I will not delve into the politics of the matter, whether it portrays the "true heroes of the WWII" accurately or not.
Instead, I'd rather focus on the production, script and performances on themselves, which have issues enough to put the thumb down on this new series.
*There could be some minor spoilers here* Firstly, I didn't find the plot convincing. The whole relevance of trying to withhold that German scientist is never proved. Why is this particular scientist important? What has he decisively done so far to justify such an array of intelligence, microphones, hotel cover-ups, baby-sitting by a top officer, and the rest.
Then, the way in which the interdepartmental conflicts of interests between War Criminal Court and this particular office are dealt with--- by sending a nice female officer to lovingly beg for access to files instead of following an institutional procedure?? It was a pity to watch.
Then (really?) a golden intelligence officer will share a secret cover operation IN A RESTAURANT to his personal friends, and furthermore, grant them direct access to the scientist and his daughter? (Also, if the main character deliberately removes all the mics in the room, which is the point of keeping the office at the basement whose purpose was to listen to mics? You will find this kind of inconsistency all along, just in the first chapter... ) The performances are rather poor, particularly the girl actress who is is dire need for support and coaching (my apologies for criticising a kid's job), but the rest of the adult cast is just as dull or overstated (Angela Bassett and Freddie Highmore and Alfred Molina, what an array of wasted talent) or stereotyped (the mysterious man who picks up the girl's toy).
The tone is particularly annoying and unconvincing. To be a thriller, there is too much pouting and I-am-smart-and-know-better funny faces and winks, and the little girl cries are a suspense-blaster. To be a comedy, it lacks in humour and gags. To be a drama, it comes short of depth and humanity with its linear, flat characters. The whole thing is portrayed as a trivial, funny light-weight game, while we are supposedly led to believe the operation was a matter of national Priority One security.
I agree with the first reviewer in the fact that there is parade of inconsequential characters whose contribution to the plot seems arbitrary, unnecessary or pure decor to hide the lack of efficiency in the script.
In short, there are holes everywhere and of every kind. In my opinion, Close to the Enemy is a wasted effort and a failed attempt of an espionage thriller which will satisfy only a few.
Instead, I'd rather focus on the production, script and performances on themselves, which have issues enough to put the thumb down on this new series.
*There could be some minor spoilers here* Firstly, I didn't find the plot convincing. The whole relevance of trying to withhold that German scientist is never proved. Why is this particular scientist important? What has he decisively done so far to justify such an array of intelligence, microphones, hotel cover-ups, baby-sitting by a top officer, and the rest.
Then, the way in which the interdepartmental conflicts of interests between War Criminal Court and this particular office are dealt with--- by sending a nice female officer to lovingly beg for access to files instead of following an institutional procedure?? It was a pity to watch.
Then (really?) a golden intelligence officer will share a secret cover operation IN A RESTAURANT to his personal friends, and furthermore, grant them direct access to the scientist and his daughter? (Also, if the main character deliberately removes all the mics in the room, which is the point of keeping the office at the basement whose purpose was to listen to mics? You will find this kind of inconsistency all along, just in the first chapter... ) The performances are rather poor, particularly the girl actress who is is dire need for support and coaching (my apologies for criticising a kid's job), but the rest of the adult cast is just as dull or overstated (Angela Bassett and Freddie Highmore and Alfred Molina, what an array of wasted talent) or stereotyped (the mysterious man who picks up the girl's toy).
The tone is particularly annoying and unconvincing. To be a thriller, there is too much pouting and I-am-smart-and-know-better funny faces and winks, and the little girl cries are a suspense-blaster. To be a comedy, it lacks in humour and gags. To be a drama, it comes short of depth and humanity with its linear, flat characters. The whole thing is portrayed as a trivial, funny light-weight game, while we are supposedly led to believe the operation was a matter of national Priority One security.
I agree with the first reviewer in the fact that there is parade of inconsequential characters whose contribution to the plot seems arbitrary, unnecessary or pure decor to hide the lack of efficiency in the script.
In short, there are holes everywhere and of every kind. In my opinion, Close to the Enemy is a wasted effort and a failed attempt of an espionage thriller which will satisfy only a few.