Time (TV Series 2021– ) Poster

(2021– )

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9/10
Harrowing!!
seanthethatcher6 June 2021
I'm going straight!! Best deterrent I've seen. Stella performances from Sean Bean and Stephen Graham.
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8/10
Gripping prison story and British TV Drama at its very best
JRB-NorthernSoul6 June 2021
You know what you're getting with writer Jimmy McGovern, he's been producing top class drama rooted in Northern working class communities for decades and his writing's always acutely observed and from the heart.

Genuinely think this is one of his best ever dramas up there with Hillsborough. With the combined acting talents of Stephen Graham and Sean Bean paired in the lead roles and a superb supporting cast the script didn't put a foot wrong and the production values were perfect across the board. The score by Sarah Warne was wonderful too.

It's an utterly believable, intelligent and truly moving drama that gets to the heart of what's wrong with our outdated, broken prison system.

Loved it, moved me to tears.. Well done to the whole production team - you smashed it. Don't miss it whatever you do.

The second series with the same format but set in a women's prison is just as raw and moving and pulls no punches. Recommend it just as much, has a great ensemble cast and a brilliant script again, this time written by Jimmy McGovern and Helen Black. Hard but essential viewing.
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9/10
It's a rollercoaster ride from the very first minute, one you will not regret buying a ticket for!
danielluck-023097 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
****Spoilers****

As someone who has been to prison three times I feel I'm in a good position to review this. My father died 15 days before I was incarcerated, so I felt Mark's pain when he was refused access to his father's funeral, I did, however fortunately go to his funeral as it was arranged quickly.

The realism shown in this was superlative, there were only a couple of incidences that I felt weren't true to life inside prison. The actor was flawless on all counts, and the characters were much akin to those found in your typical English prison. Many of the situations shown in this drama I experienced myself, so I know it happens. They must have consulted an ex-con or prison officer when writing this as it's nigh on spot on.

This will tear at your heart strings and make you question your own morality, and make you ask such questions as "Would I do that for my son?' or "How would I react in that situation?"

It's a rollercoaster ride from the very first minute, one you will not regret buying a ticket for.
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10/10
Gut wrenching
danielbellamy-580598 June 2021
Often difficult to watch, but nonetheless an absolute triumph that demonstrates the very best of British drama. Sean Bean and Stephen Graham demonstrate why they are two of the most respected names in the industry today with absolutely stellar performances and never let up for a second. When I went into Time I was expecting something utterly hopeless and bleak, but there's just enough light in the darkness to keep you hopeful. A character study done to a perfection, with every theme, nuance and character nailed to a T. I cannot recommend this enough.
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10/10
High Quality Drama
daviddunn-906537 June 2021
This is an engrossing watch, drama at it's finest. You wouldn't expect anything less from a production that features Stephen Graham and Sean Bean.
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10/10
Wonderful drama.
Sleepin_Dragon2 July 2021
This is a quite wonderful three part series from the BBC, and the pen and experience of Jimmy McGovern.

I can't lie, I've not been expecting The BBC to deliver something of this quality, it seems some time, however, credit where it's due, this is a tremendous watch.

The story has a harsh, but truthful reality, I found myself googling certain things, such as if prisoners actually have kettles in their cells, and the effects of sugar in boiling water, so many things were proven to be accurate.

A few people I'd spoken to said that they were put off by the violence of the first episode, and it is a bit grim, however if you dislike such events, once you get past episode one, there are fewer such things.

The acting was sensational, Sean Bean and Stephen Graham are both due awards for this, Aneurin Barnard steals the first episode.

A terrific series, all involved did an amazing job, 10/10.
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10/10
Brilliant
mwarner-668688 June 2021
My wife suggested this last night.....I binged it in one hit and will happily say it's one of the best dramas I have ever seen

