sabrinathecat
Explorer
Not sure if this belongs in movies, TV, or what.
The short version: very, very, very disappointing. So much potential wasted.
Longer version: the excellent novel written by Michael Dobbs (Margaret Thacher's Pretty-faced Hatchet-boy) was adapted to TV by the BBC in 1990. Some minor changes were made, but the plot, characters, and background were based on Dobb's own experiences working for British Parliament. Two sequels were written over the next five years. Ian Richardson made the title character an icon with his magnificent performance. There was subtly, fun acerbic humor, and a strong narrative driving the story every forward. While some of the facets were a little nasty, the characters were true to who they were.
Netflix' version is based on the first story, and has Dobbs and Davies (the BBC's producer) on as "Executive Producers" whatever that means. However, like most translations from British to US, it looks better on paper. The Netflix series has no grasp of US politics, is plodding, boring, and totally lacking in a coherent direction or plot. It seems like Netflix is trying to copy a page from HBO by making a series about a bunch of dirty, unlikable, and utterly despicable people doing as many vile things to each other as possible. While it might entertain the teenagers and tweeners by seeming edgy and exciting, this show has no actual intellect behind it. It is dull. The only way it can work is if the main character is an utter genius (which he clearly isn't) and everyone else is an utter boob. Did I mention the story takes bloody forever? There is at least one entire episode that could (and should) have just been cut.
So, if you are at all tempted, watch Netflix's version, to see if you can derive any entertainment from that. Then watch the BBC version to see what it could and should have been like. Oh, the BBC version (all three stories) takes less time than the 1 Netflix story.
The short version: very, very, very disappointing. So much potential wasted.
Longer version: the excellent novel written by Michael Dobbs (Margaret Thacher's Pretty-faced Hatchet-boy) was adapted to TV by the BBC in 1990. Some minor changes were made, but the plot, characters, and background were based on Dobb's own experiences working for British Parliament. Two sequels were written over the next five years. Ian Richardson made the title character an icon with his magnificent performance. There was subtly, fun acerbic humor, and a strong narrative driving the story every forward. While some of the facets were a little nasty, the characters were true to who they were.
Netflix' version is based on the first story, and has Dobbs and Davies (the BBC's producer) on as "Executive Producers" whatever that means. However, like most translations from British to US, it looks better on paper. The Netflix series has no grasp of US politics, is plodding, boring, and totally lacking in a coherent direction or plot. It seems like Netflix is trying to copy a page from HBO by making a series about a bunch of dirty, unlikable, and utterly despicable people doing as many vile things to each other as possible. While it might entertain the teenagers and tweeners by seeming edgy and exciting, this show has no actual intellect behind it. It is dull. The only way it can work is if the main character is an utter genius (which he clearly isn't) and everyone else is an utter boob. Did I mention the story takes bloody forever? There is at least one entire episode that could (and should) have just been cut.
So, if you are at all tempted, watch Netflix's version, to see if you can derive any entertainment from that. Then watch the BBC version to see what it could and should have been like. Oh, the BBC version (all three stories) takes less time than the 1 Netflix story.
