SPOILERS Ever since the middle ages, Ireland has been an enormous problem for the English. In 2003's brilliant "Loyalty", the Irish play a key part in the adventures of the newly promoted Captain Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd). The story, well written and with a superb cast, is a return to form for a series which had dipped slightly in recent episodes.
The English and the French are at peace. Living on half pay, Hornblower is far from happy with the world. Staying at the lodgings of Mrs Mason (Barbara Flynn) and her daughter Maria (Julia Sawalha), Hornblower is relieved when he is sent on an important mission to France. Now, with a suspicious Frenchman on board (Greg Wise), Hornblower is under pressure from ineptitude and deception as plans start to go wrong.
Ioan Gruffudd has made a lifelong name for himself as the enigmatic Hornblower. Acting magnificently he has made the part his own and thrives on it.
Gruffudd is helped however by a fine supporting cast led by Robert Lindsay, Paul Copley and Sean Gilder. All three supporting actors have been in the series from the first episode, and continue to play characters that the audience has a genuine affection for.
The true beauty of this episode however is it's scripting. Well converted from the books into the programme by writer Niall Leonard, the story is absorbing and entertaining from the start.
On a television budget, this episode does demonstrate a distinctly lower key form of special effects. Whilst the sets and the boat are constantly well made, scenes involving multiple ships and and scenery have an intensely artificial look. One scene involving a view of a French boat from the deck in particular smacks of being filmed on a Green backdrop. Still, for all it's technical flaws, the gritty realism is enough to appease it.
This seventh and second to last episode in the Hornblower series is a worthy addition to the collection and a vast improvement on the previous episode. Well written and acted, it is entertaining and imaginative and once more they have us hooked. Well worth a watch.
The English and the French are at peace. Living on half pay, Hornblower is far from happy with the world. Staying at the lodgings of Mrs Mason (Barbara Flynn) and her daughter Maria (Julia Sawalha), Hornblower is relieved when he is sent on an important mission to France. Now, with a suspicious Frenchman on board (Greg Wise), Hornblower is under pressure from ineptitude and deception as plans start to go wrong.
Ioan Gruffudd has made a lifelong name for himself as the enigmatic Hornblower. Acting magnificently he has made the part his own and thrives on it.
Gruffudd is helped however by a fine supporting cast led by Robert Lindsay, Paul Copley and Sean Gilder. All three supporting actors have been in the series from the first episode, and continue to play characters that the audience has a genuine affection for.
The true beauty of this episode however is it's scripting. Well converted from the books into the programme by writer Niall Leonard, the story is absorbing and entertaining from the start.
On a television budget, this episode does demonstrate a distinctly lower key form of special effects. Whilst the sets and the boat are constantly well made, scenes involving multiple ships and and scenery have an intensely artificial look. One scene involving a view of a French boat from the deck in particular smacks of being filmed on a Green backdrop. Still, for all it's technical flaws, the gritty realism is enough to appease it.
This seventh and second to last episode in the Hornblower series is a worthy addition to the collection and a vast improvement on the previous episode. Well written and acted, it is entertaining and imaginative and once more they have us hooked. Well worth a watch.