User reviews

Exquisite acting by Hawes. A great ensemble cast alone makes it worth watching but she is incredible. The spy & technology Cold War era components are icing on the cake. Enjoyed it very much / so far. Haven't finished but I am a fan at this point about halfway in. IF YOU LIKE SLOW HIRSES, I think you will appreciate this series.

Dealing with the unbearable ravism/anti-semitism is a timely reminder that we are still not that far from it - the series is set right after WW2 & biggest historical genocide & murderous tragedy of the modern era.

The cinematography, sets, settings, landscapes.are luscious- Downton Abbey fans will also appreciate.

Elements of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping if you look for it.

But again, Keeley Hawes- outstanding & lovely.

I can't lie, the story this series tries to tell is complete and utter tosh, and is full to the brim of historical and narrative inconsistencies. Also, anyone as silly as the protagonist in Summer of Rockets deserves all the trouble he gets! Having said all that, I still found myself binge watching because somehow it pulls you in, and you keep wanting to see what happens next regardless of how silly it always turns out to be. I think much of the 'what happens next', calling-you-always-forward vibe it has achieved belongs squarely on the shoulders of the lead actors. With less capable players I probably would have given it up after the second episode. I must also mention - the visuals and the settings are great fun! If you go into it fully aware of the preposterous storyline and decide just to enjoy the show, you may like it as much as I did. 9/10 for the actors and the settings. Probably a 5/10 for writing, but let's not dwell on that ...

Watch it for the 50's characters or the reasonably accurate portrayal of life in the 50's, or for the coldwar plotline, or the subplots because each one of these on their own might spark your interest and together they make a decent 6.5 hours viewing. The first two episodes are a bit slow but things liven up in episodes 3 & 4 and whilst you're probably left with a few questions at the end I've certainly seen worse from the BBC in recent years. (All 6 episodes are available on iPlayer). Timothy Spall is on top form.

What a beautifully written, directed & acted series. It's 1957 and no body can trust each other...

Best part: Guy

Highlights: Sasha Keeley Hawes eyebrows Hannah's amazement at the world around her. Linus Roach being louché The house The first pager Equality of employment Timothy Spall (who really should be a Lord!)

Negatives: none. What a joyous piece of entertainment and the ending was perfection (no spoilers!)

I

Clearly this is either love it or hate it - and I loved it.

Like so many Poliakoff stories it is a slow burner but doesn't have the crescendo of an ending that is found in the utterly splendid "Shooting The Past", but perhaps that is intentional.

I won't give away any spoilers but to my mind the rather understated ending perfectly fits the plot - a big story with a conclusion that............well, you'll have to trust me that the conclusion is spot on.

Aside from the main storyline, this is a wonderful denouncement of the British class system and public schools at the end-of-empire era, in all its absurdity. Seen through the eyes of immigrants, émigrés, minorities and minors the racism and prejudice of the time is laid bare.

Throw in a good helping of political incompetence and perhaps it's as much a comment on the present (which, of course, was then the future) .

Enjoy - I certainly did and it stands up well to re-watching, despite the passage of time (or maybe because of it!)

Amazingly TV Series done with a careful touch and sensitive lingering shots of the characters , across acres of English settings. Intelligent and loving direction never lets it get overly dramatic or 'Hollywoody!!" It tells the story of a time in recent history, the 1950's , the time of 'reds under beds' and 'bombs falling ' on us all. and mixed up in this is a strong immigrant Russian family, now living in England , just trying to fit in and start a new life. It caught at my heart strings from the word go, the freshly played daughter Hannah, the small but intelligent Sasha, the Nobel mother Miriam, and the central character , Samuel, who showed such courage and integrity , when faced with facicst aggression .