downingpatrick

I wasn't sure about this show at the beginning. The main character took some getting used to before his slightly irritating, willful fecklessness faded and other, more engaging dimensions emerged. The ensemble cast and the lead's relationships with them were entertaining and funny, particularly the love interest, springing from a good old-fashioned, random meeting in the 'real' world.

So, I was on board.

However, just as I was warming to the world being created, it was cut off at 4 episodes! Like having a meal that you were just starting to really enjoy, abruptly removed and the restaurant shuts.

Pity.

This series took me completely by surprise & is undoubtedly going to remain a firm favourite. The lead actor provides a virtuoso performance of a man in confident control of his own little world & the characters in it. Seducing the audience into enjoying his self-serving nastiness & manipulation. The definition of a lovable rogue.

The atmosphere of the smart apartment block feels perfect & the delicate balance of scene music & natural ambient sounds completes your engagement.

A superb cast make this clever, winding tale of plots & problems, class distinctions & everyday survival, a memorable must see.

Disappointing. I'd been led to believe this would be a strong addition to the library of Viking era epics but no. It's a mash up of Vikings and Last Kingdom and a good few other things. Simple revenge story, with some supernatural-ish bits scattered about and the camera exposure set to low. I was too far in to give up, hoping there'd be a fork off the obvious path but I ended up just willing it to end ... which took a while.

The smatterings of Bjork and Nicole Kidman didn't get much of a chance to make enough of an impact and were probably there for the PR value (or Bjork wanted some horses ... which they apparently gifted her after filming ended) It might have been much better as a series, expanded characters with more depth and dimensions (especially the monotone lead role).