Medieval Dead

We had hopes for this series, we really did. Just so you know, we're very interested in history, culture, the arts, science, architecture, archaeology and, well, you name it, if we can learn from it we're in. However, this program did not 'catch' either of us in the first episode.

For one thing, the sound was up and down, sometimes deafening, other times inaudible and we had to continually adjust volumes, but ok, this is a technical fault in production, mixing etc., not a failure in the information or presentation. Unfortunately, that was an issue too.

The narrator /presenter, though knowledgeable, was monotone, without much of any vocal inflections whatsoever. The pace was really slow and seemed to lack direction in the form of a story or narrative that had a point.

We also always want to know more about the history and stories but there was only some context and not a lot of information and that left us wondering what was the point, what were they trying to say, and why? There were some very well done computer generated simulations which explained battle injuries but it just wasn't good enough.

Maybe sometime I'll look at other episodes when it's late and I have nothing else in the que, but for now, there are tonnes of other shows that are informative enough for those who are historically interested and have a better flow.

I really love this program. It's enlightening, and always interesting because they put across so many perspectives and never just force one on you. It always leaves me with a vivid image in my head of various scenarios; some of them are quite gruesome. The whole series is realistic - the facts are considered and different possibilities are mentioned. However, there is never one possibility that is stated as fact which is great as it often leaves the viewer to decide for themselves. It's easy to get your head around the information you're given and the experts they use have a huge amount of experience in the work they are dealing with. I would definitely recommend that people who are unsure watch the show, I'm sure that you'll get drawn in just like I did.

Maddening. Lots of interviews about how forensics work and a lot of talk about how it can tell you soooo much about the bones -- then almost nothing about the bones. "It can tell you personal things about the person, their diet, their life... " then very little offered about a person whose bones have been found, their diet, their life. Frustrating rather than interesting. Are they TRYING to bore and frustrate the viewer?