Jamestown

If you expect a factual, realistic and historically based drama, this is not the show for you. If you are looking for simple entertainment value and not having to think too hard, this show does pretty good. The characters are good if a little caricatural with the obviously good and honourable James Read, the nasty greedy Governor Yardley and the scheming and sneaky Widow Castel. There is a hint of depth to them but nothing that will make you wonder very much. Yet you start to like some of them and hope they'll prevail.

I thought the acting was very good and the characters worthy, but right from the beginning the script was lacking and you notice things are off. Coming out of the water or the woods and the character is spiffy clean? the clothes are not perfectly period, though that won't bother many, the ship mooring as some others have mentioned, and honestly, a gay man wearing an earring in the open, in such a tough society? he'd have been flogged and tossed off the ship before it even landed. I found too many things that were not believable and a script lacking. Too bad because I love period drama's.

I can't see what the other reviewers are worried about. This show isn't meant to be a historical documentary, it's a brain out the box piece of pop corn silliness, and as that it's very good. The acting is fine, the scenery is beautiful and who cares if they aren't covered in mud all the time. I enjoyed the historically inappropriate over strong women and the fun story line. I enjoyed the show and will watch the rest with enjoyment without over analysing it.

I've seen people whining that it isn't historically accurate. But I've yet to see a show that truly is. This show is everything it needs to be. Thrilling, captivating and well acted. Period dramas are just that, dramas, set in history. It's not a documentary so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. Great and entertaining show.

I checked out the reviews on here before I watched the first episode, and proceeded despite the overall negativity. I'm glad I did - I was hooked right away and I won't find the wait until the next episode easy.

I understand how some people care about historical accuracy - but I couldn't care less and I'm sure that's true for many viewers too, and I don't think you could call any of this show's mistakes egregious. They made some compromises for convenience, some to spice things up, and some probably out of ignorance but if it's spoiling someone's enjoyment of the story then that's on them because there's nothing ridiculous.

Overall I think it's a finely polished show, focused mainly on the relationships between the characters, and particularly the struggles of the new female arrivals to find their place in the settlement and carve out some agency for themselves. I like all of the main characters a lot, and I don't get to say that very often. Verity and Jocelyn in particular are delightful. I can't wait to see what they are going to do and say next.

It's not as witty as Downton Abbey, but it's soapy in the same way. However, I wouldn't assume it would attract the same kinds of fans.