Hustle

British TV at its best.

Great cast, especially Adrian Lester who does an amazing job (and on top of that he is gorgeous!)

Look for the "correspondance" with older sting movies. I really loves the references to "The Sting".

Witty plot, beautiful settings, clever lines and many surprises along the story line all combine to make a great show.

American TV can take a lesson or two by studying this show.

And did I mention Adrian Lester ???

Look for it !!!

After only two episodes on AMC, this spunky show has already added itself to my must-see TV list. This innovative BBC show, created by Tony Jordan follows the charmingly malevolent capers of five con artists in swanky modern London. The rogues gallery includes Mickey "Bricks" Stone (Adrian Lester), a charming debonair "inside man" who has never missed on a con, with a perfect record of 49 successful jobs, before being jailed on an unrelated charge. Now he's back on the streets and ready to get to work again, calling together the rest of the team. The other team members include Albert Stroller (Robert Vaughn) a charismatic older con man who serves as a mentor to the young group, Ash Morgan (Robert Glenister) the quirky, yet charming technogeek who is to Hustle as "Q" is to James Bond, Stacie Munroe (Jaime Murray) the alluring female component that is necessary for every caper, and newbie Danny Blue (Marc Warren) a sarcastically charming down and out master of the short con who learns of Mickey Stone and his infamous team through a mutual friend. The acting is terrific, and each team member works to make the ensemble a cohesive and chemistry rich whole. Not to mention a jazzy, eclectic atmosphere which exudes a neo-1920s-esque level of cool. With hip jazz infused music, elegant and suave art direction and scripts that crackle with wit, HUSTLE proves to be an enrapturing and entertaining instant hit!

Here in Sweden the second chapter will be seen this evening but from only have seen the pilot I must say that "Hustle" is very, very cool.

A couple of gentlemen thieves fraud rich people who really deserves a lesson and can afford to lose some money :-). Nothing is (or was in the first episode anyway...) as it seems, except for the brilliant acting and cool surroundings. The perfect league of anti-heroes lead by Mickey "Bricks" Stone, a criminal master-mind. The best in what he does. Teamed up by old friends good at different things which complements the group perfectly. I know what I will do the coming Tuesdays!

British Television rarely gets any better than this - with the look and feel of a manic collision between Ocean's Eleven, Catch Me If You Can, The Sting and High Fidelity, Hustle is the only show currently worth watching (if you only possess terrestrial TV).

Season One was awesome and season Two appears set to carry the baton at full throttle. Witty, imaginative, engaging; it puts my faith back in British Television. Not only that but the cinematography is inventive, especially the speed ramping and occasional pauses so that characters may talk to camera, or even each other. The cast are excellent - How about a campaign for Adrian Lester as the next James Bond?

In fact, Hustle is so good, I'm going to teach it for Media Studies next year.!

but when it is bad it is trite, clichéd, and reminiscent of something better. I enjoy this show. The characters are fun, the twists are (usually) good. When it is at its best, you never see the turns coming. You get inspired and might even want to try a con yourself. I love the way the characters wink at us, the observers. I like the interactions and the relationships that they have built. But occasionally I watch and I know that I have seen this con before, in some movie or book, where it was done better. And occasionally the writers have tried so hard to come up with a surprise twist that you cannot help but see it a mile away.

So, when it is good, it is very, very good. And luckily this is most of the time, because this show is fun, and I enjoy enjoying it.