Having watched all seven episodes, I highly recommend this series. I miss the concept of a TV miniseries here in the US, the kind that wasn't a backdoor pilot or an attempt to earn enough viewers to generate a sequel... just a series that took its time to tell a good story. That's what "Close to the Enemy" is. At times uncomfortable to watch, the narrative was nonetheless compelling, with a clear beginning and ending. It is a mixture of sad and optimistic. I liked it more than I expected to, and I am left with a lot to think about.
P.S.- When he really wants to, Alfred Molina can freakin' act, can't he? On Sat, Dec 10, 2016 at 3:30 AM Mark Jeffries <[email protected]> wrote: > According to an article on a site called TV Wise, Starz backed out of the > series in October, presumably with the series in the can. All3Media, the > parent of the show's production company, hustled and Acorn agreed to come > in as co-producer. No indication what Starz' problem was, other than the > possibility that they knew that the merger with Lionsgate was coming and > that Lionsgate wasn't interested in the series: > > > http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2016/10/starz-backs-stephen-poliakoffs-bbc-drama-close-enemy-acorn-tv-set-new-u-s-co-producer/ > > > > Mark Jeffries > Saints Spotlight Editor > [email protected] > > > > On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 10:33 PM, Jon Delfin <[email protected]> wrote: > > Acorn (online) has it. > > On Dec 8, 2016 11:27 PM, "Kevin M." <[email protected]> wrote: > > I found the first episode as a free iTunes download and have bought the > others... not sure where (or if) it is broadcast in the US, though I assume > it is PBS fare. > > On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 2:36 AM, Adam Bowie <[email protected]> wrote: > > I'm watching this - although an episode behind at the moment (Where is it > airing in the US Kevin?). > > I tend to agree that the characters are not the best from writer and > director Stephen Poliakoff, but I'm sticking with it even though the > setting is a little too close for my liking to his last BBC series Dancing > on the Edge. That had too had a period hotel, black American jazz players > and a larger than life American. That was pre-war; this post-war. > > However I'll always watch Poliakoff's work because he's done such > interesting stuff in the past - Caught on the Train from 1980 and Shooting > the Past from 1999 perhaps being my favourites. I like Jim Sturgess's > character although I find him utterly unbelievable marching around doing as > he pleases. And for a hotel being closely monitored by security services, > there seem to be slightly too many suspicious characters kicking around. > > My biggest criticism is that the direction is a bit off at times, and the > editing is a little jerky with bits of scenes seemingly missing. Perhaps > they shot far too much material and had to work to get it into the right > length. > > One part of the story of particular interest to me is the secret goings on > in Enfield, which is based on true events. This is the mansion house on the > edge of north London where Sturgess's character starts, and returns to > every so often. This is based on a real place that is very close to where I > live. > > Trent Park has a mansion house, and during the war it was requisitioned by > the military to house captured high-ranking German officers. The British > treated the Germans very well, and let them walk around the extensive > grounds (now a fantastic public country park) and even occasionally took > them on trips into central London! The Germans thought the British were mad > giving them such a relatively comfortable life as POWs. > > What they didn't know was the the entire house and grounds were wired up > with bugs. In the basement a team of German speaking interpreters were > working night and day listening to the officers as they talked with one > another. The relaxed atmosphere was to lull them into a false sense of > security so that they might mention war secrets. > > Seemingly it was a very successful strategy and was carried out at another > site too. > > The house hasn't been open to the public for some years, but I did get a > one-off guided tour a couple of years ago and the rooms where the listeners > sat are still clear with the remains of the wiring still in place. Latterly > the mansion house has been bought by a developer, but they're looking to > build a museum celebrating the "secret listeners" who occupied it during > the war. > > I should note that they didn't actually film the series in Enfield, and > nor did they use London much. It's all too new now, so locations around > Liverpool were used. > > > Adam > > On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 5:37 AM, Kevin M. <[email protected]> wrote: > > Is anybody else watching this? By any measurable standard, it shouldn't > work. Horrific stereotypes (smug British spy, sassy African American > singer, uptight German scientist...), bland setting, and an inattention to > detail that boggles the mind (I swear I saw an Apple Watch on one of the > actors). But I find myself liking the series. It is quirky, well-paced, and > despite the stereotypes, the situations are unique. > > Close to the Enemy -- the first episode was free on iTunes... not sure if > it still is > https://itun.es/us/xwTRfb > > > > > > > > > -- > > > -- > > > TV or Not TV .... 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