of the soul. A true conversion, a true Christ, is now, as always, to be made by the reception of beautiful sentiments.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)