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.

I am thinking I must be watching a different show going by some of the comments on here. It is English not American so the style is probably what some people are unable to respond to positively. I hate everything spelled out for me. I like the English style which is more subtle and allows the viewer to imbibe the atmosphere and fill in some gaps and silences. Some other shows allows one to do this more but this one is still very English. I am liking the characterisation and the costumes and the setting all of which provide drama. Not everything is told in the dialogue. The main protagonist is handsome and mysterious. The female characters offer the possibility of more than one choice for romantic tension. The Nazis are dangerous but there is another group that will be difficult for the inspector to negotiate and stay on good terms with. He has a son to protect which means he has to tread carefully. I like this show and think it is worth at least an 8.

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.

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.

From time to time, I find myself interested in utopias, dystopias and what-if stories, being not a particular fan, but if the narration is logically developed, then it is catchier than "pure" sci-fi totally based on fantasy.

As ratings here are not so friendly, I had some prior doubts, but alas - the work captivated me from the very beginning and the choice of becoming actors (both English and German, so the German language was used when needed) let the watching smoothly. The era and atmosphere were well taken, the benchmarks of the 1941 events correct (e.g. Soviets and Nazis were rather close until WW II) and the involvement of the US at that time was as it was... True, some moments were odd (e.g. use of public pay phones under dictatorial occupation), the crime itself was soon pushed to the background and the ending could have been wittier, but, in general, SS-GB is a worthy time spending for those interested in both history and crime story.

I suggest to watch this miniseries as an "ordinary" drama, without moral dilemmas or painful spite regarding Nazi symbols in London. Otherwise you will be in the sulks and downgrade its merits...