Lockerbie

Why is this filmed in the dark?

This BBC version works hard to be different from the ITV version shown 4 months earlier. This version takes a different perspective, that of the investigation, which has drawn criticism from other reviewers. This may not mean much to those not in the UK, so look for the Lockerbie drama with Colin Firth.

It's hard to not compare the two especially as they are broadcast so close together. Both highlight how poor security was and leaves questions hanging.

It's a solid docudrama, let down by poor production and awful accents by some usually great actors. And sadly that's all that really matters.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two episodes of this miniseries. The attention to detail, from the set design to the wardrobe, and especially the acting, is truly impressive. The performances feel authentic and grounded, which helps convey the emotional weight of the story. While it's understandable that those with a deeper connection to the tragedy or more knowledge of the facts may notice certain inaccuracies or dramatizations, it's important to view this as a dramatized retelling, not a documentary. Given the passage of time and the nature of television storytelling, some creative liberties are expected. That said, the series treats the subject matter with a great deal of care and sensitivity. It manages to be both informative and emotionally resonant, drawing viewers in without sensationalizing the events. So far, it strikes a thoughtful balance between drama and respect, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the story unfolds.

The small Scottish community of Lockerbie was rocked when a Pan Am flight carrying over 250 passengers crashed into a housing estate; all on board the flight were killed, as well as a number of locals. This details the subsequent investigation and the relentless fight for justice.

I worry about docudramas from the BBC these days; they have a habit of focusing on things other than the story. Credit where it's due, though; in this instance, it tells the story very well. As an eight-year-old, I remember watching the news, with Michael Buerk announcing the disaster on the BBC; it was harrowing. It's a shocking story, one that will never be forgotten. When the name Lockerbie is mentioned, the crash is remembered.

It's sensitively handled; I felt they managed it all with a degree of respect. At no time did they opt to sensationalise or over-dramatise it. If I had one criticism, I felt it could have been cut down to four or five episodes. Very well made, with some great visuals and on-point period details.

I thought Connor Swindells was particularly good; he's terrific from start to finish. Peter Mullan and Tony Curran were also excellent.

8/10.

The horror of the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 has been portrayed before in documentaries and also the recent drama starring Colin Firth as a bereaved father.

This series, though, is primarily focused on the extremely complex, wide-ranging and stressful investigation and the multiple countries and agencies who worked together to find the culprits. The whole cast is excellent but in particular Connor Swindells and Patrick J Adams as the Scottish Police and FBI leads are tremendous and so believable. The years of dogged investigation and the many, many professionals who worked tirelessly to identify the bombers is inspirational. Those who were involved will never be the same again, I'm sure.

The torment of the families is very much to the fore as well, and the close bond that many of them formed with the people of Lockerbie and members of the investigation team over the following years is very emotionally played here. Phylis Logan is great as a local lady who forms a volunteer group to carefully clean and sort out the victims' belongings so they could return as much as possible to the grieving families.

This is a very, very good series and it is extremely emotionally affecting.

A few reviewers have given dreadful scores because it's unrealistic. I have an imagination so I can imagine what it would be like to be the first on the scene. These people are complaining there's not enough bodies! I mean come on, we don't need to see that. We can all imagine what 270 deaths would look like! I would imagine that the response would be coordinated initially from Glasgow. Another reviewer thought that there should be more emphasis on local responders. My response to that would be that they should make their own dramatisation with the focus on local responders. Oh and while they are at it make it a gory, rather than a sensitive drama respecting the dead and bereaved.

I live exactly on the flight path probably one more minute into the flight. This could have been us. It could have been a lot of places.

So far so good. It's not over dramatised. It's a sensitive portrayal of actual events.