BBC Series Review: "The Syndicate"
Five co-workers win the lottery, and their lives are changed forever.
I had been hoping my library would get this, but considering it's BBC, one never knows. (Though my library does have a high volume of BBC detective and period dramas, I wasn't sure if it would get a regular, modern show.) Why did I want it, you ask?
'Nuff said. It sounded like it could be good, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too high, since I knew it would be a different role for him. As in drugs and cars and girls and all that. And one never knows how someone will do when they're trying to break away from the image people have of them. But at the same time, I really wanted to see how he'd do. And so I've been on the waiting list for this since before the libraries had gotten any copies. It finally came.
The whole series is 5 episodes long. I wish there had been more, but I give the Brits credit in that they know that quality is more important than quantity. Another one or two episodes wouldn't have hurt, though. (There's now a second season with a different cast and new storylines, but I want more of this one.)
It took everything in me not to watch the whole thing at once. I managed to spread it out over three or four days, though. (I now have a friend coming over the next two days to watch the whole thing. She doesn't get to ration it so much because I have to return it.)
I feel like if I say anything I'll be giving stuff away. Just know that you might not actually want to win the lottery. Your past might catch up with you. As might your present. Also, be forewarned that Matthew Lewis's character is not a good person. Oh, but Timothy Spall is in it, and his character is. I was glad I liked his character so much, because when I think of him I think of Peter Pettigrew and the servant guy in "Enchanted" and guy in "Sweeney Todd" - all such weenie, unlikeable roles. I was kind of dreading seeing him in another thing. But he was very good.
Also, I (this is going to be a shocker) developed a bit of a crush on Matthew McNulty, the guy who plays Matthew Lewis's brother.
I had been hoping my library would get this, but considering it's BBC, one never knows. (Though my library does have a high volume of BBC detective and period dramas, I wasn't sure if it would get a regular, modern show.) Why did I want it, you ask?
Bam.
'Nuff said. It sounded like it could be good, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too high, since I knew it would be a different role for him. As in drugs and cars and girls and all that. And one never knows how someone will do when they're trying to break away from the image people have of them. But at the same time, I really wanted to see how he'd do. And so I've been on the waiting list for this since before the libraries had gotten any copies. It finally came.
The whole series is 5 episodes long. I wish there had been more, but I give the Brits credit in that they know that quality is more important than quantity. Another one or two episodes wouldn't have hurt, though. (There's now a second season with a different cast and new storylines, but I want more of this one.)
It took everything in me not to watch the whole thing at once. I managed to spread it out over three or four days, though. (I now have a friend coming over the next two days to watch the whole thing. She doesn't get to ration it so much because I have to return it.)
I feel like if I say anything I'll be giving stuff away. Just know that you might not actually want to win the lottery. Your past might catch up with you. As might your present. Also, be forewarned that Matthew Lewis's character is not a good person. Oh, but Timothy Spall is in it, and his character is. I was glad I liked his character so much, because when I think of him I think of Peter Pettigrew and the servant guy in "Enchanted" and guy in "Sweeney Todd" - all such weenie, unlikeable roles. I was kind of dreading seeing him in another thing. But he was very good.
Also, I (this is going to be a shocker) developed a bit of a crush on Matthew McNulty, the guy who plays Matthew Lewis's brother.
But not on Anthony Lewis, who is in it and actually is Matthew Lewis's brother. He's a little too pretty for me.
Got all that?
At any rate, I recommend this series. It was quite compelling. (And if you can, see it before the knock-off American version ["Lucky 7"] comes out this fall. Either that will be bad and die, or be a hit and therefore ruined by American TV's insistence that they milk shows for all they're worth, forfeiting quality for the big bucks. Again, props to British television for keeping things short.)
posted by melilotnfosco | 12:10 AM
4 Comments:
oh yes, and a reminder, the leeds accent rule unfortunately was not announced until after this was done, so there may be times when you don't know what they're saying. thankfully 90% of communication is non-verbal.
Isn't that usually your reason for watching a new show? A cute guy starring in it? :P
not necessarily. :P i started watching 'the office' cuz my brother recommended it. i started watching that one show that i don't talk about on here cuz i don't want it to get cancelled because of the lead actress. i started watching 'eli stone' cuz there was singing...
and april was totally hooked to this show right away, and sad she didn't have time to watch it all in one sitting cuz her bf was making supper for her. then she got home and found he wasn't even there, so then she was sad and mad.
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