The Gallows Pole

Oh dear. I'd planned to watch this. Doesn't sound great.

I put it on half way through, and plan to watch it again from the beginning, as I loved the dialogue (I'm not sure what the plot is, but I will catch up with that on iPlayer). I turned it off before the end, as I'd like to see it throughout without it being spoilt by knowing what's going to happen.

It's odd, as the language and manners are very modern, although the action is set in 1760ish, but that's obviously deliberate, to make the characters relatable, and it gives a certain comedy value. It's very Shane Meadows, which is always fine by me. There is a good cast, too.

We don’t generally watch period drama, but gave it a go, after fifteen minutes we gave up.

I stuck with it (despite the bad lighting in lots of scenes) and really enjoyed the modern dialogue. Particularly enjoyed the conversation between Grace and David in a later scene. Think it's worth a look.

Switched it off.

Loved the strong and mysterious introduction. Thought it was going to evolve/explode into a dynamic drama but after fifteen minutes turned over, Acting, camera work, lighting, costumes, all brilliant but too slow and too art house for my tastes.

I started watching but then thought: there’s too much good stuff to watch and not waste my time on this.

Living in the Calder Valley I have enjoyed all the amazing series filmed here, happy valley, last tango In Halifax and gentlemen Jack. I know the story of the coiners well, the graves at Heptonstall churchyard and I regularly walk on the moors past the coiners house in the tops. I wasn’t keen on the book but excited about the prospect of a tv version. I was disappointed, the language anachronisms and the swearing quite put me off and I didn’t watch more than half of the episode.
Having now read several newspaper reviews and many comments I have now downloaded all 3 episodes to watch on a flight next week and will try to engage fully with the story.
These 3 episodes are apparently a prequel to the book and how these guys nearly brought down the economy.
If you wander the valleys and moors of the Calder Valley it is possible to see the architectural history of this period hidden in the undergrowth. Remains of small mills and isolated derelict houses. It must have been a harsh life indeed.

After yawning through the first 20 minutes - I changed channels !

I watched it last night but it was SO slow it felt like filler to extend the length of each episode.

The acting was good but the mix of old and new speech and styles was strange.

It was like the actors made up their lines as they went along, if so this proves that scriptwriters need a pay rise (they are worth it).

granfromafar

I stuck with it (despite the bad lighting in lots of scenes) and really enjoyed the modern dialogue. Particularly enjoyed the conversation between Grace and David in a later scene. Think it's worth a look.

Is that the one where she was asking him if he had a wife? That reminded me of Smell talking to Shaun in This Is England .

I loved TIE, and if the characters in this one shape up to be anywhere near as rounded and 'human' as in that it will be excellent.

It was like the actors made up their lines as they went along

They probably do improvise up to a point. That's a Meadows thing, and it often works really well, as the actors know how they are playing their roles, and how their characters would react. Also, it keeps the dialect real.

It is supposed to be a comedy and gets funnier. Not to be taken as a traditional costume drama. Think Peaky Blinders.

Boz

It is supposed to be a comedy and gets funnier. Not to be taken as a traditional costume drama. Think Peaky Blinders.

Pesky Blinders was full of action from the start. Wouldn’t have had it down as a comedy. 🤔

And if this is a comedy my sense of humour has taken a turn for the worse.

I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue. It was so unexpected, given the costumes and setting. I am looking forward to a proper binge of all of it.

Doodledog

granfromafar

I stuck with it (despite the bad lighting in lots of scenes) and really enjoyed the modern dialogue. Particularly enjoyed the conversation between Grace and David in a later scene. Think it's worth a look.

Is that the one where she was asking him if he had a wife? That reminded me of Smell talking to Shaun in This Is England .

I loved TIE, and if the characters in this one shape up to be anywhere near as rounded and 'human' as in that it will be excellent.

Yes!
I know there was lots of swearing but still enjoyed it. Interesting to read MisssChateline's about the area.

I need to watch it properly. I started watching it last night but gave up because I had an early start this morning. Music is by one of my favourite bands GOAT so I’m expecting it to be weird. I might struggle with it because I gave up on Peterloo which it reminded me of.

Boz

It is supposed to be a comedy and gets funnier. Not to be taken as a traditional costume drama. Think Peaky Blinders.

Comedy is somewhat subjective. I thought it was very funny but my DH sat there stony-faced. If you closed your eyes and listened you were bang-up to modern-day street language, which worked for me.

I watched the first part and was no wiser at the end of it. Probably won't bother with the rest.

A real load of old tosh 👎

I agree. It was slow and my DHis a bit deaf so couldn't understand what the actors were saying, their accents were so thick. We switched over and probably won't revisit.

But at least we know he was In Birmingham!

I loved it! Like watching a stage play.

I tried with this one but gave up half way through with the thought that life is too short for this tosh!