Was underwhelmed. Didn't actively dislike it, but knowing there's 13 episodes made already and another 13 to come makes it more of a commitment than I'm prepared to give I think. Time is precious!
I wasn't paying full attention to be fair, will probably watch it if its on Saturday nights, hardly likely to have any quality competition in the time slot anyway.
It's a quality drama but it's going to bore most people. The Cold War is a historical event not many people want to relive. And those too young to remember it generally don't care.
Thought it was very good. Looking forward to watching it unfold over the next few months. Something decent on a Saturday night now the football season is over.
It's a quality drama but it's going to bore most people. The Cold War is a historical event not many people want to relive. And those too young to remember it generally don't care.
I wasn't born during the Cold War, but I (watched at US pace on Hulu) and loved it. I think the adverts ITV are running may have done it a disservice though...
God knows who requisitioned this for ITV. Not a soap, a talent show or the usual dross, someone has some serious explaining to do.
According to Radio Times it was ITV's Head of Drama, Sasha Breslau - it's their first US aquisition since Pushing Daises in 2007 (which, if memory serves, was soon relegated to a graveyard slot)
I wasn't born during the Cold War, but I (watched at US pace on Hulu) and loved it. I think the adverts ITV are running may have done it a disservice though...
I was following UK viewers' comments on Twitter. It appeared to me that the show ended after 77 minutes from the time it started. Without ads, the pilot is 67 minutes long. In the US, the pilot ended after 97 minutes. That means ITV ran one-third the ads FX did (10 minutes of ads rather than 30 minutes). It seems to me that ITV viewers got a break. I know ITV "one-hour" episodes of drama which I watch on my computer usually fill up about 46 minutes of air time, which means fewer ads than you'll get on one hour of US network or basic cable drama, but not that many fewer.
I was following UK viewers' comments on Twitter. It appeared to me that the show ended after 77 minutes from the time it started. Without ads, the pilot is 67 minutes long. In the US, the pilot ended after 97 minutes. That means ITV ran one-third the ads FX did (10 minutes of ads rather than 30 minutes). It seems to me that ITV viewers got a break. I know ITV "one-hour" episodes of drama which I watch on my computer usually fill up about 46 minutes of air time, which means fewer ads than you'll get on one hour of US network or basic cable drama, but not that many fewer.
I meant the adverts for the show, not during the show, But it's nice to know that we're getting a better deal than you. (Presumably the Canadian simulcast has a similar number of ads)
I meant the adverts for the show, not during the show, But it's nice to know that we're getting a better deal than you. (Presumably the Canadian simulcast has a similar number of ads)
The Americans airs on "FX Canada" in Canada, which one has to have a premium cable subscription to get. I only have basic cable. So I watched all of The Americans' episodes on my computer -- with no ads at all.:)
It's a quality drama but it's going to bore most people. The Cold War is a historical event not many people want to relive. And those too young to remember it generally don't care.
The Cold War is just the theme of the show basically you could have a similar show based around the war on terror today, with sleeper agents etc. The show is mainly about the relationship between Philip and Elizabeth and them trying to live a 'normal' life all the while secretly serving their country
I thought it was a bit vanilla. It was a decent watch. There wasnt anything particularly wrong with it, it just wasnt gripping or anything.
Look im glad ITV are trying to do something different, and unlike a lot of you guys on here I tend to like UK channels that get US imports rather than homegrown stuff which is usually just rubbish.
The biggest problem the show has is that IMO its setting itself as a Homeland-lite. But its never going to be able to top that show.
I thought the fight scene was a bit silly and the sex scene.
I thought it was a pretty decent pilot episode and like some others, I was a bit surprised ITV picked it up instead of Channel4 or Sky. Having said that, if they are only going to show 5 mins worth of adverts for a 1 hour episodes, then that will be a good thing.
I also hope they continue with the 80s music sound track.
The Cold War is just the theme of the show basically you could have a similar show based around the war on terror today, with sleeper agents etc.
