jdhb-768-61234
Joined Aug 2013
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Ratings152
jdhb-768-61234's rating
Reviews141
jdhb-768-61234's rating
I'm sorely tempted to think that this series was made by the same production team which has been responsible for the equally tedious 'Human'. As with 'Human', there's undoubtedly some good science buried in the programmes, but they're so long drawn out it's hard to find it. Lots of long, slow scenes, plenty of dramatic 'music', surely intended to let the audience know how significant the content is, and Brian Cox, whom I normally find excellent value, narrating in as boring a manner as possible.
This isn't rubbish, it's just far too long and far too pretentious. The content would have been far better served had Professor Cox simply got on with it - a couple of episodes rather than 5 would have sufficed. It really is not up to Professor Cox's usual standar.
This isn't rubbish, it's just far too long and far too pretentious. The content would have been far better served had Professor Cox simply got on with it - a couple of episodes rather than 5 would have sufficed. It really is not up to Professor Cox's usual standar.
This series is a triumph of style over substance, which is to say that it's pretty poor.
Long drawn out scenes, backed with dramatic musical accompaniment, appear designed to emphasise the importance of the subject, but actually do the opposite by detracting from it. Ella Al-Shamahi's commentary is slow and boring. Clearly she is fascinated by her subject, but as a presenter she lacks any of the necessary charisma. It seems that she may be trying to copy the delivery of David Attenborough but, if this is the case, she's a dismal failure. The quite irrelevant background noise adds nothing and is wholly out of place in what claims to be a scientific series. Scenes of the presenter standing in a desert or walking through forests are equally irrelevant.
The substance of the series could easily have been covered in no more than 2 episodes; 5 is simply far too many. Having sat through the first 2, I find myself bored and falling asleep. There is undoubtedly a lot of very good science buried in the series, but that's the problem. It's buried in a vast load of overly dramatic nonsense. Whether this Is the fault of the writers, presenter, director or producer is unknown, but whoever is at fault needs to take a few lessons in how to create a first class science documentary.
Long drawn out scenes, backed with dramatic musical accompaniment, appear designed to emphasise the importance of the subject, but actually do the opposite by detracting from it. Ella Al-Shamahi's commentary is slow and boring. Clearly she is fascinated by her subject, but as a presenter she lacks any of the necessary charisma. It seems that she may be trying to copy the delivery of David Attenborough but, if this is the case, she's a dismal failure. The quite irrelevant background noise adds nothing and is wholly out of place in what claims to be a scientific series. Scenes of the presenter standing in a desert or walking through forests are equally irrelevant.
The substance of the series could easily have been covered in no more than 2 episodes; 5 is simply far too many. Having sat through the first 2, I find myself bored and falling asleep. There is undoubtedly a lot of very good science buried in the series, but that's the problem. It's buried in a vast load of overly dramatic nonsense. Whether this Is the fault of the writers, presenter, director or producer is unknown, but whoever is at fault needs to take a few lessons in how to create a first class science documentary.
I find it hard to believe that the political issues at the centre of this episode were the issues of the 1960s and are still the issues of today. Mass immigration and the failure of government to ensure effective integration has been a key problem for decades.
The pursuit of an extremist political figure by the security service no doubt was, and still is, a primary concern. The way in which that pursuit is followed through in thie episode is brilliantly handled. Step by step, a net is constructed; sadly the net has holes.
Whether or not any real life characters would have gone quite so far in the closing scenes may be debatable, but the message is clear. The brutal scene in the kitchen has to be one of the most horrific ever written. I saw this first time round and it was shocking; having just watched it again, it's lost none of its horror. That said, it brings home the potential risk of dealing with fanatics.
This would be a 10 but for the implausibility of the final scenes. Nonetheless, it's a standout 9.
The pursuit of an extremist political figure by the security service no doubt was, and still is, a primary concern. The way in which that pursuit is followed through in thie episode is brilliantly handled. Step by step, a net is constructed; sadly the net has holes.
Whether or not any real life characters would have gone quite so far in the closing scenes may be debatable, but the message is clear. The brutal scene in the kitchen has to be one of the most horrific ever written. I saw this first time round and it was shocking; having just watched it again, it's lost none of its horror. That said, it brings home the potential risk of dealing with fanatics.
This would be a 10 but for the implausibility of the final scenes. Nonetheless, it's a standout 9.