User reviews

The horrendous 1988 plane crash disaster from Jim Swire's point of view (respectable performance from Firth), a parent who lost a daughter on that flight, and for over twenty years Jim just kept seeking justice that got buried by the powers-that-be to suit their own agenda. A tightly structured mini-series that will have you binge-watching in one seating. And it only took five episodes to tell this riveting true story (depending on your political point of view), instead of the standard 6 to 10 episodes of stretching a story with useless meandering to other characters, instead focusing on the commitment of one father wanting answers in honour of his daughter...

My first review for 2025 is here and it is a tv show that focuses on the real life events of the Lockerbie plane disaster, so it is a pretty serious watch. I have watched all of the 5 episodes and here is my review for the show. The premise of the show focuses on a doctor who is trying to get justice for his daughter and all the lives that were affected by the Lockerbie Plane Disaster that took place in 1988.

Main Character Colin Firth plays Dr Jim Swire and you won't see too many better performances then this all year, he is truly fantastic. You see the real emotion and harm that comes to him during the entire show and the longer the case takes the more it takes out of him and his family. Firth really delivers this strong performance of this real man and you are really on his journey and support him.

Supporting Characters Catherine McCormack plays his wife Jane and she is also brilliant. Though we see this show mostly through Jim's eyes we really see how it affects Jane and makes her feel like she is sleepwalking through life without her husband. McCormack really nails it and though she isn't the focus she is an integral part of the show.

Sam Troughton plays Murray Guthrie who is a journalist that works with Jim Swire and I really liked their dynamic. He clearly cares about the story and wants to get the evidence required to help Swire and the families affected. The chemistry between him and Firth is really great and I really enjoyed all the scenes they had together.

There is a big supporting cast and everybody just feels very genuine and appropriate for the story that is being told here and I give credit to every performer and this is a great ensemble cast.

Story The story is obviously very upsetting and emotional and it handles it really well. It was gripping and kept me interested as there was twists and turns about who might have been responsible for the plane crashing in Lockerbie. But the films ending didn't quite work for me, it is difficult when you do a show based on real life events as you can't change it too much, but the ending was pretty drab compared to everything else that was shown during the show.

Script Due to the subject matter, I was expecting an intense and emotional script and we get exactly that but it works really well. You really feel the emotion that is being conveyed on screen. It was a really well written show and though it gets complicated at times, I thought it explained everything pretty well.

Style The show is well filmed and does a really good job of conveying the intense subject matter and does enough to keep you hooked for the next episode. Though, I do think the show drags at times and maybe could have cut an episode and really tightened everything up to create an even better experience.

Overall Overall, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth is a Great Show. It is a hard watch and I will probably never watch it again but it is a really interesting watch and has some excellent performances. I would recommend watching this show once so you can truly understand more about this tragic story.

Rating - 8/10.

Very interesting drama series based on the true terrible events of 1988. It gets you thinking about who were really responsible for the bomb that brought down Flight 103.

Though hard to watch the opening episode is pretty absorbing and gives you a sense of what those poor people in the air and on the ground had to endure. Colin Firth does a good job of portraying Jim Swire's relentless pursuit of the truth though if being honest thought 5 episodes was probably one too many. But the acting honours was definitely led by Sam Troughton who was excellent as the journalist Murray Guthrie All in all an educational watch.

I remember sitting with my parents when the news bulletin came in about Lockerbie, an event which shocked our nation. I had returned from my first trip to the USA that summer, working on a summer camp near Syracuse. A number of students from Syracuse had also worked there over the holiday. A group of them were on that flight, returning from a trip to London. I would not find out that friends of friends had lost several people on board that flight, several from one class alone, until many years later.

The narrative presented to the public about who & why was responsible was always confusing & convoluted and I was never entirely convinced by the official version.

Here we finally get the television drama this story deserves, told, perhaps wisely (though I am sure some will think it unfair) primarily from one family's perspective searching for the truth. I consider myself fairly educated on this subject, but this show brought several things to light that I was previously unaware of. What is very clear is that these families were lied to from the outset and facts were deliberately withheld from them.

