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Close To The Enemy - New Stephen Poliakoff Drama On BBC 2 Tonight at 9pm


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Old 18-11-2016, 06:46
iamian
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I suspended thoughts that this was going to be pretentious nonsense and find it quite palatable. Yes, I have seen better but it's very well set and there is enough of a plot to pass an hour. Overall I quite enjoyed it.
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Old 18-11-2016, 14:31
Graham_Morgan
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I have been enjoying this, as for Victor Ferguson he sounds like Pierce Brosnan to me.
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Old 18-11-2016, 18:35
Bob Paisley
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I sort of vaguely intended to watch this, as I quite like some of Poliakoff's stuff, but I forgot it was on and can't be that bothered to catch up. I wonder though if there's any incredibly attractive women getting their kit-off in this? Poliakoff's not averse to a bit of high class on-screen rumpy-pumpy and I'm shallow and sleazy enough to wonder if I'm missing out on anything good.
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Old 19-11-2016, 06:41
roddydogs
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Yes very sexy scene.
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Old 19-11-2016, 20:41
Straker
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Jim Sturgess is on Sunday Brunch tomorrow. Perhaps he'll explain why he's so godawful in this and why Poliakoff sanctioned his laughable performance.
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Old 20-11-2016, 14:00
Nonconformist
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I think this is potentially quite interesting, but there has to be something else going on if they want to stretch it out to seven episodes, even if the German really is a war criminal after all.

I suspect one of the British spies is going to turn out to be .a Soviet agent.

I did wonder if the little girl wasn't the German engineer's real daughter, but an imposter while his real child is held hostage by the Russians, hence why he didn't want to cooperate?
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Old 20-11-2016, 14:04
GoinGaga
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Jim Sturgess is on Sunday Brunch tomorrow. Perhaps he'll explain why he's so godawful in this and why Poliakoff sanctioned his laughable performance.
I'm still very much enjoying this series but there is something very off about his delivery at times.
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Old 20-11-2016, 14:14
Willpurry
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I had a theory regarding what the sinister bespectacled chap is up to but I've forgotten it.
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Old 20-11-2016, 16:01
PaddyODawes
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I had a theory regarding what the sinister bespectacled chap is up to but I've forgotten it.
Thanks for sharing.
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Old 20-11-2016, 16:08
James J
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Still loving this. I find it just washes over me and is very enjoyable to lose yourself in.
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Old 20-11-2016, 22:47
Nonconformist
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My current possibly rather unlikely theory is that Mr Creepy is Lotte's real father and also liaision with the Russians.

Can't stand the brother with mental health issues.

Lotte has been kidnapped at the end of 2 eps out of 2 so far - I wonder if it will happen every week w someone different?
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Old 21-11-2016, 17:59
snowy ghost
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Oh I love it

The atmosphere ,the music and it doesnt matter that I havent a clue about what on earth is going on
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Old 22-11-2016, 22:32
cardian
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It's dreary enough to convey the ennui of having to stay in a dull hotel.
If it wasn't for "that scene" I probably would have fallen asleep.
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Old 23-11-2016, 05:58
roddydogs
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She had a nice pair of....................legs.
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Old 23-11-2016, 13:45
phepia
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I was drawn here simply for Alfie Allen, who I am enjoying watching.
The rest of it was ok but not my kind of tv. I just watched it for him.
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Old 24-11-2016, 17:11
IRITALIA
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It was filmed in Liverpool, an old empty bank was converted into a hotel set, so not a real hotel as such.
The interior scenes of the hotel were filmed in the old Martin's Bank building in Water St. Liverpool. It is presently being converted to a 5 star hotel so you will be able to visit it yourself.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/...koffs-12165390
Belated thanks for that guys.
Lets just hope the conversion is done sympathically although I have already read some comcerns from conservationists..................

I am still enjoying this and admit I like Jim Sturgess as Callum, rather charismatic I think!
Don't mind his brother either, rather wacky which fits in as most characters are.
Looking forward to this evening.
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Old 25-11-2016, 08:18
roddydogs
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??? this is all over the place!
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Old 25-11-2016, 08:24
Vetinari
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??? this is all over the place!
Are you referring to the site, this thread, or your post?
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Old 25-11-2016, 09:49
PaddyODawes
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Are you referring to the site, this thread, or your post?
The programme, I presume. And sadly, as a longtime Poliakoff fan, I have to agree. I've really tried to go with the flow, but I can't find one. It's all totally fragmented, with two many characters, including some who seem entirely pointless, such as the unconvincing 'American' singer, implausible behaviour (No, don't give me useful information... just take a beating) and ludicrous plot twists (('I vill not work for ze British!' -> Oh, you got my daughter back from your bonkers brother. Ok then.) The acting seems lifeless and 'by numbers', the leads are uninteresting at best (it's crying out for a Timothy Spall, an Olivia Colman), and I can't recall a single standout bit of dialogue in three episodes.

