MovieChat Forums > Silk (2011) Discussion > Righty ho! Must be said: Excellent -

Righty ho! Must be said: Excellent -

posted 14 years ago by rafaea
17 replies | jump to latest

I just had to come on here to say congratulations to the makers of Silk. I so enjoyed this programme!

I watched the first episode last night and just like a great big old fan-lady came to this board to enjoy the excited and positive comments that I just KNEW people would be posting. Well knock me down with a feather if there wasn't a deathly hush and no postings whatsoever.

I resisted the temptation to post my 'Hurrah' for most of today but of course I cracked. This is great TV: a very entertaining, provoking and involving legal/court drama. It has enjoyable, effective performances - Maxine Peake does her job extremely well, as ever. (It was a bit odd, though, to see Rupert PJ playing a COMPLETE ass.)

Everybody - watch it immediately!

[–] Casino-Royale 14 years ago

Totally agree, this was first class TV - really looking forward to the rest of the series although I do hope the Rush character is not going to be the ongoing saga throughout.
Neil Stuke was his usual brilliant self as was Maxine Peake.

[–] hillrosemary 14 years ago

I enjoyed it too. Rafaea, and I think it has a lot of potential. Nice to see someone welcoming the first episode of a new series without nitpicking it to death, too.

I gather Rupert Penry-Jones broke his leg playing in a charity football match around the start of shooting and had to film episode 2 on crutches. Hence the fall down the stairs in episode 1, I presume. Bet that gave the poor writers a headache!

[–] janey187 14 years ago

I agree with you totally. Excellent first episode - fast-moving, well-drawn characters, good actors and a convincing storyline. I wasn't too sure whether I would like it or not when I read about it in the TV Times, but it drew me in from the start which is unusual; it can take me a while to get to like a programme and I've been put off by slow starts.

Well done BBC for Silk - I hope the forthcoming episodes are as good as the first.

Actually that's two excellent new series this week - Silk and South Riding. Impressive!

Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.

[–] fred-889 14 years ago

Very good programme, indeed. It was taught, well written, very well acted and pretty exciting. Yes, a touch predictable, but engaging enough for one to forget that the DNA finale to the episode was slightly over-foreshadowed.

BUT, after watching some North Square, I can't help but wish this was more like that. I'm happy that Silk is set in London, but I'd rather it had the sort of edge and bite that North Square did. Perhaps if it were on BBC2 or 4, or Channel 4, then it would be slightly sharper; as BBC1 does have quite a Middle-England audience.

Anyway, shan't deride a drama which I enjoyed so much; can't wait for it this evening.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] oakcourt 14 years ago

Must agree about RPJ I prefer him playing a pompous t....!

[–] Headblade 14 years ago

Though it is very watchable, I can't help but think it's an inferior North Square. The cancellation of North Square after such a short one series still sticks in my craw, so a new series a long the same lines is appreciated. But outside Maxine Peake the cast is not as good. This is clearest when comparing Neil Stuke to Philip Davis. Stuke's character seems to be a very close copy of Davis's. It's a larger than life character and Davis nailed it.

Three episodes in and there doesn't seem to be much character development outside of Martha and Nick. We have a small insight into Clive & Niamh and the scheming of Kate is starting to come through. But only the character of Martha grabs you, making it feel like a show about this role and everyone else is a supporting role.

North Square snatched you up and plunged you into the middle of organised chaos of a much more ensemble cast.

I can only hope that Peter Moffat will reach back and remember what he put into North Square and inject it into this. The quicker they flesh out some of the other characters the sooner the comparison will be more favourable!

Against regional coding, US websites blocked in UK & staggered global broadcasts!

[–] fred-889 14 years ago

I agree with you fully. But I simply think it's down to an issue of North Square being on Channel 4 and Silk BBC1. Even if this were commissioned for BBC2, let alone C4, it would be a more dynamic drama. Whilst Silk is certainly high quality, it remains too simplistic, goodies and baddies too obviously lined up, which I think is in part, thanks to the audience BBC1 play to.

[–] Kaya7 14 years ago

Well while I, and everyone else it seemed, loved North Square. Silk is in many ways just a show in teh same vein. But the Billy character is more realistic than Phil davis' who while brilliant was OTT. Also the characters are all just that bit more human. Martha is the main character but I can see some other the others coming to light more as the series progresses. We have yet to se more of Clive and Billy.

[–] Lady_Imrahil 14 years ago

Australian viewer who is getting her Silk off the internet. And LOVING it! It is so refreshing to see the British legal system at work. I think I know the American system inside out, I've watched so many American law drama shows, but I know VERY little about my own Australian system! Simply because there are rarely Australian legal dramas. Our system is more like the British one - our guys wear the funny wigs and cloaks too! - so I'm really enjoying seeing this side of it. VERY interesting, and great acting as well.

Cheers,
Lady Imrahil

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[–] JakeH20 14 years ago

I loved this show; great performances all around. I was unaware of the previous show as I didn't live in the UK 10years ago. Is it available to buy on DVD?

[–] fred-889 14 years ago

No. It was so unpopular that there are no plans to put it onto DVD. Absolute rubbish. So, one can only watch it on Channel Four on Demand, but only in Britain.

[–] maudie_ruth121 13 years ago

Just stopped by the Silk board after watching "North Square" to see if anyone else had noticed the similarities between the two. Very glad that the powers-that-be decied to release "North Square" on DVD.

[–] TheLittleSongbird 14 years ago

I agree. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and consider it one of my favourite TV programmes so far this year.

"Life after death is as improbable as sex after marriage"- Madeline Kahn(CLUE, 1985)

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[–] Denise_Harrison 11 years ago

I just finished watching season 1 here in the U.S. I agree. Bravo! The season did such a nice build-up, each episode better than the previous. The last was brilliant.

I can't wait to see the next seasons!