TheNorthernMonkee SPOILERS As the Hornblower series continued with it's second episode, it continued to keep the audience attracted and kept our focus. With a plot dealing more with the negative moments of a time aboard ship, the story is not as fast and tense as the opening part, but it remains well made and entertaining none the less.As an acting Lieutenant about Captain Pellew's (Robert Lindsay) Indefatigable, Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) is working on his exam to become full lieutenant. Unable to find any time to himself on a confined ship however, he also has to face up to rationing and a personal hero in the form of Captain 'Dreadnought' Foster (Denis Lawson).Reintroduced to Hornblower, we are reminded once more of Ioan Gruffudd's superb acting skills. Stressed and unable to focus, Gruffudd's Hornblower is brilliantly shown to be advancing in age and experience throughout.Aided by recurring regulars Lindsay, Paul Copley and Sean Gilder, Gruffudd is aided this time by a well played performance by Denis Lawson as the arrogant and 'gung-ho' Foster. It's no wonder with casting and performances like this that the series has become such a success.Compared with it's previous episode however, this second outing for Gruffudd's Hornblower suffers from the simple fact that the plot is not quite as lively. Whilst brilliantly portraying scurvy and the problems with a ship short on food and with an unhappy crew, it does lack a lot of the excitement possessed by the first encounter. This is not a bad thing since variety and the covering of a wider world is always good, but with the exception of an explosive conclusion, it does feel lacking at times.All in all, it's difficult to fault any episode of this majestic series. Interesting and addictive from the word go, this series has given joy to countless numbers. In this second episode, we are again given brilliant acting and gritty realism. It's distinctively slower than it's predecessor though. Still, even a slow Hornblower episode is a million times better than most television dramas. Watch and love.

slaybelle_15 Slight, slight spoiler ahead.To some people I'm sure The Fire Ships is the best Hornblower movie. I think it was very good but lacked something. Archie. Yes I have soft spot for Blond sidekick. I want more Archie if I want anything from Hornblower. And this movie had no Archie.That isn't saying that this movie was bad overall. The diplomat is funny. Denis Lawson is okay. Horatio wears some very attractive clothes (namely the straw hat and the long pants.) The plot is action packed (but who actually thought that Horatio wouldn't solve all his problems.) If you watched the first one watch this one. Mourn the lack of Archie and then watch the third one. You'll be happy.

annalisa-2 Although I am not anything like a history-buff, I must say that I loved watching Hornblower. Andrew Grieve did an amazing job. He turned, together with the writer, of course, C.S Forester's book into a completely understandable, exiting adventure. Ioan Gruffudd did a fantastic job playing Horatio Hornblower, but let's not forget the other cast members: Robert Lindsay, Sean Gilder, Colin MacLachlan and all the others were outstanding too. Together they made a wonderful story, which, although it happened about 300 years ago, is still incredibly up to date.

salty-9 Since the series of Hornblower began, I have waited quite anxiously for the next episode. The cast is excellent, the plot well thought out, and the battle scenes terrific. Ioan Grufford is excellent as the young Horatio Hornblower, and it's good to see a Derby actor such as Robert Lindsay back in a major role. Definitely worth watching this episode as it is one of the best for drama and action.