I’ve finally watched all six hour episodes of The Hour, the BBC mini-series about an hour news program in 1956. Think Mad Men only set in the early days of BBC television. Obsessive/compulsive reporter Freddie Lyon (played brilliantly by Ben Whishaw) stumbles upon a government conspiracy. His producer, Bel Rowley (played by the fetching Romola Garai), allows Freddie to pursue his seemingly paranoid quest to expose a vast government plot. The series sags about two-thirds of the way because of Bel’s affair with her married news narrator, Hector Madden (Dominic West). Very soapy. But The Hour springs some surprises in the last episode making the viewing experience well worthwhile. I have no idea if there will be an sequel to The Hour, but if there is one, I’ll watch it. GRADE: B+
I fell out after the first two episodes–mainly because I had trouble understanding them. Maybe I will try it again.
I always watch with the CLOSED CAPITION on, Patti. I can’t understand those accents, either.
Not for us at all. One episode was enough. MAD MEN has a lot to answer for, spawning a bunch of shows trying to ape its period. None have grabbed our interest.
I liked the conspiracy aspects of THE HOUR, Jeff. It took a couple of episodes to get into it.
I saw the first episode before it aired and reviewed it over at MysteryFile.com/blog. I agree with your review though I would be harder on it, a C at best. The last two episodes were interesting. The spy plot and who was the mole worked great but the characters didn’t. You are right, it was very soapy. I might have forgiven that if I had cared or liked any of the characters in it.
BBC has announced there will be a second “series” (season) of THE HOUR.
The Suez Canal element was interesting, Michael. Let’s hope the second series of THE HOUR has less soap and more action.
Phil hates closed captions because on some stations now they run a continuous advertisement in one corner, upcoming shows in another so the closed caption practically takes over the middle of the screen. BBC AMERICA is particularly guilty of this. Maybe watching it on DVD is the best idea.
The DVD probably has just closed captions without the ads, Patti.