Catherine McCormack gives the performance of her life as the grieving mother, with Colin Firth doing what he does best in the leading role. This series is not an easy watch, but as I have said before about similar productions, it is absolutely 100 percent essential viewing. Another stand out performance is that of Sam Troughton as the intrepid reporter chasing all the pieces of the jigsaw, while newcomer Jemma Carlton holds on her own against the heavyweights. Remember under Thatcher (don't get me started) there was no Public Inquiry into Hillsborough, Marchioness nor Lockerbie.

Naturally any drama taking on a topic as emotional tragic as this must be handled with care, sensitivity and respect for those directly impacted by the events. I won't presume to know their views, but I think they would be very satisfied with the powerful results we have here.

The crash itself is especially well handled. We see enough to know the utter horror of what they went through both in the air and on the ground but no more than is required.

This sequence is extremely well directed by Otto Bathhurst.

I urge you to watch it. The main theme here is everyone should always be held accountable for their mistakes. Otherwise those damaged by such events can't even begin to heal.

I highly commend the entire production team.

First class drama - watch it now.

This Sky TV series (now on Peacock) won't be everyone's cup o' tea. It's largely an intense recounting of the decades-long investigation into the Pan Am 103 bombing that technically remains unresolved. Episode 1 was riveting with a gut-wrenching reenactment of the airliner crash over Lockerbie Scotland. Some will find the rest of the series tedious, unless they enjoy investigative journalism and/or legal dramas. Colin First plays Dr. Jim Swire, the father of one of the bombing victims. Swire was obsessed with uncovering the truth - both for his daughter and eventually for the convicted Libyan man who he came to believe was innocent. The lengths he went to were incredible and startling. The attempts to spur an independent inquiry and the uncovering of the intricate details of the event were fascinating. I learned so much about this case. Like many people, I thought it was all settled, but another criminal trial is coming up in 2025. Overall, I found this to be a very compelling series.

As Episode 1 of "Lockerbie: A Search for Truth" (2025 release from the UK; 5 episodes ranging from 48 to 61 minutes each) opens, it is "21st December 1988" and we are introduced to the Swire family in Bromsgrove, England. Flora Swire is about to leave for a trip to the US from Heathrow. Then disaster strikes as Pan Am 103 crashes, and all passengers and crew perish, as do 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland. What exactly happened, and who did this? At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this min-series is based on Jim Swire's book of these events and its long aftermath, and hence the series reflects his perspective, and his only, as he searches for those responsible for this barbaric act of terrorism. As the years go by, Swire finds himself chasing ghosts, and battling his own government. Incredibly, the British government to this day, now 37 years later, have refused to instigate an independent investigation of the terrorist attack and has refused the release of multiple documents that could shed light on all of this. As to this mini-series, there is very little to be uplifted by this. Not that the script is weak or the performances are off (Colin Firth stars as Jim Swire), but because all of this is so incredibly depressing.

"Lockerbie: A Search For Truth" started streaming on Peacock some days ago. I watched all episodes over 2 evenings. This mini-series is currently rated 68% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and sounds about right to me. If you are curious what really happened when Pan Am Flight 103 was downed over Lockerbie, Scotland all those years ago, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

This five-part Sky TV dramatisation of the events surrounding the Lockerbie bombing in 1988, which killed a total of 270 people, has already attracted controversy by taking as its point of view, claims of the innocence of the one man convicted so far of the crime, Libyan Baset el-Megrahi. The point is made in a subtitle at the end of the final episode that of course another high-ranking Libyan of the time has now been extradited to the United States and will face trial in May of this year so that there may yet be another twist in this appalling tale. El-Megrahi, after years of appealing his conviction, on being diagnosed with terminal cancer, finally abandoned this course of action to qualify for his eventual release and repatriation where he duly died of prostate cancer some three years, not the expected three months, later.

Now, cards on the table, although I was and remain a supporter of the ruling Scottish National Party in my home country which made the decision to grant Megrahi his liberty on compassionate grounds, I remember at the time being outraged, strongly believing that such a mass-murderer deserved to die in jail. This programme on the other hand, tells the story from the viewpoint of Dr Jim Swire, an English doctor who lost his beloved young daughter in the crash. Swire tirelessly endeavoured to get to the truth, no matter how unpalatable and came to the firm conclusion that Megrahi was innocent, effectively being set up by the American FBI or CIA, possibly in collusion with the British government of the day. One of the reasons there was and continues to be such speculation over what happened on board Pan-Am Flight 103 is precisely because there has been no official government enquiry into the surrounding events as there tends to be for disasters of this magnitude. Swire, with the sometime.assistance of an equally unconvinced Scottish journalist, comes to believe that the real perpetrators were Iran and Syria, both strategically important nations to the west for different reasons by the time of the trial, but mainly, inevitably, for oil. Libya, as a rogue state under the dictatorship of the notorious President Gaddafi, was duly blamed for the attack with Megrahi put forward as the ultimate patsy.

