White Heat

Follows the lives of seven London housemates from their youth in mid-1960s to the present day. Many of those well-known events during that era form the backdrop of the lives of the seven protagonists.Naturally there are many ups and downs in their personal lives and their particular interactions with each other. I know some use the word cliché to describe familiar situations, but much of a life lived is a cliché to all of us, but this doesn't mean it's not interesting or informative.

Very strong cast of the younger and older versions of the seven characters and the script maintains a strong level throughout. If all you want from a miniseries are murders and heroics, then don't bother with White Heat. If you are after a genuine dramatic depiction of how ordinary people live their lives while the world seems to be imploding around them, then you'll get something out of this mini-series.

I can understand why some people have mixed feelings about this drama series. The dialogue is a little clichéd and occasional non-contemporary idioms pop up and the deep involvement of so many significant social and historical events in the lives of this small group of individuals is a rather incredible over-concentration of themes. Nonetheless, it's a consistently engaging series with very well acted characterisations that rise above those problems and to its credit it conveys the feel of those times, certainly as I remember them, very accurately. Perhaps best of all, it conveys the folly of a lot of youthful social behaviour, with years lost to mistakes and the realisation of how much was lost and how much better things could have been coming only in old age. That is how it is for many of us. I was pleased though that there was a sense of lessons learned and opportunities rekindled at the end, again how it is for many of us. Well worth watching.

Couldn't disagree more with the previous reviewer. I found the characterisation to be subtle, the plot engaging and the denouement moving. I was an undergraduate in the early sixties so am a contemporary of the protagonists. Apart from the occasional idiomatic anachronism - nobody said 'A big ask' in the sixties - I found its depiction of the period convincing.

Given that tastes differ - some people enjoy reading Jeffrey Archer - don't write the series off without giving it a try: one episode should be enough to see whether it grabs you or whether you find, like GTBarker, it's not your cup of tea.

Have to say I loved the drama. The story itself is well laid out and doesn't let go of you till the end. So in terms of dramatization have a say a job well done. The direction of this kind of work can be a tough job but has been very well handled. The constant shift between the past and the present can be tough to portray but here occurs quite seamlessly. The use of historical events does tend to give us a time line to follow and keep things in perspective. The actors have to say do a wonderful job especially the ones from the past, who tend to have most of the screen time. The actors in the present are seasoned and didn't have any problems with acting out their parts. Was hooked onto it from the first episode and it culminates well in the last, though it does leave you with the feeling like wanting a bit more. If it did continue then it'd become a soap hence thankfully it doesn't. All in all, an emotional drama which will hold sway with most of us and will manage to pull on a few heart strings too

Like at least one of the other reviewers I lived through this period, the characters commencing at university in 1965 and I commenced in 1966 so the events against which their lives were played out are the same as mine. I found the period very well created, and the dynamics in the household were very true to life. British universities were full of 'Jacks' in the 1960's, usually little rich boys who dreamed of being Che or Marx who unlike the Alan's and Orla's of that world had no real principles. I recall my school senior year voting (in a mock election)overwhelmingly Labour - at a public school in Christopher Soames' constituency (Soames was Winston Churchill's son in law and a staunch Conservative). As part of a sit-in group which evicted the Vice-Chancellor from his office at Birmingham University, and as a fringe participant to the Grosvenor Square 'riot' portrayed in Episode 2, I believe that the series captures the period well, including the attitude of the various parents depicted in episode 1 who had no concept of the aspirations of their children, often the first generation to even contemplate a university education and the subsequent events. It was a time of change and the series depicts it well.