Eleventh Hour

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits

Patrick Stewart plays Ian Hood, a government scientist and top man who really gets a good glimpse at what those with power and knowledge get up to behind our backs. Each week, an episode deals with a scenario (e.g. cloning, miracle cures, virus outbreaks) where he must battle against the odds to give the public the protection they deserve.

Although he never really broke through the ranks as a top Hollywood star, Stewart does indeed remain one of the most notable actors we've ever produced and it is good to see him back on our screens. And indeed, he's well cast in this series, in fact it's almost as if the role was especially written for him.

Basically, this is one of those shows which will enthrall some and really put some others off. It's one for those who like to sit down, pay attention to everything that's going on and really enjoy the rewards that pay off from using your brain. It's one of those roles Stewart likes to accept, and fans of his work will easily warm to him in it. Others might find it all a bit too serious and brainy. There are attempts at humour here and there, but they're rather fluttered and not really played out that greatly.

Another problem I had with the show was the lighting and use of camera. The lighting is a little too grainy and the camera is too much of a close up shot throughout and this did detract from my enjoyment of it.

So, if you see any episodes, you should know what to expect. If you do, you'll probably enjoy it, if you don't, you probably didn't have much business seeing it to begin with. ***

I must say, I am somewhat surprised that my favourite PS has allowed such an "arty" medium to be applied to a not very apparent replacement for the highly respected Morse detective series. The characters although new, remain totally impersonal and I really do not want long shots of many more car-washes, camera moves around cars with just a few words spoken,shots of railings with darkened views of walking main cast. Make this a proper sleuth show asap! gimme clues, gimme insider info on the characters, gimme some more anger/emotion, and gimme a hard hitting next episode that brings me back for more!. I know new shows need time to develop, to mellow the characters and give them time to make them their own, but this appears stunted, strained and cold with minimal vocabulary to give me the viewer and a fan of the more intelligent detective shows, much to hold on to other than modern but not altogether interesting camera work...come on Patrick, inject some pizazz!!!!

Is Ian Hood the 21st Century Professor Quatermass ?

I'm actually enjoying the series, as a sci-fi fan. After years of being subjected to British broadcasters being more concerned with producing period dramas, and endless detective shows - it's good to see some sci-fi back on the screen. And I for one think it's pretty well written, and of course the presence that Patrick Stewart brings, adds to the appeal.

Am I right in thinking that only 4 episodes have been made in this season ? I hope it's done well enough to given a shot at a 2nd season, with Stewart on board for that too.

This series is a huge miss. Between the abysmal direction and the lousy writing, I'm surprised that Stewart was able to put anything into his role. I have to admit that "Eleventh Hour" doesn't resort to the ridiculous, semi-supernatural plot lines that characterize "Fringe," but it sins in the other direction: it is boring and superficial. In a typical scene, Stewart demonstrates the fact that he can't predict what his department's budget will be by tossing papers in the air to land randomly. He uses grapes to demonstrate (?) how cloning is accomplished. Later, he gives us a history lesson by explaining how Edward Jenner developed inoculation against smallpox. All of this is done on a third-grade level, like an after-school special or "Sesame Street."

When you add to this his incomprehensible status as the "science adviser" to some government group (with oddly undefined powers and authority) and the fact that apparently there's nobody else in the health services who is capable of conducting an investigation, you get a lot of eye-rolling and sighs.

If you're a big Stewart fan, you might give this a look. Otherwise, stay away.

I call this a Science Thriller rather than Science Fiction because to call it Sci-Fi immediately puts you into the expectation game for Fast Pace, Zap, Boom, Fantastic. . .

Even further-- remember that this is British in flavor-- and NOT of the 'Torchwood/Dr Who' variety. Think more like Masterpiece Theatre with just a little bit of 'hustle'.

A Gov't Scientist and his security minder go about tracking down culprits in outré crimes and disasters in working class England. The show touches on concepts that are theoretical, or bleeding edge-- like the Cloning episode-- but it does so by approaching the concepts in the process of unraveling crimes.

If you settle down to the fact that this is more a Crime Thriller rather than an Action Thriller, you will not be bothered by the non-Hollywood aspects. The scenes are not bright and glossy with lots of glass skyscrapers and busy streets. No Car chases. No running through the streets. No swat teams kicking down doors with laser gun-sights.

It's plain, gritty, moody, rumpled, surly & workaday in the way it presents the story. And the final difference is the fact that the endings are not tidily wrapped up. But then neither is Life. . .

I wouldn't say that the acting on Pat Stewart's part is his best-- I've only ever seen him in Star Trek, (and frankly found his Picard Character 'annoying') So this is a new way of seeing him for a lot people. But the rest of the cast, having no precedents in the American/Hollywood, are spot on with good honest, believable characters. This isn't the Glamorized England of Dr Who or Primeval. You get a sense that this is closer to the 'Real England'.

My one quibble is an overall grimness that makes it take to watch all in one sitting. But maybe that's my American/Hollywood trained Bias.

Still, it's interesting, thoughtful drama for a rainy weekend afternoon.