Doomwatch

I quite enjoyed the movie adaptation so when the wonderful Talking Pictures TV (UK) said that they were going to screen the TV series (what's left of them, some episodes have been lost forever) on Friday nights I looked forward to watching them for the first time. Not impressed so far, very little action, too much talking and the sets look like they were made of cardboard! For every half decent episode there is sadly a disappointing one. I might sound harsh but judged on what I have so far seen I think that Dullwatch would be a far more appropriate title for this British TV series from the early 1970's. I do like watching the great Robert Powell though. Some of those fashions are quite shocking mind, ha ha!

...but for all the wrong reasons. I find this series very difficult to love, and believe me I've tried. I bought the whole boxed set, optimistically hoping I'd enjoy it more than on my previous viewing many years before. Generally I love 70s tv, I don't mind the poor effects or the slow pace. But Doomwatch is like the tv equivalent of Radio 4 plays: lots of boring men pacing up and down in offices, shouting at each other, being terribly EARNEST and CROSS, addressing each other by their surnames (unless it's a woman of course), saying "Damn it man!" and either comforting hysterical sobbing women or being patronising towards them. The scripts are often concerned with 'terrifying' issues of the day which we now accept as 'normal life' (Tower blocks! Plastic! Jet lag!) It's all rather humourless and preachy, and the acting style is frequently pitched at borderline hysteria which can be extremely grating and often had me reaching for the volume control. Having said all that, it's well made in most respects, just very much of its time - a 'criticism' which can be levelled at many examples of archive television of course, but plenty of those stand up better today than Doomwatch does.

Just now rewatching the (existing) series episodes on Talking Pictures TV. I was an avid watcher as a school kid in the early 1970's. I'm still suffering PTSD from seeing Toby Wren blown up! The stories are quite inventive, with multiple sets. Unfortunately the thing that lets it down is the character development and the never ending sexist stuff, which at the time was considered edgy but ends up being tiresome.

What saves the series is somewhat understated acting by John Paul, Robert Powell, Wendy Hall and Joby Blanshard. I'm afraid Simon Oates doesn't stand a chance with the ham-fisted way his character is written.

And the ascots/cravats! The TrimPhones, the hair styles. They all take you back to the early 1970's; culturally not the best of times.

What on Earth have they got in their hair? How can anyone wear those shirts? A character seriously called 'Joby'? Top marks though for effort with effects on a limited budget. Having said all that the plot and storyline is very good and sadly rather plausible.

I remember loving this series the first time round but I have forgotten the details of all of the episodes so I can enjoy it again for what seems like the first time on TPTV in the UK, January 2025.

Will a cravat through a ring worn like a scarf by a man ever make a comeback, I do hope not.

I've only seen two episodes so far but considering the subjects covered over fifty years ago they are still relevant today, sadly. As there is plenty of subject matter these days, AI, genetic engineering, controlling billionaires, crazy politicians, a new series could be made to draw attention to the dangers that are ignored these days, probably until it's too late.

As the subject in episode three covers, in part, the dangers of AI, this programme was half a century ahead of its time.