Titanic: Blood and Steel

Opulent miniseries that chronicles the years leading up to and during which the Titanic was constructed in Belfast. As with something this complex some of the stories are more compelling than others as are some of the performances. Kevin Zegers holds the screen well in the lead, his startlingly blue eyes pulling you in. His storyline and several others intertwine and lead to interesting bits of history as well as storytelling. Neve Campbell's reporter storyline however feels superfluous. The best performance comes unsurprisingly from Derek Jacobi as Lord Pirrie. Effiiciently directed this moves along well with very few slow patches. Overall a good, if long, view with some soapy complications thrown in for good measure, but keep in mind this focuses on the building of the ship, not the ill-fated voyage itself.

A really fascinating series that covers both the building of the RMS Titanic at the Harland and Wolff Shipyards in Belfast and the wider world in the early 1900s. Some interesting topics covered, including union riots, mixed race relationships, the growing divide between Irish and English and, of course, the construction of the White Star Line's allegedly unsinkable ocean liner. Of course, we all know how that turned out. The interwoven stories are brought to life over twelve episodes by a stellar cast including Derek Jacobi, Neve Campbell and others. Production values are good, and, from what I have read, events in the series are fairly true to real life.

The finale, whilst offering closure, was also a little open-ended, which made me think Blood and Steel was intended to have more than one season. It would have been fascinating to see what happened to some of the characters who set sail on Titanic.

Really good television.

As much as I am fascinated by the ship and the tragedy that sunk her, then this 2012 series was a very lukewarm experience. Why? Well, first of all it was 12 hours long! And secondly, but most importantly, the ship itself was a mere backdrop around which all other stories were told. And that was a major disappointment.

"Titanic: Blood and Steel" tells the backstory of Titanic, of how it was built and trying to tie in stories of the working man, the shipyard board-members, the executives of the White Star Line, and so forth. Individually there were some good enough stories, but all thrown together in a 12 hours long series, no, it just became too much.

The ship itself wasn't the heart and core of the series. It was, at best, a mere backdrop to which director Ciaran Donnelly tried to connect all other stories around. But it just didn't work out all that great. I was sorely disappointed, because I had such high hopes and expectations.

It should be said that the series was quite well-cast and that the cast really performed quite well with their given roles and characters. And there is a good early 1900's atmosphere to the series.

But all in all, a mediocre result that lacked the grand ship itself and a far too long playtime.

Titanic: Blood and Steel is an apt moniker for this period drama. It's not one of the usual titanic disaster drama by the classic cinema makers we buy into. This series delves into the pre-titanic era of Belfast: a portrayal of what happens in and around the Harland and Wolff shipyard. As described in the title, it's about the blood and sweat of young riveters who built one of the magnificent ships ever made by a man with an added fiction of steel quality being improved by a metallurgist. It depicts the shattered lives of exploited yard workers fighting for an appropriate pay rise and keenly focuses on their political, religious, and social differences.

It has a quite ensemble cast who make us wonder if it truly happened. Every actor did immerse themselves in the characters. The diplomatic convey of dialogue by Lord Pirrie(by Derek Jacobi) with the shipyard board of directors and workers is outstanding. Thomas Andrews(by Bill Carter) a well-experienced shipbuilder who had always struck a balance between the accountant and an engineer, his tranquility is infectious. Mark Muir(by Kevin Zegers) an underprivileged man who turned his circumstances into a fortune with unlimited perseverance. His indecisiveness to choose love over the task of designing the mighty floating luxury is quite heart-aching. Albeit the roles of JP Morgan(by Chris North) and J Ismay(by Gray O'Brien) was brief, their austerity was intense. The glamorous Italian lad, Sofia Silvestri(by Alessandra Mastronardi) will catch your attention, she carried the demeanor of her character with ease. Her subtle facial expressions are rich. Producers did not compromise with the costumes, they were custom made to each character based on their storyline. The screenplay never fails to impress us. The graphic representation of keel-laying ceremony and indeed the ship launching ceremony, both of them are jawdropping. I strongly believe you shall never skip the intro soundtrack, the background score is mellifluous and relevant to each subplot. I strongly urge the team to ruminate over filming a second part for this one. If not for the disaster, it should primarily focus on the aftermath of Harland & Wolff shipyard, White Star Line, last Olympic class ship Britannic. The first season was all about the rich human emotions tied to constructing a ship, likewise, the next season has many plots to cover: How did Lord Pirrie take this? Who substituted the loss of Andrews? What were the discussions and changes in the board? How did the media publish the disaster? What happened at court proceedings? Did Joanna Yaegar's photos help her german brother? How could Silvestri cope up with the loss of his both daughters? As many as 1,500 souls drowned with Titanic, how did their families repent the loss? and many more. Keeping all of the historical inaccuracies apart, from a fictional perspective this 12-episode period drama is gripping. It is wise to watch it at a slow pace to absorb the story deeply. Certainly, Titanic: Blood and Steel will stay in your memory even after the end credits roll.

"Titanic: Blood & Steel" proves there are still ways to approach material that has been revisited on the big and small screens in new and appealing ways. From the laying of the hull to her departure from Belfast, this is the story of the workers, businessmen, and common Irishmen impacted through the construction process of the most famous ship in history.

It's strengths are its historical figures, such as the open-minded Lord Pirrie (Derek Jacobi at his finest) and the perfectionist, driven Thomas Andrews, who is depicted as I have always imagined him to be, soft-spoken and heroic. Its weaknesses lie in its lack of understanding for the social and sexual aspects of the period, as well as its (for me) rather unlikable leading man.

When it comes to historical accuracy, it relies more on fiction than fact to tell its story but somehow this never seems too troubling. The politics of the era are explored: the struggle to unionize Ireland, the rivalries between Catholic and Protestant fractions, even a foray into the beginnings of the Irish Republican Army. The expense of the miniseries shows not only in the terrific cast but the incredible detail on the ships, their construction, the shipyards, and the lavish interiors.

Some might complain about the ambiguous ending, but I like it, since it allows the audience to make their own conclusions about the fate of the main characters. The series held my attention and gave me twelve hours spent in the company of Lord Pirrie and Thomas Andrews -- as an amateur "RMS Titanic" historian, for that, I'm grateful.