Jericho

I really enjoyed episode one. OK -- there are anachronisms, and everything should be grubbier, and there should be lots of Irish navvies about the place, but this is a very refreshing drama which knocks spots off the BBC's "War and Peace" and "Poldark" -- both of which are so dumbed-down and banal as to be rather embarrassing. The characters here are credible, and already one cares for what will happen to them. The direction is smart and effective, and I think Steve Thompson's script is good, even though one might complain about a lack of regional authenticity. There is some beautiful imagery, and sound quality is great (compared with "War and Peace" in which everybody mumbles, and in which there never seems to be a microphone anywhere near the action). So what if it's a Western, set in Yorkshire? Nice idea. Promising -- I think this will get a really good devoted following.