First episodes are often challenging; seconds can be still struggling to really find their feet; but if things haven't come together after three, well...

Hate to say it, but this ain't a patch on vintage Poliakoff, and I'm not sure I can be bothered with it any more.
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Old 25-11-2016, 09:53
Straker
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Are they telling a story here that needs SEVEN hours to be told? Is he losing the plot these days - Glorious 39 was abysmal as well.

His early and mid-period work is untouchable so it's really sad to see him trot out guff like this now.
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Old 25-11-2016, 10:09
anyonefortennis
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The programme, I presume. And sadly, as a longtime Poliakoff fan, I have to agree. I've really tried to go with the flow, but I can't find one. It's all totally fragmented, with two many characters, including some who seem entirely pointless, such as the unconvincing 'American' singer, implausible behaviour (No, don't give me useful information... just take a beating) and ludicrous plot twists (('I vill not work for ze British!' -> Oh, you got my daughter back from your bonkers brother. Ok then.) The acting seems lifeless and 'by numbers', the leads are uninteresting at best (it's crying out for a Timothy Spall, an Olivia Colman), and I can't recall a single standout bit of dialogue in three episodes.

First episodes are often challenging; seconds can be still struggling to really find their feet; but if things haven't come together after three, well...

Hate to say it, but this ain't a patch on vintage Poliakoff, and I'm not sure I can be bothered with it any more.
There seems to be a lot of superfluous characters unnecessary to the storyline. Like the paedophile and Angela Bassetts character. Hopefully it will all come together eventually and make some sense.
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Old 25-11-2016, 10:31
Willpurry
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The programme, I presume. And sadly, as a longtime Poliakoff fan, I have to agree. I've really tried to go with the flow, but I can't find one. It's all totally fragmented, with two many characters, including some who seem entirely pointless, such as the unconvincing 'American' singer, implausible behaviour (No, don't give me useful information... just take a beating) and ludicrous plot twists (('I vill not work for ze British!' -> Oh, you got my daughter back from your bonkers brother. Ok then.) The acting seems lifeless and 'by numbers', the leads are uninteresting at best (it's crying out for a Timothy Spall, an Olivia Colman), and I can't recall a single standout bit of dialogue in three episodes.

First episodes are often challenging; seconds can be still struggling to really find their feet; but if things haven't come together after three, well...

Hate to say it, but this ain't a patch on vintage Poliakoff, and I'm not sure I can be bothered with it any more.
Dieter decided to co-operate in episode 2 - he and his daughter are allowed to head off for the boat train but come back because he realises that Germany has nothing for them. And Angela Bassett IS American, not 'American'.
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Old 25-11-2016, 10:37
harrypalmer
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Last night's episode was actually an improvement.
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Old 25-11-2016, 10:54
PaddyODawes
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Dieter decided to co-operate in episode 2 - he and his daughter are allowed to head off for the boat train but come back because he realises that Germany has nothing for them. And Angela Bassett IS American, not 'American'.
I still find his 180 degree turnaround from his Ep1 intransigence utterly unconvincing. And if that woman really is American, she needs to work on her accent.
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Old 25-11-2016, 17:26
catsitter
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The programme, I presume. And sadly, as a longtime Poliakoff fan, I have to agree. I've really tried to go with the flow, but I can't find one. It's all totally fragmented, with two many characters, including some who seem entirely pointless, such as the unconvincing 'American' singer,
Maybe she will turn out to be an American spy, rather than the friend's wife who we are maybe supposed to suspect of being one?

implausible behaviour (No, don't give me useful information... just take a beating)
this was so we could tell that the hero is a great guy because he acts against child abuse, just like in every period drama nowadays so it seems.

and ludicrous plot twists (('I vill not work for ze British!' -> Oh, you got my daughter back from your bonkers brother. Ok then.)
I was fully expecting it to be revealed that Victor's abduction of Lotte was set up by Callum so that the German guy would be grateful to him for getting her back; disappointed that this didn't happen.

I am still finding Callum's designer stubble so distracting. He just looks so wrong for the 1940's, and his brother does too, just in a different way. Also their accents are completely different from each other, so is one or both of them supposed to be putting on a fake accent the whole time, which I suppose would explain why they sound so false?

When the blonde woman went into Callum's room to tell him something urgently, I thought it was going to be that she was pregnant.

Oh, and while I think of it, does anybody else think that the friend (Alex?) is gay and him being married to the American woman is just a cover? And that is why he keeps throwing her and Callum together? Or was he recruited by the Americans when he was over there, and he is using his wife to get information from Callum?

This programme is so annoying that I am even objecting to his name being Callum as it was an extremely rare name in those days. Maybe I should stop watching.
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