Perfect on every level and should be shown to every teenager who thinks prison would be a breeze.....I would last 1 day inside.
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9/10
Gritty, honest, compelling watching
PeteThePrimate6 June 2021
We watched all 3 episodes back to back tonight. Very well written, realistic acting and a very good storyline. Sean Bean and Stephen Graham are excellent as are all the cast. The ending is honest, nothing felt rushed and there was a hint of atonement at the end. Ignore the 1 star review that implies we're small minded if we enjoy it (Funny it being written by someone who admits they don't get Shakespeare). Make your own mind up. My only plot quibble is that the female chaplin walked around the main wing without any hint of protection from the guards. That didn't seem right or believable.
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10/10
Excellent first installment
benmcgrath-851706 June 2021
What an amazing first episode. I get despondent with some television dramas I watch nowadays. They try to be glamorous overly clever, gimmicky or are designed as a showcase for the actors. This was hard hitting totally believable compelling and acted directed and edited to perfection. I cannot see this straying into melodrama and if the remaining 2 episodes are as good as this opener then it will be up there with Jimmy McGovern's best such as Cracker, Hillsborough, The Lakes and The Street. This is the first review I've written and the reason is because I just read a review that gave it 1 / 10 calling the writing weak. It's not.
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7/10
A hard watch, but worth it
The start of this 3 part series is particularly gruelling and you may be tempted to stop watching, but if you keep going you will be rewarded by a brilliant piece of drama and fine acting.
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10/10
truly excellent
blanche-26 September 2021
Sean Bean and Stephen Graham star in "Time," about a prison guard (Graham) and a prisoner.

Bean is Mark Cobden, an alcoholic who, while driving drunk, killed a man. He has been sentenced to four years in prison. Graham is Eric McNally, a decent man, who is one of the prison guards. His son is in another prison, I think for drugs.

Both men must face the horrors of prison, each in his own way. Cobden, a former teacher, has to learn to stand up for himself or be destroyed by the thug prisoners - and he nearly is. McNally has to decide if he can go against his principles as his son is being threatened in the other prison. He either cooperates and do what the prisoners in his own prison want, or his son will be harmed. It's a gut-wrenching decision.

This is a story about guilt, atonement, survival, and facing demons. Both actors deliver magnificent performances, helped by a great script by Jimmy McGovern.

One thing that's clear: the prison system is a mess, run by the residents and offering little in the way of rehabilitation. Highly recommended.
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7/10
A Good Intense Show
alindsayal23 December 2021
Last Sunday BBC came out with Time, a new drama that is 3 episodes long and I have watched all three episodes and here is my review for it. The premise of the series sees a man convicted to prison where he is looked after by a police officer who cares about his inmates.

Main Character Sean Bean and Stephen Graham play the two leads here and they are both fantastic. Firstly Bean, he feels like a normal guy put in this terrible situation because of one thing that he did and he sells that brilliantly. You see the real criminals in this show and the ones with no remorse so it shows him in a light where you do care and see despite his flaws he is a good person. The same can be said for Graham's character, he is an honest officer that is trying to help the prisoners survive and at least stay human. But he has his flaws and is put in a difficult situation and Graham sells it as well as you would expect because he is a brilliant actor. These two are now juggernauts of the screen and it is great to see them on screen though I do wish they did more together.

Supporting Characters The rest of the cast are definitely secondary, Brian McCardie who played Tommy Hunter on Line Of Duty has a role here and he plays the character you would expect, I think he could probably do it in his sleep. Siobhan Finnerman plays a pastor that helps the inmates and she is good in her role as a likeable support network for these people who need it for different reasons. The rest of the cast are also pretty good in their roles and fit the parts of the show that they need too.

Story The story is effective, it is interesting to see this average man trying to get through prison and live day by day. While this police officer is put in an uncomfortable position that shows how good people can be affected by this world. It brings up plenty of emotion and real world situations that can be difficult to watch and grasp. But this show also has a bit of a disconnect, the two main stories feel pretty separate and I feel like especially Graham's story gets a lack of detail put into it. With the show being more realistic, it also made the pace a bit slow and it took me at least the second episode to get into it.

Script The script is very real, the drama is real and effective. You see the pain and anguish that goes on in the prison mixed with some anger from the prisoners. But maybe its a bit too real, there is little to surprise, no little quirks of humour and just a lack of humanity overall to the feel of the characters.

Style The show has some intense scenes that you would expect from a show set in a prison. It does an effective job in detailing the life of Bean's character in particular and how he tries to survive while keeping his moral compass. The show is only 3 episodes long and that is a good thing, it never outstays its welcome but it is a bit pondering and slow, especially in that first episode for me. Like a lot of shows there are elements of the show that I thought were needed and some that weren't and that affected the overall pace of the show.

Overall Overall, Time is a good show. I have seen rave reviews for this show but I don't think it is that good, if you like either of the two main actors then you will see enough you like and think this was a decent three hour show.

