Main basse sur Pepys Road

Very cleverly written satire. I'm surprised this hasn't been viewed (or reviewed here) by more, and I completely disagree with the criticisms posted by earlier reviewers.

It's a neat story, with some attractive characters compellingly facing various moral dilemmas. The acting is first-rate - no weak links in the cast.

Strongly recommended.

I confess I missed the first few minutes of the first episode but I was hooked in a few minutes.

In all the houses are people whose stories are relateable but the acting, casting, script make it compelling. They could be clichés but are not.

Toby Jones is married to a woman he could only get because of his high salary. They have 2 small boys and both parents exhausted in their respective roles. (goof when his FT moves from his left to right)

Gemma Jones is a widow whose daughter and grandson would spend more time with her, if their own lives were not so geographically distant. Over time her relationship with both has petered off but Christmas is approaching.

Wunmi Mosaku? plays a very sympathetic Nigerian refugee. She does her best to keep her spirits up, despite the 'no-win' situation her character is in. The ever increasing property prices on the street have nothing to do with her.

A single guy is sharing a flat with a couple. Enough said.

A large Indian family run the corner shop.

When the postcards begin to come to each house saying 'We Want What you Have', some report it to the police. An officer calmly investigates what could be anything from a marketing prank to something scary and deals with everybody's assumptions about police prejudice.

It continues to escalate. Can't wait for Ep 2 !!!

Capital was a three part adaptation of a satirical book by John Lanchester and adapted by Peter Bowker as a modern Dickensian satire looking at class, race, immigration, greed and a London neighbourhood in a background of rising house prices.

Petunia is at 84 Pepys Road and lived here all her life and seems to have come to grips with the cosmopolitan nature of her neighberhood. She has a grandson who seems to be some type of Banksy style street artist and her daughter comes to stay with her and she knows that value of her house. The Ahmed's are second generation children of Pakistani immigrants who want to foster good relations with their customers but one of the brother's is showing signs of radicalisation.

Roger is an investment banker with a big house, big extension and plans to do more work in the house and maybe get a house in the country with his big bonus. His wife already has made plans to spend the bonus. They have kids that go to private schools and eastern European child minders. The series seems to have few regrets about investment bankers who bought the country to its knees a few years earlier.

In among the mix are an asylum seeker embroiled with the appeals system, Polish builders making a nice living with the constant demands for refurbishment from good cheap labour and who all interact with each other. They all start to get threatening letters and emails. Someone wants what they have and police are called in to investigate.

The film is a gentle satire but I felt light on plot. Maybe it could had been done as a two hours film. We kind of guess the Ahmed's will end up in trouble with the police when that long lost friend came to crash in their house for a few days.

However it was worth just to see Toby Jones face when he got that much lower than expected bonus. Later on his account to his bosses as to whether they actually understand what these mathematical geniuses that they employ to do the trading is rather prescient

I have to admit that the mystery at the heart of this series' plot. Is what made me continue to watch it. The acting is good, as are the directing and production values. As an anglophile, I enjoy seeing how the Brits live. The characters in the series are interesting enough, and could be people one would come into contact with in our daily lives. The series just misses coming off as a soap opera, which in some ways it could be compared to. While I don't begrudge the time I spent watching the series. I was a little "underwhelmed" by the final reveal and the finale.

I loved it. Mysterious, funny, suspenseful, and moving. Great characters, great acting. What more can you want? I only wish there had been more. Watched on PBS Passport.