Bedlam

Ignore the flaws - this show is terrific.

Cast is terrific, even if the characters motivations and history are almost non existent. Theo James is brilliant as the main character, a person who not only sees ghosts but how they die. Charlotte salt is also a standout but her character lacks a back story to explain why she is the way she is.

The setting is terrific - an old asylum, renovated as a high level apartment building. Oh, and it is haunted! Each episode is well directed, music is spot on for frights, and the writing is excellent. Each episode delves into the history of the asylum with the lives of the new tenants triggering off the ghosts.

While I am a huge fan of British TV an American season length would enable more character depth. 6 episodes are just not enough!

I think the show is really worth watching. It's short, condensed, well balanced between the self-conclusive episodes and the main plot. Nothing new, slightly flat characters, but a whole lot of entertainment.

That said, it's interesting how much derivative the show is. The locations, the iconography of the ghosts, the dynamics between ghost and characters... everything seems to convey a sense of deja-vu. And it's surprising how much this show tries NOT to be British while still remaining it; the reference is more or less the recent American horror (and, indirectly, the Japanese new wave) but many things in the production (good lookin', sexy actors; cinematography; editing, ecc...) just seem to try and be in that trend, maybe to be "easy". On the other side, a kind of British aftertaste still remains and the writing (characters issue aside) is really good.

It has it's flaws, but still works better and better each episode, till the great, though a bit "tecnical", final cliffhanger.

Sorry. I hope they either make it more scary, or cancel it.

It is a young peoples soap opera, just like Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place.

it is just so....well, not scary. There isn't enough creepy stuff, but if there were more, everyone with a brain would just move out.

Please cancel this show. Do it softly, and file it with Outcasts and Defying Gravity.

Do these directors and producers know about Event Horizon, or Battlestar Galactica? They need to watch them carefully before making any more "scary" soap opera's or good Sci-Fi drama's.

Thanks!

Chris

This show was ok but could have been much better. I was a little upset half the characters you get invested into get written off the show after season 1 but it was something to watch and easy to binge the whole thing in a few nights. It was just entertaining enough to follow through but I probably won't ever watch it again.

I REALLY liked this show simply based on the cool subject matter. The setting is GREAT and can lead to many creepy stories to be told. In reality it would be SOOO COOL to have a flat in a place like that, as long as the spirits have not targeted you any particular week.

I read reviews about bad acting and maybe it is because I am not a Brit I cannot pick up on it as much, acting is in the little details and I am not sure what they are supposed to sound like so I must miss it. I think the acting is just fine. The actors are also attractive and that is not always commonplace on Brit TV. Maybe the acting bar can be lowered because they are pretty people.

I see A LOT of potential for future seasons and even though I read the article about the low ratings I see will have season 2 and I am excited.