SS-GB

A lot of reviews seem to have this series decided from the first episode. Well I enjoyed the first episode and the second seems to have improved the quality of the series.

The premise is hardly new and despite the book being out in the 70s it seems like it has similarities to "The man in the high castle" but, other than the premise that Germany won the war, it's not.

I think it's closer to 40s film noir where the hero/Nazi Sympathiser(?) is constantly lied to and friends become enemies and visa versa. I'm going to give it a go and see where it goes. I'm hopeful.

England, 1941. Germany, having successfully invaded in 1940, is now in control of the UK. The SS now run the country but for general law and order they rely on the British Police. One such policeman is Superintendent Douglas Archer (Sam Riley), a famed Scotland Yard detective. Archer walks a thin line, as his job requires him to work closely with the despised SS, the vanguard of Nazi fascism. To some this makes him a traitor. An English resistance movement exists but Archer believes that resistance is futile and will only lead to further bloodshed. Then a murder case draws him into the struggle, and into a plot of international proportions.

A decent whodunnit, alternate history and espionage drama, all rolled into one. Based on a novel by Len Deighton, there is a fair amount of intrigue and the whole "What if?"" scenario of Germany conquering the UK is interesting too.

Not entirely compelling though. Not everything makes sense, some things feel contrived, there are inaccuracies and inconsistencies which make the script and direction feel a bit loose and the ending (of Season 1) is a bit of a let-down.

Overall: intriguing enough, but feels a bit flat in the end. Hopefully there is a second season, as Season 1 feels a bit up-in- the-air. I was under the impression that this is a mini series though, which doesn't bode well for us that want some sort of closure to the story.

The concept is definitely a good one, one of the darkest 'what if's' you can imagine, what would Britain have looked like if the Nazis had won the war?

As always the BBC gets the visuals spot on, the whole thing looks fantastic and slick from start to finish, the costumes, sets, effects are all amazing, it looks incredibly high budget. The story is very engaging, the first episode is a bit of a drag, but get past that and it opens up very well. It's definitely better then The Man in The High Castle, so much more realistic, you watch this and realise it could have happened, this is what life could have been like.

The sound at times was a little bit poor, with a little bit of mumbling, not a great deal, definitely nothing like Jamaica Inn. Accents, however, spot on, I'm glad they didn't use non authentic dialects.

If you're a fan of film noir, this will suit you, I hope very much that we get a second series. 8/10

I have read the book about 10 times,I am a fan of the writer,Len Deighton,he is a World War 2 nut and obsessed by detail,which seems to be unpopular nowadays.

I admit it was a difficult first episode,the plot is not clear at the moment but I hope people will stick with it,I am sure it will grow on us. If people are expecting a fast paced thriller they will be disappointed but I think it will turn out to be a quality production. No plot spoilers but Deighton is a World War 2 expert who has upset some people by pointing out facts from 1939-1941 that some people want to ignore or forget. I did not have any problem with the so called mumbling,I would have liked more pace but I really don't understand why people are being so negative about this production. As for the constant comparisons with The Man In The High Castle,I know that book and it is based on history,unlike SS-GB.

Incredible TV show! I watched all the episodes and I really enjoyed them all. Sam Riley is incredible as Douglas Archer. Smart dialogues, the characters are great and is a great drama. So stylish! SS-GB deserves to have more success. And this final?! What happened with Douglas? I hope it will have a second season. Please BBC give us five more episodes!