Reviews

I was born in the 1940s, so at the time of the current series I was a young adult.

A retired Gynaecologist told me recently that the series did not reflect the development of medicine and nursing and that by the time the current series was set, in 1969, the procedures portrayed were hopelessly out of date.

For me, decor, furnishings etc. Are depressingly 1940s-1950s not late 1960s.

Attitudes and behaviours are similarly stuck in time.

This is where the problem lies. The BBC have tried to shoehorn modern issues into a programme set more than half a century ago. The early series would have scored 9 stars but this series only scores 5 resulting in my 7 rating.

If you're looking for closure by the end of episode 6, you'll be left wondering if there's ever going to be a second series. Episode 1 was 10 out of 10. Episode 2 wiped out that rating. Episodes 3 and 4 were somewhat flat but the final 2 episodes, 5 & 6 redeemed the series. I still maintain the score of 5 out 10 only because a lot of viewers didn't progress the series after the second episode.

I won't provide any spoilers, but the hope that all loose ends would be tied up by the end of the final episode, will disappoint many viewers. The viewer is left presuming that Jo will speak to the head of C. I. D.

At the time of writing this review, it is my understanding that there is no second series planned.

As an epic produced over 60 years ago, it's a visual masterpiece with fine performances from the stellar cast. Where it falls down are the major historical inaccuracies. For example, at the end of the film, Octavian (Augustus Caesar) murders Caesarion, the son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. There is no mention of Antony's and Cleopatra's three children who Octavian took back to Rome to be brought up by Antony's widow, Octavia. They were treated as Patricians and their names were; Alexander Helios, Cleopatra Selene II and Ptolemy Philadephus.

In addition, the death of Pompey Magnus is totally different from reality.

Despite the many goofs, this film, released 54 years ago, deserves an 8 out of ten. I would have awarded this rating based on what I thought of it as a 20 year old, watching it at the cinema.

If this had been produced more recently, it would only have scored 6. As a morale booster, it's a good film and gives the modern viewer a sense of what was going on 83 years ago.

If Battle of Britain were to be re-made now, CGI etc. Would probably enhance the dog fights and bombing raids but the sense of 'history' would be lost. 1969 was a lot closer to 1940 so the wartime 'Bulldog Spirit' wasn't lost, which it would do now.

I scored the first episode 3 out of ten. After the second episode I upped the series to 4 out of ten on the hope that the final two episodes redeem this series.

Channel 5 are showing this budget crime drama as it's not up to par with what you'd expect from the BBC or ITV in a 9pm slot. I emphasise the word budget.

The acting is very wooden with sets that leave a lot to be desired. This town seems to have a mayor and her assistant and that's all. There is a café without customers and all the interactions seem very awkward as if there were no rehearsals and each scene filmed in one take.

Ross Kemp should have avoided this one but I hope there may still be some redemption by the time the final credits roll at 10pm on Friday.

Mary was only 18 when her first husband died in 1560. The film should have had younger actors portraying Mary and Francis ll of France with Vanessa Redgrave taking over the role later on (Mary was only 44 at the time of her execution.) There are a number of historical inaccuracies although I acknowledge there has to be some artistic license for the purposes of dramatisation.

However, Mary and Elizabeth never met. Any school age history student watching this film could create a real faux pas in writing an essay on "what could have been." A production of this quality now, with actors of this quality and modern filming methods, would, I believe, be a world beater.

I thought I knew the history well but it's just too hard to follow. The scenes chop and change with dates and places as well as other characters popping up.

I'm not surprised ITV didn't launch this six parter on mainstream TV. It's a mess. The lighting in Episode 1 is beyond ridiculous and with the constant chopping and changing of scenes and timelines, the production doesn't make for relaxing viewing.

If ITV want to broadcast this on the network instead of ITVX, Post Production work will be needed with scene titles added. For example, 23 JANUARY 1963... Beirut, Lebanon.

I was really looking forward to this series and ITV have left me very disappointed.

I've watched this 5 part series on BBC iPlayer after watching Episode 1 on live TV. I will not spoil matters for anyone watching it 'live' but it's up and down.

Episode 1 Good 7* Episode 2 Not so good. 2* Episode 3 Good 6* Episode 4 Good 6* Episode 5 (the final episode) Rubbish 0* Overall score 21 / 5 episodes = 4.2* This series had the makings of a fine BBC production and then went rapidly downhill a third of the way through the final 57 minutes.

Without giving anything away, audience expectations of a 'Cops and Robbers' series are that good triumphs over evil or the other way around. Either way a nail biting finale is anticipated.

Sadly, by the end of Episode 5, you'll be thinking "That's 5 hours of my life I won't get back.

It would deserve 9 stars provided you pay attention to the twists and turns of the script. However, Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc is over the top. The Louisiana drawl is too strong. He sounds like he should have been in The Green Mile as the crazed child killer!

