A Town Called Malice

Hoped for this to be good more than I did Santa being real as a kid.

Soundtrack is amazing although it's clear it's what carries every episode with so many songs crammed in, as with the attire.

Acting is just above GCSE drama level at best although the storyline does have substance even though it's nothing that hasn't been done before.

How much is packed in to the first and last episodes could've given an extra episode rather than cramming it all in.

Hoping for more for season two given that budget obviously isn't a problem.

Last episode bought it up to a 6 from a 4 for me.

Extra star given for Paul Weller cameo....mush.

Sky seem to have a thing about producing glossy and quite clearly expensive productions that don't quite deliver in terms of overall quality or a second series. A Town Called Malice is another one of these.

I don't get the really negative reviews of this show. I thought it was good, especially the 80s soundtrack - get used to characters bursting into song and dance routines at random moments, and the costumes were great. Everything of this show when set in Spain is so colourful and glamorous, which is how we tend to see the 1980s, although in reality it wasn't quite like this. I was 12 when the 80s ended so do have some real life experience of what they were like. All the characters were well drawn, although my favourite was Kelly Lord played by Daniel Sharman - very easy on the eye and at first he sort of comes across as a reluctant gangster in this, gentle almost, compared to the rest of the Lord family, but does show his truer colours as the series goes on.

Unfortunately we aren't going to see whether the Lords manage to build their holiday resort with their ill-gotten gains as Sky announced the how's axing in April 2023. Whilst this wasn't the best show I've ever watched I think it is a shame we won't get any more episodes.

A really good violent crime family story with the best of 80's nostalgia smacking you in the face. It's a camped up London Gangland, Costa del Sol and retro, yellow Rolls Royce ride. It's not particularly realistic or completely believable and it's not supposed to be. That doesn't mean it isn't gritty or a high quality production.

The acting is top drawer - Jason Flemyng particularly puts in an exceptional performance.

The show is full of twists and turns and I found it thoroughly entertaining and managed to binge watch it in a weekend.

The sound track is phenomenal so get that sound bar plugged in.

I have been looking forward to this show for months. I have to watch it all, mainly for Martha Plimpton who is a fine actress. I am of the same opinion as others, soundtrack great but plot is all over the place. At this point, I am curious as to Cindy - as she looked, I believed to be about 18 when we met her in episode 1. Now I am trying to get around the fact she was an adult with a child in 1979. Just how old is Cindy now? Determined to watch through to end. I hope though it is a complete series as it is somewhat painful to think there may be questions unanswered and a 2nd series is coming.

..

I don't understand some of the bad reviews here. This series was great fun. It's supposed to be a caricature of criminal life in East London transplanted to the Costa. It's not aiming to be an accurate depiction. It takes inspiration from some real-life characters from the underworld, in 1980s London, and then makes them OTT to great effect.

The main characters are well-acted, particularly Ma and Cindy, and Jason Flemyng does his great scene-chewing piece. It's beautifully shot, with some great camera angles and use of natural light and colour. The recreation of the 80s, in the clothes, cars and gadgets is top notch.

And to opt it all off, the soundtrack is a fantastic tour through the great music of the 80s, with songs well-chosen for the scenes in which they're used. Having characters sing along with the lyrics is very funny too!

Well worth a watch. Accept it for what it is meant to be!