The Village

[Ann]

Did anyone see this tonight on BBC? What did you think to it?
Advertised a lot so I was quite excited about watching it. But slightly disappointed as it quite hard to get into it but was determined not to switch it off and got into the story a bit more at the end ............. there are 6 parts.

[tiggerblue10]

Damn it! I knew there was something I missed this evening. I'll have to watch it on catch-up.

[Maydup]

I enjoyed it, although it was a bit grim wasn't it!

Made a change from the rather sugary Sunday evening dramas of late. I think the story will develop now we've had the character's introduced. Very well acted, especially the young lad.

[Ann]

Yes I think the father gets even more cruel next week when he throws a live duck in the oven ......... but it says in the TV Weekend mag that he finds God so changes his ways ......

[woofgang]

Not for me....if i want to be that depressed, i'll read the paper.

[mikey4444]

I thought it was marvellous. Gritty yes but it would seem very truthful. Miles better than the ludicrous Downton, with its ridiculous plotting
( miraculous recovery from paraplegia, servants attending their Masters weddings, etc )

If you read "Akenfield" by Ronald Blythe you will see what a truly retched time agricultural workers had 100 years ago. Can't recomemend "Akenfield" enough.

Its always a pleasure seeing Maxin Peake and John Simm, and that new little lad was a revelation...a very natural actor with good career ahead of him. Its also got Juliet Stevenson in it, so whats not too like ?

And, as Maydup says, not the usual sugary rubbish that we normally get on a Sunday evening.

If the BBC can produce drama of this quality, why do we have so much dross on the telly these day ?

Thanks God for the BBC !

[anneasquith]

i did enjoy it. but what is the secret the wife is forgiving the husband for ?

[mikey4444]

Anne...I don't know what the answer is but I expect we will find out next week.....can't wait !

But did little boys really get caned for not being able to write a simple sentence ? And why didn't his big brother teach him to write, in order to save the poor boys hand ? Perhaps he couldn't write as well ?

Ah, the good old days !

[anneasquith]

i think he may be left handed, but i do know at that time children were taught forcibly to only use their right hands.

[Sharingan]

I had been waiting all week for it, watched it and was really disappointed. It all seemed so stereotypical and bland. I hope it's better next week or I think I'll give it a miss in future.

[carolegif]

Left handedness was frowned on and up until the 1940's left handed children were forced to use their right hands. It is something to do with the devil being on the left hand side. I remember older friends telling me that they were beaten for using their left hand.
I liked the first episode, it's difficult to follow until all the characters are familiar.

[AliceTickband]

this prog is the BBC at its best!

[brainiac]

Very disappointing. John Simm was hopelessly miscast as the father - what hold does he have over the BBC that he's had the lead in so many big series like The Lakes, State of Play and Life on Mars, to name but three? And all the accents were wrong for the Peak district, just as in Shetland recently.

[frugalfred]

Catherine Cookson meets Wuthering Heights.

[craft1948]

This series has 6 parts................I think there are about 32 parts to come right up to date.

[craft1948]

actually brainiac one of the cast of Shetland got it right, probably because he's a Shetlander.

[Ann]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2302163/A-miserable-start-The-Village-BBCs-answer-Downton-Abbey.html

O dear not off to a good start - read the comments on here, many of which I agree with!

[tiggerblue10]

I've just finished watching it on BBC iPlayer.

Looks like its had bad reviews already, but sometimes its worth watching part 2 to see how it pans out. Then make a decision whether to continue or not.

[DJHawkes]

It mystified me, I don't understand why the John Simm character is so damaged, why make your sons stand to eat their food? It made no sense. The flagstone floors reminded me of my grandparents farm up above Hebden at Blackshaw Royd and so did the scenery. There was alot that was hard to figure out, how can the mother be so demonstrative to the boys and her husband yet the husband be such a cruel heartless psycho without a drink inside him, maybe that's the secret.

[askyourgran]

I thought the young boy played a good part, but John Simm is miscast he doesn't come across as a typical hardworking farmer (and why does he have to eat with a spoon in his fist?) I lost interest half way through. Don't think I'll watch it again.

[Sharingan]

I'm assuming he's going to be some tormented soul you're suppsoed to feel sorry for in the end, but I just think he needs a good slap.