The sad fact is that the truth may never be known, with so many of the official documents remaining classified, but the production here leaves little doubt as to what it believes to be Megrahi's innocence, going a long way to painting him as a sympathetic figure, the sacrificial victim of a deliberate miscarriage of justice.

My conclusion is that it's better to take a side in matters like these, rather than sitting on the fence and that is certainly the case here. Swire too then is presented in a mostly favourable light, indefatigable in his pursuit for truth even if it loses him some of the love and respect of his family and even his wife who herself is struggling with her mental health in the wake of their loss.

The first episode in particular was difficult to watch, as it recreated in detail I know what still couldn't have been even a fraction of the actual carnage which occurred on that fateful December night. Thereafter we follow Swire in his campaign and unsurprisingly the dramatic tension fades somewhat as we endure lengthy courtroom scenes. Nevertheless, this was a compelling series, skilfully and sensitively directed (apart from one jarring moment when a young Scottish woman claims ignorance of the tragedy, believe me, like the awful Dunblane massacre in the next decade, I think all Scots know exactly how emotive the very word Lockerbie is in our country).

Colin Firth carries the weight of the production on his broad shoulders and does so convincingly with a performance throughout of sensitivity and restraint, well matched by Catherine McCormack as his troubled wife.

While I may have felt somewhat guided and even manipulated by the programme-makers to accept their version of events, I was nevertheless emotionally engaged throughout by this strong, well made and ultimately provocative drama.

It is telling that part of the title of this miniseries is "a search for the truth." The implication being that it has not yet been found. I remember the incident well, the explosion and field of debris in the area of Lockerbie, Scotland, as the airliner was on its way from London to New York City.

Colin Firth is cast in the lead role, and is very effective, as Doctor Jim Swire. His young adult daughter was on that plane, he and the rest of his family were devastated by the news. Swire was not happy with what he and others were being told, it seemed that important information was being left out and/or not addressed. So he took it upon himself to dig deeper, and that search included traveling to Libya and meeting with Muammar Gaddafi. The program is based on his writings and thus has some bias to it.

A big part of what troubled Swire and others, a communication was found which warned of a bomb ahead of time, but apparently was only shared within USA and UK agencies. Then, right after the plane went down from the on-board explosion, agents showed up quickly as if they were already in Scotland and expected the event. That was very troubling if indeed that is what happened.

I found this five-part miniseries streaming on Peacock. I would have preferred a single movie of 90 to 120 minutes but I understand the business model, more running time generates more revenue. While it isn't a stellar watch it does provide interesting content for those who have an interest in the event.

A father's search for the truth having lost his daughter! A documentary cum miniseries of 5 episodes with each episode being close to one hour. The story revolves around 1988 bombing of a plane of Lockerbie, Scotland that believed to have killed 250+ people. This was believed to have been blasted by terrorists. It's based on the book "The Lockerbie Bombing". A doctor by name Jim Swire who loses his daughter in this plane crash gets on a journey of finding the truth that caused this crash which leds him against his govt, exposes loopholes in the system, corruption etc. This case is still running in court since 1988 n this man is so persistent that hasn't given it up since 35+ years n still fighting for it. Gets little slow at places but very well directed series n direction is quite neutral n doesn't emote much emotions. Originally a English series dubbed in other South Indian languages including Hindi as well. Available in JioCinema, my ratings 7/10!

I've only completed episode one at this point and I'm astounded by how I'm left feeling afterwards. This was always going to be a hard watch but in fact what is more powerful than its ability to break your heart is the giving us the audience a mere taste of how unbelievably shocking and life altering this event must have been for the residents of Lockerbie, the families of the passengers and the country as a whole. I was only eight at the time so had no real memory of this happening but from shielded to educated, I highly commend the series makers. It's beautifully made, acted and a just tribute to every victim.

