Sherwood

Inspired by real events this timely new drama series is set in present day Nottinghamshire where a murder seemingly has links to the miners strike of 1984 and the divisions in the local community it provoked.

This was an accomplished piece of television with everybody involved in front of and behind camera on song. Good production values all round, a great assembly of Northern acting talent old and new and a special mention for the brilliant script by James Graham.

Loved it from first to last. Congrats to all involved in making this, its a truly wonderful piece of drama that rings true.

The absolute A-team of British actors can be found in this crime series which is based on historical events in the mid-80s. Quality pays off!

The story shows us a rich gallery of characters in a former mining town, where what happened 30 years ago still simmers beneath the surface. The calm and seemingly harmonious surface hides both hatred and unresolved events. This culminates in a murder, and soon we are drawn into a very exciting investigation, with several side stories that give insight into the various characters. I found this to be both entertaining, engaging and exciting.

Set in a small mining village of Annesley adjacent to Sherwood Forest near Nottingham, this series partially recreates the true story of the unusual cross bow murder of local retired miner Keith "Froggy" Frogson although depicted as fictitious Gary Jackson (Alun Armstrong). Set against the backdrop of the hugely divisive 1984 miners' strike, the village was home to many local miners who broke from the National Union of Mineworkers' famous protracted and often violent fight with Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Government, hellbent on breaking the power of dominant trade unions, by crossing picket lines and working the local mines. Striking local miners never forgave the "scabs" in their midst and tensions still simmered beneath the surface decades later.

The series features a veritable 'Who's Who' of fabulous British acting talent and contains many flashbacks to 1984 to various incidents between then young police officers and striking families with complex relationships 40 years on now strained by the investigation. The suspected murderer terrorizes the village with random arrow attacks whilst hiding out in the very forest made famous by Robin Hood lending a compellingly surreal mythological backdrop to the extensive manhunt.

The acting across the board is of universally excellent quality and the plot, character development and pace are fantastic with a gripping and compelling pace that makes for great binge worthy viewing.

The first season starts off iffy; the yelling and screaming drown out much of the fine acting (Lesley Manville!) and directing. It rescues itself with a finely-tuned plot, breezy direction and adroit editing. The second season is a bust. The characters become caricatures, acting irrationally, I laugh out loud more than once. Episode three is especially hilarious, with plot holes so big you could drive a truck through.

Throughout, the antagonists control everyone. The whole concept of not grassing on another is true enough but season two takes it to a frustratingly manipulative degree. It becomes over-the-top, spoiling the obvious other strengths of the series. Writer James Graham gets lazy and presents us with characters and situations that stretch of bounds of disbelief beyond reason. He seems to have run out of ideas, settling for too-convenient plot situations and characters, manipulating both, literally losing the plot. Second season is a cheat. If there is a season three, I hope there is a new, fresh, talented writer to take over.

The first season was pretty solid, had decent writing and interesting characters, portrayed by lots of good actors. But the second season felt inferior in most ways, and by the two last episodes, I was glad this series ended when it did. Like so many similar crime/drama mini-series these days, what promises to be entertaining, intelligent and quite believable, gets bogged down by too many side stories and similar endings that remind one of any soap opera we're familiar with. Hugely disappointing turn of events by the last few episodes, and despite a very strong performance by Mr. Morrissey, the characters became caricatures of themselves. Not sure if the writers were the same for both seasons, but am glad there is no 3rd season to endure. Lots of loose ends, improbable scenarios (a vulnerable female who is left in the care of 3 unknown males for one), and unresolved crimes only added to the relief that this was just fiction. Apparently based on a real-life community of the author, I can only hope it was very loosely based on reality.