This is a very watchable series, but someone should have told the director that they drove on the left in the Austro-Hungarian empire. Vienna did not switch to driving on the right until 1938, after the German invasion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviews
6 Reviews
Poor
1 March 2018
Crooked House
(2017)
Unbelievable characters and scenario and the usual poor research by the scriptwiters
31 December 2017
Dreary but just about watchable. Who decided to cast the wooden Max Irons in the lead? Why do scriptwriters keep making the same mistake? The police caution in England to suspects before 1995 was: "You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so but anything you do say may be given in evidence." The words "used against you" were only ever used in USA.
The Bletchley Circle
(2012–2014)
Melodramatic with poor research
3 March 2014
An enjoyable series which started brilliantly but has lost marks from me owing to its descent into melodrama and the use of clichéd villains.
The writers have also fallen into a common trap for UK series (e.g. "Poirot") of believing that smuggling was/is a police matter. It was not and is not. In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s it would have been investigated by Customs & Excise, not the police. Now (2014) it would come under the remit of the Border Force and/or the NCA (depending on the scale of the crime).
Otherwise it is watchable but not in the same class as UK series such as "Sherlock", "Death in Paradise" and "Jonathan Creek".
The writers have also fallen into a common trap for UK series (e.g. "Poirot") of believing that smuggling was/is a police matter. It was not and is not. In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s it would have been investigated by Customs & Excise, not the police. Now (2014) it would come under the remit of the Border Force and/or the NCA (depending on the scale of the crime).
Otherwise it is watchable but not in the same class as UK series such as "Sherlock", "Death in Paradise" and "Jonathan Creek".
Inspector George Gently
(2007–2017)
Great Series but with a Recurring Goof
8 October 2010
This is a high quality, well written series which contains excellent acting and believable plots (well, more believable than "Midsomer Murders" for example). The episodes can be viewed as standard "whodunnits" but also spectacularly reveal the massive changes in law, attitudes and culture in the UK over the past 45 years or so.
My only gripe is that, despite the great attention that is paid to period detail, the writers always make the mistake (not restricted to this series) of scripting the words "against you" in the caution used by a police officer when making an arrest. The UK police caution in such circumstances before 1995 was: "You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so but anything you do say may be given in evidence." The words "used against you" were only ever used in USA. To have used these words in UK could have prejudiced the case.
My only gripe is that, despite the great attention that is paid to period detail, the writers always make the mistake (not restricted to this series) of scripting the words "against you" in the caution used by a police officer when making an arrest. The UK police caution in such circumstances before 1995 was: "You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so but anything you do say may be given in evidence." The words "used against you" were only ever used in USA. To have used these words in UK could have prejudiced the case.
Great British Railway Journeys
(2010– )
Great Railway Travelogue
28 January 2010
Former British Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo travels around England and southern Scotland by train comparing the towns and cities where he stops with an 1850 "Bradshaw's" railway guide. This series is a gem which will appeal to anyone with an interest in railways or in Victorian Britain.
Michael Portillo is not a professional TV presenter and this adds a touch of freshness to the series which is not normally found in such productions owing to everything being carefully planned and choreographed. Although some of his interviews with local people are planned, the most entertaining meetings are with people he chats to after chance meetings in the street, in restaurants or on trains. I look forward to a second series!
Michael Portillo is not a professional TV presenter and this adds a touch of freshness to the series which is not normally found in such productions owing to everything being carefully planned and choreographed. Although some of his interviews with local people are planned, the most entertaining meetings are with people he chats to after chance meetings in the street, in restaurants or on trains. I look forward to a second series!
Tell Your Friends