As with so many recent television productions from England and the US, this is a program that has screened in it's own country months ahead of when the Australian commercial networks deem it appropriate for Australian audiences to watch. It is already available, quite legally, on DVD from amazon.co.uk, for less than $20. Frustrating in the extreme.
There are two terms that usually mean quality in television drama. BBC in the UK and HBO in the States. So when you see something that is a co-production of both networks, it's a fair bet that it will be worth watching.
Whilst this is definitely watchable, it has ups and downs in the plot meaning that sometimes it is a little hard to follow.
The story revolves around a stiff-upper lip establishment bachelor, seduced on a train by one of the early 20th Century 'bright young things', looking for someone to cover her pregnancy to a married man. No, I am not spoiling the plot, this is all revealed in the first 10 minutes.
What follows is a love triangle of a difference. Over five episodes, she sleeps with many, he sleeps with none (even her) and he meets the one he should have married in the first place. We go from wanting to slap the wife, shake the husband and tell the girlfriend to move on.
But having said that, you do get dragged into the program, that covers the Great War and the different treatment of the rich and the poor. Christopher Tietjens (played by Benedict Cumberbatch of Sherlock) is dry and rarely show passion. His performance is strong, but often his deep baritone voice is hard to hear and understand. Rebecca Hall as the wife, Sylvia, is delightfully hate-able, and a smattering of classic British character actors keep things moving (watch for a rare moment of Rupert Everett in bed with a woman.........).
I found the program interesting enough to make me want to watch the next episode, but not captivating enough to become a favourite.
Knowing Australian television, it will either not be screened up against anything interesting, or screened against 4 other interesting programs. Anyway, we probably have 6 months to wait to find out.
I give this 3 and a half Orsons.
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