Harry Palmer: el expediente Ipcress

I have binged this like I haven't for ages. Imdb gives very mixed reviews and compares it to the film a lot. The film is a classic but hasn't really held up to time.

This doesn't take away from the film and the plot is as solid as ever.

I really like the cast and the main leads are stellar.

The female leads are what stand out for me however as the focus isn't solely on Palmer, but subtly he takes a second to Jean's character who doesn't put a foot wrong and Lucy Boynton is both talented and stunning.

If you like classic drama done well watch this.

I think the reviews here are overly negative.

Sure, we all like to stand up for old movies with actors like Michael Cain and proudly announce how superior that is to anything that's new. This is also the people that think vinyl is superior due to the warmer sound....

I thought this show was pretty entertaining. Sure, it has its flaws - it struggles to find its place in comedy, drama and thriller - but does it have to be one thing?

And sure the angled camera shots gets REALLY old already half-way through episode one - but, I just felt that it added to the whole 'cartoonish' take on the story. It doesn't take itself too seriously. It has some fun with the source material.

I for one rather enjoyed the ride.

You can't compare this to an excellent movie made in the 60s.

This is of its time and more faithful to book and the casting is not as bad as some of the other reviews would make you think.

Watch it and make your own mind up! Don't let the detractors brainwash you!

That's a job for the Ipcress file.

ITV have done a good job on Len Deighton's cold war thriller. Lots of fun period detail: beehives, Ford Zodiacs, Routemasters, Sten guns, etc and we even get Michael Caine's glasses for good measure. Joe Cole is a very decent Harry Palmer, and the whole thing is held together by the always watchable Tom Hollander as Dalby. Enjoyable!

While some may be overly critical of this show by comparing it to the classic 1965 movie, I think this show can stand on its own. I loved the "vintage" cinematic look they achieved. They could have done something atrocious as many remakes do, of "re-imagining" to the modern era (and they certainly could have--the cold war is back). As this show sets out to be a very different animal than the earlier classic, there's no need to compare.

The story moves quickly and smoothly, though it meanders a bit in the middle episodes to establish a second arc. But very little is wasted; no unnecessary side arcs, no eyerolling overtures to politically correctness or woke agenda. It stays laser-focused on telling the story.

The acting is very good if not excellent. Cole doesn't fit the stereotype British agent, but he makes it work, though he deadpans most scenes. Boynton is well cast as a beautiful but cold and bitter agent who warms up to Palmer in a believable way, and really carries the show. Hollander gives an excellent performance, as well, as a pragmatic veteran spook who finds himself trapped by his past.

I'm not sure if they will fabricate a second series, but this first one can stand alone very nicely.