The technology level has a big impact on what sorts of things a spy could believably get away with and how they operate. The internet, cell phones, DNA testing, computers, etc, tend to take some of the charm out of the spy genre. A modern equivalent would tend to be faster paced and more impersonal, and eliminates some of the dramatic potential that comes from a lower tech fog of war.
Also the Cold War was the last time we had those kinds of stakes and more evenly matched opponents. Spying between modern superpowers is over much more petty issues. Counter terrorism type espionage has higher stakes, but is very asymmetric so the agents couldn't have the same kind of resources, organization, and training behind them.
Homeland is a pretty good show, but it's so extremely different from the Americans that they're hardly comparable to one another. Some of that is how it's written, but a lot of the differences are dictated by the setting.
Comments
Bit strange having recently watched the male lead being a rather posh chap in a two part drama. His American accent seems pretty good.
Thought it was top notch myself.
I wasn't born during the Cold War, but I (watched at US pace on Hulu) and loved it. I think the adverts ITV are running may have done it a disservice though...
God knows who requisitioned this for ITV. Not a soap, a talent show or the usual dross, someone has some serious explaining to do.
According to Radio Times it was ITV's Head of Drama, Sasha Breslau - it's their first US aquisition since Pushing Daises in 2007 (which, if memory serves, was soon relegated to a graveyard slot)
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-05-31/the-americans-a-new-homeland
I was following UK viewers' comments on Twitter. It appeared to me that the show ended after 77 minutes from the time it started. Without ads, the pilot is 67 minutes long. In the US, the pilot ended after 97 minutes. That means ITV ran one-third the ads FX did (10 minutes of ads rather than 30 minutes). It seems to me that ITV viewers got a break. I know ITV "one-hour" episodes of drama which I watch on my computer usually fill up about 46 minutes of air time, which means fewer ads than you'll get on one hour of US network or basic cable drama, but not that many fewer.
The Americans airs on "FX Canada" in Canada, which one has to have a premium cable subscription to get. I only have basic cable. So I watched all of The Americans' episodes on my computer -- with no ads at all.:)
The Cold War is just the theme of the show basically you could have a similar show based around the war on terror today, with sleeper agents etc. The show is mainly about the relationship between Philip and Elizabeth and them trying to live a 'normal' life all the while secretly serving their country
Same here. I will definitely be watching next week.
Look im glad ITV are trying to do something different, and unlike a lot of you guys on here I tend to like UK channels that get US imports rather than homegrown stuff which is usually just rubbish.
The biggest problem the show has is that IMO its setting itself as a Homeland-lite. But its never going to be able to top that show.
I thought the fight scene was a bit silly and the sex scene.
They used to always show series like 'The Equaliser' and 'Hart to Hart' and then they suddenly stopped.
Heroes was the last US import I can remember on the BBC. I dunno why they stoped.
Yes but I think that was after a gap. Sadly it didn't do well for them, what with the writers strike.
I think it was the early 90s that they stopped showing US shows, especially action and scifi ones. Sky nicked a load of them.
Did seem pretty good to me.(THE SHOW I MEAN)
I also hope they continue with the 80s music sound track.
The technology level has a big impact on what sorts of things a spy could believably get away with and how they operate. The internet, cell phones, DNA testing, computers, etc, tend to take some of the charm out of the spy genre. A modern equivalent would tend to be faster paced and more impersonal, and eliminates some of the dramatic potential that comes from a lower tech fog of war.
Also the Cold War was the last time we had those kinds of stakes and more evenly matched opponents. Spying between modern superpowers is over much more petty issues. Counter terrorism type espionage has higher stakes, but is very asymmetric so the agents couldn't have the same kind of resources, organization, and training behind them.
Homeland is a pretty good show, but it's so extremely different from the Americans that they're hardly comparable to one another. Some of that is how it's written, but a lot of the differences are dictated by the setting.