The Last Weekend was met with positive reviews, and received an average of four to five stars from all publications rating the serial.
Time Outs Gabriel Tate called it a "sophisticated deconstruction of friendship and the modern class system." Stuart Jeffries of
The Guardian praised the first episode, saying "fine writing, trenchant class analysis …. there was so much to enjoy in
The Last Weekend. I don't know if Blake Morrison's novel is any good, but if it's half as accomplished as Mick Ford's adaptation then last year's Booker prize winner must be stripped of the award. Ford's writing is surely the best in TV drama since Steven Moffat's Sherlock."
The Independent's
Archie Bland wrote "no one is to be entirely trusted, [the] gun is definitely going to go off, and I'm looking forward to finding out who fires it." Euan Ferguson of
The Observer commented, "The passive-aggressive golf game between 'old chums' Ollie and Ian had every twitch of the tension of an Ayckbourn endgame without the leavening humour, and this was a good thing: gripping, and I realise I am in terrible danger of saying that we've again got the finest TV in the world." Leading up to the final episode
Inside Soap wrote "one thing we've enjoyed most about this drama is the sense of creeping dread that has built up in its short run." The Don't Miss column described Shaun Evans' performance as "brilliant". In its Pick of the Day
TV Times gave
The Last Weekend five stars, calling it "brilliant". The publication anticipated a "thrilling yet unsettling end to what has been a great drama, with a disturbing yet subtle performance from Shaun Evans as Ian." ==Awards==