Revolution

The BBC's television adaptation of The War of the Worlds was announced several years ago.

It has then been stuck in some post production hell and has been broadcast in several countries already.

The series in being burnt off opposite I'm a celebrity, get me out of here! on ITV.

The problems are evident in the first episode, it is stodgy, slow to get going and Rafe Spall is bland. When you see Eleanor Tomlinson on a horse, you think you might be watching Poldark.

The show is set in England of the early 1900s. There are meteors falling on the English countryside, some people believe they are from Mars. Eventually you get some action with the Martian reveal. By this time you know this will be a slog.

At around 45 minutes when the gigantic alien appeared, George simply shouted to Amy to go without him when he can still run towards the horse and leave together with Amy. Why is it that George did not run away from the alien when everyone else were running away scared? What a stupid scene.

The last time I saw a new version of this it featured Tom Cruise, and that was terrible, this is no improved. Despite being set in the originally penned time frame, this was one of the most underwhelming hours of so called drama I've sat through, plenty of tinkering, which sees more attention fixed on domestic issues than the actual invasion, and a pacing that makes snooker appear dynamic viewing.

I am very hopeful that this improves as it progresses, but this first episode was incredibly dull. 4/10

If, based on the hype and trailers, you were expecting to see a production faithful to H.G. Wells' book, you are likely to be puzzled at first, and then disappointed. This version is set in the proper era, where across England, Martian cannon balls (not cylinders, but let's not quibble) are landing and wreaking havoc on the countryside. Also wreaking havoc is a script that introduces unnecessary and distracting elements and subplots including unsigned divorce papers, a liberated woman assistant scientist, premarital sex, and estranged brothers, along with awkward conversations ostensibly about the selection of new wallpaper for the parlor and breakfast rooms.

Presumably an invading army from Mars, bringing with it technology capable of wiping out the entire human race in a matter of weeks, isn't enough material to carry a three-part mini-series.

Will George convince his separated wife to sign the divorce papers so that he and Amy can marry properly before the Martians make divorce and marriage irrelevant? Will George reconcile with his estranged brother Frederick in time to get his blessing for their premarital union before the Martians take over Parliament? Will Amy's wallpaper arrive in time for the workmen to hang it and let it dry before giant tripods stomp the village flat?

Tune in for Episode 2 next week.

It appears that in making this the BBC had more than half an eye on the worldwide "posh old-time Brits doing posh old-time Brit stuff" market, because that's what about half of the episode consisted of.

As a huge SF fan (although not a great devotee of TWotW itself) I felt - ahem - alienated by all the old-time posh Brit guff, and I can't help but think that many old-time posh Brit drama fans will be turned off by the fact that this is, in theory at least, a science fiction story. I may be wrong but I don't imagine that there's a great deal of overlap between the two markets!