Danger UXB

This is an outstanding story of a British EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Detachment during World War II. The ordnance depicted along with the fusing used was actually used by the Germans during WWII. The methods used in the show are the actual (in some cases, trial and error) procedures used to defeat the ordnance during WWII.

The RSP (render safe procedures) used today for foreign ordnance is usually classified. The main reason for this is so the enemy doesn't know that you can defeat his weapons. The British, during WWII, initially published that they defeated certain German ordnance and the RSP used as a morale booster for the citizens. The Germans, reading these accounts, then designed some of the fuses with booby traps specifically designed to kill the British EOD soldiers while they were working on the UXBs if they followed the published procedures.

During WWII, the US Army EOD was modeled after the British detachments. Initially, the US turned to the British for training and help in getting our own EOD units established.

One of my greatest joys from this series was the fact that I had taped it the first time I watched and then got to watch it over again with a close friend. The significance of this was: 1) I was US Army EOD, and 2) the close friend was a British EOD tech who had been awarded the George's Medal for his EOD work in Northern Ireland. To show what a tight knit group EOD personnel are - we still stay in touch with one another via the Internet after 26 years (we watched the show together in 1983).

Brian Ash leads his team, The Royal Engineer Tunnelling Company 97, who's job is to deal with the many unexploded bombs, the deadly UXB's.

It's forty four years since this Series was first went out, and I would argue it'd just as good now, as it was back then. This is one of the most consistently good shows you can possibly watch, every single episode, every single story is truly on point.

I can't think of many movies, or indeed any other shows that told this story, some of the bravest men imaginable. Imagine going to work day after day knowing one slip could be fatal.

It's not just about the UXB's, there are several personal stories told also, but at no time are they overdone or syrupy, they are starkly real.

Episodes range from very good to outstanding, you can't really put a pin between them, but Dead Letters and The Pier will have you on the edge of your seat.

As you'd expect there are many deaths, many unexpected deaths, they weren't afraid to write out many of the regulars, very brave writing.

Fantastic special effects, multiple explosions and action sequences, I didn't detect any chroma key or other such special effects, everything looks and feels authentic.

This series is worth your time.

9/10.

I watched this programme when it was first broadcast. I'd not seen it in 40 years until Talking Pictures started showing it again recently. I wondered how well it would stand up now. I wasn't disappointed, it is exceptional. If you get a chance to watch it from the beginning, don't miss it. Drama at its very best.

Just finished viewing the 13 episode, 4 disk DVD set of "Danger UXB". Second time around--I saw the series many years ago on PBS.

All the performances are outstanding but, I would like to single out Maurice Röeves as Sergeant James. Why he did not win a best actor award for 1979 is beyond me. I checked his IMDb biography...no awards. Maurice Röeves uncompromising portrayal ranks, in my opinion, right up with George C. Scott's "Patton" for outstanding screen performances.

Rent (or buy) the 4 disk DVD set--well worth the 13 viewing hours. DVD picture and sound are very good. My only complaint about the DVD production--no closed captioning. The text is useful (to this mid-westerner) for understanding rapidly spoken dialogue.

For me, personally, this is one of those shows that will always be my favourite. Nowadays, such type of shows don't exist even remotely, as in these times in the name of making the show so called 'realistic', they make it either kind of too depressing or just into something really stupid! After all, a tv show or movie's one of the main purposes is to connect with the audience in the best way possible. For instance, this show has everything, it's realistic, i mean uncannily realistic, it has got humour, it has got romance, it's unpredictable and has really got an element of surprise to it, in short it has got everything, a show of this genre must have, but the difference in this show is that the way in which it has attempted to tell the story of these brave men has a certain charm and understanding to it, which the today's shows thoroughly lack( at least I feel that way)!! According to me, it deserves an even higher rating.. seriously!