Having said that, Edward Norton is superb as Miles, a far cry from Baldwin of Jerusalem (Kingdom of Heaven) Netflix have a winner here and I believe a second film is in the offing.

As it's on Netflix, I recommend you watch it in two parts of just over an hour each time. There are red herrings with twists and turns and you'll get confused if you don't pay attention.

I watched the first three series culminating in the end of Series 3 on BBC1 on Friday 21st October 2022. Filmed for the American market, the fictitious "Greater London Police" is as wooden as the acting. If the D. I. was referred to his full title as "the Detective Inspector " once, he was given his full official title countless times. Whereas it would be the "D. I." The "Guvnor" The "Boss." I have read that Channel 5 we're going to broadcast it at one hour an episode including adverts but dropped it as a dead donkey. The BBC picked it up for daytime TV and it shows!

I only watched it because I was Covid-19 positive and was Ill for 2-3 weeks.

Probably like many people, I watched the first two episodes on launch day. Being a Middle Earth fan, I awarded the first two episodes 8 Stars.

I've watched Episodes 3 and 4 at one week intervals and together they score 6 Stars so I've reduced my overall rating to 7 Stars.

I will continue to rate every two episodes.

So why the downgrade? I found 3 & 4 to have rambling storylines and too much scene-shifting, resulting in an element of confusion and frustration.

The problem is the episode roll-out frequency. Nine episodes should be over a months.

Week 1 1 & 2 Week 2 3 & 4 Week 3 5 & 6 Week 4 7 & 8 Week 5 9.

I had read the advanced hype for this new series so decided to record it. I started watching an hour after it finished (without adverts) and I must admit I agree with the journalist, Lucy Mangan, who reviewed it for a National Newspaper. It was about as gripping as a piece of ice sliding on a sheet of ice! I always wonder about programme quality when a whole series is available on catchup apps on launch day. I now know why. It was poor and Abigail let down.

I stuck with it for all episodes. Joe Cole was hopelessly miscast as Harry Palmer. Michael Caine was far closer to the Len Deighton character profile of Palmer.

The rest was very good with accurate location filming and period studio sets.

Will they follow up with an ITV version of Funeral in Berlin? I hope so.

Watched via Amazon Prime, this film rates at 4* for a film and 5* for a TV Movie. As a TV Movie, it probably would screen over two evenings at 2 hours a time including adverts. As a low budget film, it is lacking in action.

A radio on the Cote D'Azur with a 50 Km signal range could not be picked up in Lyon.

In 1944, the Cote D'Azur was under Italian occupation. Wehrmacht officers wouldn't have been there at all. They were either shoring up the Eastern Front or preparing the Western Wall in anticipation of the Allied invasion.

In 1944 the Italians were more interested in getting back to Italy. The family could have stayed there indefinitely.

Series 1 it is not. I watched this on BBC iPlayer and I'm not inclined to waste time watching Episode 2 this evening. I think the only reason I may carry on with the series is purely out of curiosity.

I rated episode 1 a 4. After watching two episodes I've aggregated my score to a 3. I will not be watching the final two episodes, in fact I haven't even looked at when they're on.

Towards the end of episode two, Ian is seen rifling through his wife's desk, finding a key that unlocks a drawer containing the incriminating evidence that will lead to the divorce.

In fact, suspecting her infidelity and while Margaret was on a trip to New York, Ian engaged the services of a locksmith to access a cupboard containing all the evidence he needed to divorce Margaret.

This drama does however paint a picture of two despicable people, Margaret & Ian. I'm looking forward to episode 3 where their toxic marriage comes under legal scrutiny.

I agree with other comments here that at 4 X 1 hour episodes, it was too long. It could, and should, have been aired over 3 episodes.

I found that some of the dialogue was somewhat indistinct, but the structure of un-telling the events keeps the viewer's attention.

As for the ending, well, a complete mess. I felt the same way as in the 1960s when I left a cinema after watching 2001, A Space Odyssey. ( A "what on earth was that about?")

Atmospheric thriller where the viewer hopes that truth will ultimately conquer. Another Joanne Froggat excellent series, dark and menacing.

Sunday nights won't be the same!

Just one production issue; the uniformed Woman Police Sergeant (WPS) was wearing two pips on each epaulette (an inspector's rank) instead of either 3 stripes on each arm or on each epaulette.

It's like watching paint dry. Anna Maxwell Martin mumbles a lot of her lines. As it's panning out after 2 episodes (of 4) ITV would have been better broadcasting H. D. as a 2 hour whodunnit.

Just finished watching this on SkyQ after recording it last night. Everyone in the Government, Care Sector and those who declined the Covid-19 vaccine, need to watch this and learn from it.

Powerful performances from Comer & Graham. This is going to win multiple TV awards.