Titanic: Blood and Steel

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.

12 very good episodes. And the drama wasn't overdone (over acted). How refreshing. No spoiled, uneducated and overly emotional Hollywood types in significant roles so they could not spoil it. Well worth the time. I loved the ending...

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.

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.

A show about the building of the Titanic, has little to do with the building of the Titanic. It's a solid show if you're looking for Downton Abbey. I really wished they showed a lot more of the Titanic herself instead of fictional love stories and family dramas.. that being said it's well acted and the look of the series is great.