[Lennie]

Did no one watch this, it was on today with David Tennant??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01psbj3

[the_lostprophet]

There was too much on tonight for me - have recorded it.

[catsitter]

Yes, I was just wondering why there was no thread for it. I enjoyed it very much though it was a bit distracting to have Owen from Torchwood in so many scenes with the Doctor!

[Lennie]

I thought maybe ppl didnt know about it since it was on BBC4, and i didnt see a thread here on about it

[Prince Monalulu]

I *should have watched it, just not in the mood for proper TV tonight.
I might download it off Iplayer.

* can't remember what it's about, but the title rings a bell, must have heard something about it and made a mental note to watch it.

[catsitter]

Originally Posted by Prince Monalulu

* can't remember what it's about, but the title rings a bell, must have heard something about it and made a mental note to watch it.

Basically, it's about spies in Warsaw! It was the first part of 2 this evening, part 2 is next Wednesday.

[the_lostprophet]

And Pernille from The Killing 1 is in it as well as Tennant.

[saralund]

I was looking forward to this, as a David Tennant fan. Excited to see TK's Pernille too!


However, I ended up turning it off, which is a rare ocurrence for me. DT was fine, as was Pernille, but the writing was dull and clunky and no amount of energetic acting can make up for that. They'd also chosen the tactic where anyone whose character was French got to speak in standard English, but everyone else had to put on an accent. This got very boring as not all the actors were convincing.

The story, after half an hour, had not engaged me. I didn't believe in the romance between DT's character and the woman in the lurid blue and pink satin dress (who chose those clothes??), so I don't think I'd be much bothered if the war split them up eventually.

'Restless' was much better, IMO.

YMMV. With any luck.

[MARTYM8]

I was interested in this - is it repeated on BBC4?

However it seems odd just to have this for two episodes - you might assume 'Spies of Warsaw' would merit a long running series a bit like secret army.

[sandblast]

It's on BBC 4 next Monday at 10:45 pm. It's on BBC HD on Saturday at 11 pm.

I was watching Chelsea v Swansea and completely forgot it was on. Looking forward to it.

[JarkdeLuxe]

Pernille was great but on the whole I found this so disappointing, especially compared with Restless (and I think the comparison is valid as both deal with WWII espionage). Janet Montgomery (the lead girl) really wasn't up to much and had no chemistry at all with David Tennant.

Very poor script - case in point the scene where he and her have just had a nice shag, after which she says something about finding a way to break it off with her boyfriend, and he responds "so you still haven't told him then?" - as if they would have got that far without discussing whether or not she had yet left her boyfriend to be with him! Terribly exposition-heavy dialogue throughout. The direction was decidedly unspectacular too. I felt like most of the Warsaw bits could've been filmed on a back lot at Pinewood for all we saw of the city, and we didn't see any exterior shots at all in Paris. Clearly done on the cheap.

Rant over!

[catsitter]

Originally Posted by saralund

They'd also chosen the tactic where anyone whose character was French got to speak in standard English, but everyone else had to put on an accent. This got very boring as not all the actors were convincing.

David Tennant had to put on an English accent! I know I should be used to it after so many Dr Who episodes but it still sounds false to me sometimes - mostly when he uses a glottal stop.

[peaches41]

I found it dull, maybe it will get better but I just couldn't get up any interest in either the story or the characters.

[Ted Murray]

David Tennant didn't seem right for role, and I kept expecting him to get his sonic screwdriver out.

[Bulletguy1]

Originally Posted by Lennie

I thought maybe ppl didnt know about it since it was on BBC4, and i didnt see a thread here on about it

I recorded it and haven't watched yet but if it's just a drama thing I won't really find it interesting. Was hoping it might have been factual documentary.

Personally I always check out both BBC3 and 4 as there are often interesting programmes on either channel.

[Stansfield]

Originally Posted by sandblast

It's on BBC 4 next Monday at 10:45 pm. It's on BBC HD on Saturday at 11 pm.

I was watching Chelsea v Swansea and completely forgot it was on. Looking forward to it.

That's when I'll be watching or recording it.

[The Gatherer]

Originally Posted by saralund

I was looking forward to this, as a David Tennant fan. Excited to see TK's Pernille too!


However, I ended up turning it off, which is a rare ocurrence for me. DT was fine, as was Pernille, but the writing was dull and clunky and no amount of energetic acting can make up for that. They'd also chosen the tactic where anyone whose character was French got to speak in standard English, but everyone else had to put on an accent. This got very boring as not all the actors were convincing.

The story, after half an hour, had not engaged me. I didn't believe in the romance between DT's character and the woman in the lurid blue and pink satin dress (who chose those clothes??), so I don't think I'd be much bothered if the war split them up eventually.

'Restless' was much better, IMO.

YMMV. With any luck.

Wow, if Restless was better this must have been abysmal!

[the_lostprophet]

Originally Posted by The Gatherer

Wow, if Restless was better this must have been abysmal!

Just what I was going to say. I saw some of Restless but found it dull so this must be diabolical. Actually I did see a TV critic in The Times say that this series wasn't great in a preview the other day - might give it a miss seeing as I've got loads of other stuff to watch.

[Andy-B]

I guess we all understand the (usually huge) gulf between BBC1 drama and BBC2, but I haven't really given much thought to BBC4 ... only a third through this so far .... interesting enough.

[Yorkie47]

I'm surprised more people didn't enjoy this. I recorded it and thought I would give it a whirl and switch off if I didn't get engaged in it. (Basically, I like David Tennant.)

However, I watched it all the way through and found it very enjoyable. Definitely will be watching part 2 next week.

[Ed Sizzers]

Originally Posted by Ted Murray

David Tennant didn't seem right for role, and I kept expecting him to get his sonic screwdriver out.

I'm pretty sure he did, didn't he?

[thedrewser]

I watched this last night and I must say I really enjoyed it. It was like an old fashioned spy-drama, the kind we used to love and watch in the 1970s/80s. I thought it was quite Le Carre like.

I will be eagerly awaiting the second episode.

[tealady]

I found the dialogue clunky and the lines seemed stilted. Although the time did fly by, so I must have found it engaging.

[Ted Murray]

Originally Posted by Ed Sizzers

I'm pretty sure he did, didn't he?

I didn't hear it, he must have had it on silent.



Ya pervert

[Andy-B]

I felt it was a little too obviously by the numbers; action, intrigue, romance, action, romance, intrigue, repeat scene rotation until done. Agree with the clunky-type comments, both dialogue and acting. Did it need a strong second strand, or level (seemed terribly simple and linear)?

Plus - and this may not go down well with some - Mr Tennant may be a ill cast, and even a little stretched ... there, said it.