A decent account of this travesty in British "justice" which would have been more powerful without the bits added for dramatic effect. In my view it would have been much more effective and pacy as a three part series but overall it's a timely reminder of this shocking event and the subsequent political cover up by the various governments involved.

One has to admire Jim Swire's persistence in trying to discover the truth but, having lost a daughter myself, I can't help thinking that he's ruined his own life and made his family suffer for an unnecessarily long time to assuage his own grief. I felt that Firth's portrayal of Swire was rather wooden but then I know nothing about the man.

Worth watching but even today we don't seem to be much further forward.

I am remembering this so well, now that I am seeing this. I was in college, set to go to Ireland for Spring Break. My family had a conversation about it, since my mom and grandma was going with me. My Grandma had never been on a plane before and we had concerns about her reactions. Hint: we went on the trip.

One can only have sympathy for the families who suffered such a horrific loss. One can only feel hate for people who do such things to destroy this world.

It is truly a beautiful show. The first episode is so heartbreaking because we know what is about to occur and you want to say "Miss the Plane".

Have Tissues Handy.

Just watched 1st episode on stack tv. Who have.this listed as a comedy this needs to be changed immediately this is an insult to the victims families. My sister and brother law were living in Lockerbie when this happened. This was a tragedy so please change this listing immediately. Great acting by Colin Firth this is a disturbing t.v. Show but we didn't have cell phone back then and there was not much coverage of it on the Canadian news media so it will be informative to see the rest of the series. It will be difficult for the families of these victims to have this t.v series being aired now.

It's commendable that this series works to ensure the Lockerbie tragedy is not forgotten, honoring the immense suffering of the victims, their families, and the communities affected. The series serves as an important reminder of the human cost of such events, and its dedication to preserving this memory is heartfelt.

Colin Firth delivers an exceptional performance as Dr. Jim Swire, portraying the character with profound depth and sensitivity. His portrayal captures the weight of a grieving father's quest for answers and justice, anchoring the series with an emotional intensity that stands out. However, while the rest of the cast is far from bad, their performances lack the same energy and presence. They often fade into the background, making the overall experience feel a bit monotonous.

Given that the audience already knows the historical beginning and outcome, the series faces the inherent challenge of maintaining suspense. Unfortunately, the script doesn't do enough to overcome this, missing opportunities to deepen the drama or introduce fresh emotional perspectives. Furthermore, the series doesn't offer any new revelations, which might leave viewers yearning for more substance or insight.

At five episodes, the mini-series feels unnecessarily stretched. Much of the runtime is filled with scenes that fail to add significant value, making it feel padded. A tightly constructed 90-minute feature film could have conveyed the same story with more impact and focus. At times, watching feels like sitting through a methodical, slow-paced West End play-thoughtful but lacking the vitality needed to truly captivate.

While Lockerbie: A Search for Truth achieves its goal of honoring the tragedy and boasts an outstanding lead performance, it struggles to deliver a compelling narrative. It's a respectful but ultimately underwhelming exploration of an important story.

Outstanding series sharing the truth behind what really went down. I loved how much real evidence and footage was used, exposing the lies, greed and corruption world wide.

Colin Firth plays Jim Swire incredibly well and gives the audience a deep insight into what Dr Swire and his family went through.

As someone who was born a few years after this event, I had never heard of this event until watching the series and think it is disgusting how justice was not served for this case, but of course that is the world we live in today.

The director did an incredible job at capturing the story and revealing for us what really went down.

In terms if being a dram it was a good watchans very realistic and impactful production . Unfortunately Jim Swire was not the only person who lost a family memver in this tragedy and so for that reason it infuriates me that the production takes the story of his perspective ans gives one person impacted a platform which is purely for dramatic purposes. Many others were affected by this tragic event and as another user pinted out, Libya admitted liability whilst paying restitution, which they chose to omit from the production, again because the conspiracy storyline has more appeal and lures the viewer's curiosity.

An excellent piece of television covering one of the worst terror attacks on UK soil.

I vividly remember the event, being 18 at the time, and had particular interest in it as my parents were from the area of Dumfries and Galloway where the crash happened.

The most damning outcome was the way that the families had to fight to find out what happened to their loved ones as Thatcher's Government, once again, strived to hide the truth from the bereaved.

