pavelb-968-44685 Beautifully acted bleak reality of a poor village as The British Empire starts to wind down. The photography is wonderful with some of the scenes appearing to be black and white, which they are not. Typical of BBC, it's not always possible to hear what is being said but it will become clear when you view a second time. Mother Middleton is spectacular – they did make her red-haired! I really enjoyed her in "Silk", but this role is a triumph. The opening episode with our young Bert being punished for being left handed hits home for me – my own father forced me (not brutally thank heavens) to write with my right – it was a different time. Bert's way of making money by entertaining his village-mates is amazing and you instantly get the impression he is true leadership potential. His willingness to take what the teacher dishes out quickly makes him special - is he deliberately taunting his sadistic school master? The development of the characters is masterful, Moffat never tells all, but just enough that you eventually form your impression. The truth about The Lord of the Manor, the Vicar, Vicar's daughter, the Investigator, all become apparent in this first series, but nothing is crystal clear. I was struck by how close this mirrors so many societies where it's all too easy to make quick assumptions. The treatment of the immediate post-war de-mob situation might have been too gentle as perhaps was the treatment of the Spanish Flu epidemic. These were horrible times as returning soldiers discovered they were not needed anymore. Series 1 is probably the best I've seen from BBC, ever, but is not for the viewer who wants razz, colourful costumes and sparkling wit. There's a lot of "British understatement" here which makes it very real. I eagerly await the second series.

ianlouisiana Those Oxbridge types at the BBC keep up their perpetual sniping at their fellow nobs by portraying them as Lord Snooty and his pals whilst the noble working man is struggling to throw off his chains. Every class - war cliché is trotted out as life at the two ends of the spectrum is compared and contrasted like a first year S.P.S. undergraduate's essay. Too simplistic by far to be taken seriously with braying aristos and noble plebs abounding,"The Village" is like "Catherine Cookson presents with pretensions and overacting. In fact Miss Cookson had a far better grasp of the divisions in English society.

julieuni67 Totally agree with Rickytravis68 & Steve Hewitts reviews. This is one of the worst series I've ever had the misfortune to view. Too many characters with absolutely no personality nor point to their being in the story. After watching the whole 6 episodes I'm still trying to work out who was who and how they related to everyone else. Scenes that made no sense, story lines that have no explanation and I couldn't find one likable character among them! The old guy who does the narration is far too young to be 100+ , they could have at least tried to age him with makeup, and he has nothing to like about him either. I've watched many, many BBC TV shows and I've never come across one so woeful.

phantom_fan89 Criminally underrated writer/producer, Peter Moffat, showcases his prodigious versatility by following up his brilliant legal drama, Silk, with the equally compelling The Village.The Village chronicles the lives of the inhabitants of a small country town as they struggle to adjust to the turbulent societal upheaval brought about by the First World War. From the gentry to the poverty stricken working class, the shocking realities behind closed doors belie the idyllic surrounds of the Derbyshire countryside.The Village is far from feel good entertainment. It's dark themes and gritty period realism creates viewing that is often emotionally harrowing, but undeniably brilliant.Despite the explosive era in which it is set, the narrative threads of the series are predominately insular and familial, relying on interpersonal relationships to create drama. The results are riveting, primarily thanks to the vast array of intriguing characters and superb performances by the stellar cast. Moffat is a genius at writing fascinatingly unconventional characters that are neither heroes nor villains, but ambiguously grey. Unlike many male writers, he also consistently imbues his shows with multifaceted females roles that are equally if not more dynamic than their male counterparts.Moffat's leading lady from Silk, Maxine Peake, is the emotional center of the series. Peake remains one of the finest actresses working today and if there is any justice The Village should garner her some long overdue recognition.http://infilmandtvland.wordpress.com/