lihtenc I went to this for Benedict in the first place, but when I finished I found that the story was more exciting. Very good plot, every things were quite confusing in the first few episodes, and I didn't understand the whole thing until the last one. There could be some improvements in the way they delivered the story to make it more clear and intense. You need to be patient to wait for 2 or 3 episodes to get an idea of what's going on because they've been laying too much clues around and not connecting them till the last sec. They also spent quite a few shots on drawing the social background. But towards the end it was irresistible to see where the characters will end up despite their struggles. And at the last few scenes I did get horrid, thrilling feelings that the story tried to create. It made me so disgusted about what's happening in that fictional world and that's why I found this series quite nice.The cast was good. All actors/actresses were delivering fantastic performances. (And I am more than happy to see what a brilliant job that Benedict did in this). Overall, don't expect this show will be witty or delighting or full of fun. It followed the George Orwell "1984" and in a sense, dull, but still alarming. In my view it was unnecessarily lengthy, but not intolerable. So if you are after some kind of serious drama on political conspiracies, this one worth a try.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU A series that is a prodigiously well-knit plot, so well-knit that we can wonder what the truth is in the end. It is a lot more than just a rewriting of Big Brother with all the cameras everywhere and the tracking chips in the shoes, belts, or even under the skin. All that is covered up by the imposed ID card which is supposed to concentrate opposition while the necessary software are tested to identify the eyes, the finger prints, the figure and who knows what else of every single person. The new generation of trackers are infinitesimally small molecules injected or simply incorporated in the body of a person even be it only via a drink and then the person is tagged for life, and even beyond. The series here shows how an experiment went wrong, not really wrong but actually came out dirty. A set of these tags were injected to thousands of refugees in Afghanistan in some kind of innocuous medical injection, and that tag had the capacity to recognize the genes of the person and then to kill one particular human family, Arabs in that case. The film on such a point is badly informed since in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan the people are of Indo-European stock and not Semitic, and wrong again if you wonder how such a tracker can make the difference between a Jewish Semite and an Arab Semite? But never mind such details. They were testing a genetic weapon that could annihilate a whole population in a few days, in other words an illegal genocidal genetic weapon. They even doubled up the demonstration by making the only British citizen who got the tag recover within twenty-four hours. So Big Brother is becoming there Big Western War Criminal. And the West wonders then where these middle-easterners and far-easterners find their terrorist ideas. In our security laboratories, and no where else. But the series has another interest. It shows the inside picture of that kind of security experimentation and we find out that there are at least four or five levels and that most people have one foot in more than one level and often in three levels. The last scene is typical. Michael, the NGO worker who was the ultimate guinea pig of the tag is executed on the ship that is leaving Britain by the man who helped all along Michael, his Brother Stephen and his wife Yasim, and we discover that he who appeared to be a freelance fighter to avenge his own daughter is in fact a multiple agent working for the secret and totally undercover circle of the security services of the government. That gives to the series an interesting twinge. Note that tag was also used against illegal immigrant who were infected in a way or another and died within days. Actually the doctor of this experiment manages to find a cure but he is eliminated in due time and all evidence destroyed. The experiment had been a full success. Let's keep that in reserve. The final element is the sentimental level. Michael is officially killed and buried and Stephen comes back from China for the funeral. Yasim, Michael's wife is then ripped between the dead husband and his brother, and the brother is divided between his brother's wife and his brother's widow. One of the side effects of that false death and burial is that Stephen is brought back to England and then will no longer be able to leave, hence will be forced to work for the government. So even the wife torn between two brothers is not really dramatic, certainly not tragic. It is one more level of political plotting. But altogether the series is interesting and even fascinating, British in one word in that genre of political science fiction.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 8 Saint Denis, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID

the_mad-scientist A score of 5 for starters as I wondered when it was going to pick up the pace. I understand that they had to establish the initial threads, but it did drag it's feet a little. The computer tech stuff was clumsy, but did assist in speeding up the action (but lose the computer voice) The OCD habits of Benedict Cumberbatch's character Stephen were excellent, and his performance was subtle. Unfortunately some of the dialogue spoils his excellent physical performance. The testament to this is Robert Carlyle who actually does not say anything, but his sheer brilliance conveys his intent and capabilities. Max Beesley although headlined, is only in a few minutes of flashback material, see if he turns up in further episodes. The cast list is impressive, and I am sure that actors of this calibre do not sign up for drivel.Many people may be put off with the slow start, but I suggest they watch the second hour this weekend. If that is of the same ilk then switch over to another channel, only then might the BBC get the message, that wasting such talent is borderline criminal.In summary, trying to be John Le Carre, with a budget of a soap opera, so they did the best with what they had. Peter Berry is an excellent writer, but the material on screen so far is falling short of gripping.Wait and seeAnd I waited and I saw, and I then selected a DVD and enjoyed that instead.

moshun Yet again we trot out a tired ,derivative, alarmist bore-fest of a drama.Chock full of cardboard characters, bad dialogue and cheaper than cheap production values. It picks up slightly toward the end of the initial episode, enough to give it a second chance, but not exactly edge of the seat stuff.Theme wise, it's not particularly relevant in any accurate sense. As i said before "alarmist" is the best description. At least if it's core had some genuine gravitas it would be worth watching but it comes off as the same old mumblings of leftie dissent. Balking at the notion of a surveillance state. (which for all intents and purposes we already live in) And for the most part... it's coma inducingly dull. Some of the acting is cringe worthy, but i cant blame the actors, with some of the lines they have to deliver, it's telling when even the cast cant get into character.Like i said, i will wait to see how the next episode pans out, but i am not waiting with baited breath. when oh when will British TV actually get some money spent on productions!