I thoroughly enjoyed this first episode of The Gallows Pole.
We are lead to expect a certain production style in period dramas so I was interested to see how the brooding, claustrophobic atmosphere of the book was translated. (This is a prequel to Ben Myers book) This opening episode set the tone beautifully right from the opening credits, giving us a taste of the hallucinatory, dark and desperate landscape of that time. This was a period of such shocking and fast paced change that it must have felt like a bad dream to small communities like this, so some poetic licence must be granted in conveying this.
The first episode set up the tight knit but struggling community, the wayward hero of David sent back from the brink of death to save his village. The scenes, mostly shot inside the village pub were bawdy (not sure why people are moaning about swearing because I know I've been swearing more lately about the state of this effing country) but this small space filled with family and community united in grief but thrilled by the return of David set the tone brilliantly for the coming episodes.
Great ensemble cast, incredible score, a proper treat.
I can't wait to see what's inside that bag!
We are lead to expect a certain production style in period dramas so I was interested to see how the brooding, claustrophobic atmosphere of the book was translated. (This is a prequel to Ben Myers book) This opening episode set the tone beautifully right from the opening credits, giving us a taste of the hallucinatory, dark and desperate landscape of that time. This was a period of such shocking and fast paced change that it must have felt like a bad dream to small communities like this, so some poetic licence must be granted in conveying this.
The first episode set up the tight knit but struggling community, the wayward hero of David sent back from the brink of death to save his village. The scenes, mostly shot inside the village pub were bawdy (not sure why people are moaning about swearing because I know I've been swearing more lately about the state of this effing country) but this small space filled with family and community united in grief but thrilled by the return of David set the tone brilliantly for the coming episodes.
Great ensemble cast, incredible score, a proper treat.
I can't wait to see what's inside that bag!