Noughts + Crosses

'Noughts + Crosses' is set in an imagined future where the prevelance of insitutitonal racism is somewhat more severe than it is at present, albeit less extreme than in, say Apartheid-era South Africa. The twist is that the story is set in a Britain that has been colonised by Africans. It's interesting to think about how African colonialism might have differed from the European form we actually had, but although the drama makes some nods in this direction, it's alternate history is insufficiently detailed to fully flesh-out a wholly different culture. Instead, the main purpose the swap serves is to force a contemparary white British audience to question our own assumptions about what is normal and natural. And there's nothing wrong with that, per se, but I found the programme rather obvious in its moral messaging, it's characters too embelematic to be cared about. One of the characters is even the Prime Minister, but the lack of detail in the policking we see is typical of the drama as a whole. To really tell a good story about racism (or indeed anything) in general, you need to have the confidence to tell a story in the particular; and that's what I didn't find here.

A fantastic drama. Thought provoking and exciting. I'm a white guy who has no issue with seeing this alternate reality. We should never forget how we've treated others because of their race and how we continue to do so.

I do think people will find it uncomfortable to watch at times and it means it's highlighting something within. I especially love the subtle details they've written in. Fantastic. Brilliant.

Great story of a dystopian alternate reality , many similarities to apartheid south africa in here . As a white south africa growing up in apartheid, I saw so many similarities that I could relate to here. I find it odd that some reviewers on here give it a bad rating and then state that they just don't like the idea of the story and how offended they are by it, but then probably go off and are pretty happy to watch a show like "Man in the High castle" (an alternative reality where the Nazis rule the world). Clearly indicating their bias...

Firstly, the way the series set itself up was excellent, with scene setting and background to make the viewer understand that typical western race roles had been reversed through African conquest. However, the script-writers tried to shoehorn in too many lazy stereotypes that don't exist in the modern world. It would have made sense had this been set in 1900 London, as it would represent the equivalent reversal of 1900 colonialism. Set in the present day it felt like the writers were trying to make too many political points rather than a drama. Once one realises this it becomes more enjoyable, but it's so blatant that it spoils too many of the situations as they couldn't contain themselves. On a more positive note the main characters were well played, and the family dynamics of the two main parts also excellent.

What an intriguing plot - a world where whites are the underclass. It's set in modern times, but without the civil rights movement. So there's an interesting mix of then and now issues, flipped on their head.

The characters are like-able and believable. Until they aren't. Characters are complicated. You can't just have them do whatever you want because you need it for the plot. These characters change so fundamentally from episode five to six, it really pulls you out of the story. This is a Dany-season-eight-of-Game-of-Thrones level change.

I did finish the season, may or may not continue, but the writing just didn't hold up to the end.