I'm from Liverpool, my husband was at Hillsborough, so am very familiar with having to fight for truth and justice. The drama covered the bereaved relatives desperation to uncover how they loved ones and died in stark, and poignant accuracy. The frustration of knowing that if one, or two things had been done differently then they may not have died is something that torments a person's soul. The callous treatment of not even being able to see a body is something that should not be imposed on another person.

All to familiar themes from a Prime Minister, and Government, who put money and reputation before its people. I pray we never have to experience those times again.

Bravo to the producers of the drama for highlighting these issues to well.

This show is so focused on pulling at your heartstrings and appealing to your most basic emotions that it completely ignores any attempt at intellectual satisfaction.

From ridiculously manipulative scenes and dialogue to obviously over-dramatized plot points. I couldn't even finish this because of how offensive I found its pandering.

Perhaps a standard length film would have done this story more justice. Less time to show such obvious attempts to get us to care for the characters and their situations. The story is powerful enough that we don't need to be held by the hand and told how to feel. A good film or television show respects its audience enough to allow them to find the drama and heart of the story on their own.

My whole family watched this series and found it compelling and moving with some very strong performances from Colin Firth, Catherine McCormack and Sam Troughton in particular, though the supporting cast were also terrific. The use of archive footage really helped convey the geo-political situation over the years the story spans. Though it's obviously a very complicated story we could follow and understand it. It didn't feel dumbed down and we appreciated the sense of ambiguity that it ultimately leaves you with. It seemed to cleverly interweave both the personal story of grief and loss throughout the narrative of the political machinations of world events. Would Def recommend.

My Review - Lockerbie A Search for Truth Streaming on Foxtel My Rating 8/10

The shocking and savage terrorist bombing on December 21st 1988 that bought down Pan Am Flight 103 over a small town named Lockerbie in Scotland affected countless thousands of people including the 270 families and friends of the 259 passengers and crew on board and the 11 residents of Lockerbie that perished.

This 5 part series based on the book by Peter Biddulph and created for television by David Harrower and Jim Swire tells the true story of one of those many families .

Dr Jim Swire played with quiet sensitivity and skill by Master British actor Colin Firth his wife and two children lost their daughter and sister Flora who was a passenger on Flight 103.

It may sound an odd compliment but I'm often reminded of Britains other living acting treasure Dame Judi Dench when I'm watching a Colin Firth movie.

Like Judi Dench he has an incredible acting range and can play an everyday ordinary man, a King ,a secret agent or spy ,a romantic or comedy lead or even sing a vulnerable and touching version of "Our Last Summer ."in Mama Mia .

His character Doctor Jim Swire makes it his life's task to bring the terrorist or terrorists to justice but faces cover ups and the Prime Minister of the time Margaret Thatchers refusal to initiate an independent inquiry into the cause and culpability of the attack .

His obsession to find justice has consequences for his family life Jane Swire his wife is suffering ongoing trauma as Jim's participation in their remaining family suffers due to his preoccupation with finding evidence to bring the suspects to trial in The Netherlands.

Actress Catherine McCormack also gives a superb performance as Jane Swire her character had my sympathy throughout the series as she desperately wants Jim to move on from the past ,especially when the other families affected turn on him for seeking the release of the convicted Libyan man Abdelbaset Al- Megrahi who Jim is now convinced was framed and is innocent.

This terrible event in 1988 14 years be for the attack on The World Trade Centre was pivotal in the escalation of the modern airport security we thankfully experience today .

I also think after seeing the series that this event perhaps help start the fake news era we live in today where Fear can lead to False Evidence Appearing Real and there was plenty of false evidence involved in the Lockerbie tragedy.

The fear of Governments losing valuable oil rights plus the fear of reprisals or retaliation if the truth is revealed caused diplomatic coverups .

The very human story of this family touched by tragedy made this horrible event in our history seem more pertinent and made Lockerbie an interesting and informative one off series for me.

This brought back so many memories of family friends who died in the crash. I had an unsolicited call from a national press correspondent informing me of our friends deaths and asking for information about them. My respect for news reporters hit rock bottom that day.

The footage of the countryside brings a feeling of being there. I found myself searching for the bodies of my friends though the rubble.

The dialogue gave voice to the complexity of world politics.

The actors provided me inclusion in the anger and hurt.

This presentation reflected all the hurt and anguish friends and family felt.