Rating - 7/10.
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Undeniably Moving at Every Moment
KieranSaosk17 June 2021
Time is gut-wrenching at every opportunity, though restrains itself from ever doing anything for shock value. In what feels like a truly genuine look at prison-life, there's the perfect balance between hope and despair, displaying amazingly written characters with depth and a realness as opposed to over-the-top dramatisation. I'd prefer if the writers hadn't piloted the show with formulaic storytelling, though admittedly, it never for a moment undermines just how powerful the story is from start to finish.
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4/10
Season 2 is just a mediocre propaganda for UK government
anilbozbiyik14 November 2023
Season 1 was brilliant. Season 2, though, is just a pure propaganda piece for the UK government from the newly tamed BBC about how great and cozy the prison system is even though all those miscreants who don't deserve it. PURE PROPAGANDA. I gave the first season a very high vote. And then I watched the second season. And the whole thing has completely changed. The only common denominator was that they both take place in prisons. Probably, I am guessing here, the original work was only for one season because it can't possibly by the same person who wrote both. Second season is not a character study. It is not even a drama. It is just an adview about a fantasyland prison where everything is brilliant, except the inmates that is. Come on... You even killed the BBC.
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10/10
Wow and wow.
brettsimongould8 June 2021
Amazing.

Actors were superb, especially Sean Bean.

Well written with good pacing.

Directed with excellence.

Sound was great, for once, (by the bbc).

Made a night of crap tv into omg this was an amazing TV night of viewing.

BBC doing what it does best, gritty no BS dramas.
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8/10
Rule of law
paul2001sw-123 June 2021
Jimmy McGovern's 'Time' is a harrowing prison drama, where the worst punishment is the rule of the prisoners themselves. Compared with recent documentaries I have watched, it actually slightly underplays the drug-fuelled madness of prison life; but it gets the horror exactly, laced in with the writer's Catholic sensibilities about guilt and redemption. Sean Bean and Stephen Graham are predictably excellent as prisoner and guard.
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10/10
Phenomenal 3 part series
lukerandall7 June 2021
This 3 part series shows you the ins and outs of prison and how one split second mistake can cost you one of the most important things in life "Time".

Sean Beans performance is outstanding as a former teacher turned alcoholic sentenced to prison after a hit and run.

Stephen Graham I believe is one of the most underrated British actors ever and once again he hit it out of the park!

10/10 highly recommend.
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9/10
Great cast, great drama.
sharttv6 June 2021
Written by Jimmy McGovern so it's not going to give you that warm happy feeling inside. First episode is excellent tv and straight away I feel I'm beginning my prison sentence with the main character, Mark (Sean Bean).

The cast of characters looks great and acting is top notch. Looking forward to the remaining episodes. Solid 9 so far.
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10/10
Stunning. Compelling viewing, beautifully acted, thought provoking,
ngt-737997 June 2021
No spoiler to say it's more about the prison system than one individual. Others will know more about it than me (as I've never served time!) but I found it a drama of the highest order. I hardly ever rate anything 10, but there has to be the odd exception. The writing and acting are all top notch. It's one of those programs that will stick in the mind for a while - unlike so many formulaic dramas or stories that we see nowadays.
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10/10
Sean Bean & Stephen Graham's deliver career defining roles. The script shines!
foxed997 June 2021
Jimmy McGovern's phenomenal script writing skills come to the fore - yet again.

How? Well its less is more here.

Instead of padding out the dialogue with redundant trite or incredible BS that delivers nothing.

He focused instead on character development & very heavily on the eyes, as a medium of expression.

The challenge with focusing in & using the eyes as a vehicle of extensive communication and non-verbal dialogue and inference is that it MANDATES actors of experience & the highest calibre.

Sean Bean and Stephen Graham deliver career defining performances. The ensemble also sparkles when the spotlights hit them, but its clear they are there to help set the stage & context for Bean & Graham. And rightly so.

This is my pick of British TV for 2021, in the year, to date. :)
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7/10
Great
rajashakaziz8 June 2021
Found this drama brilliantly written and filmed. The mental state of the prisoner and the officers. Some people may find it too difficult to watch.
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10/10
Just when I thought I couldn't have any more respect for Jimmy McGovern
bronaghbop7 June 2021
The *prison is just a holiday camp, lock em up and throw away the key* brigade need to watch this. It's a hellhole full of people with limited life choices, mental health problems and violence. Sean Bean as the 50 something alcoholic school teacher who could not be more ill equipped or more wracked with remorse and Stephen Graham, a decent prison officer with an unblemished record, trapped within the system as surely as any of the prisoners under his care, are both beyond brilliant. Astonishing performances, even from them. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

.
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7/10
Having done time myself....
kristhebass8 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I can point out glaring errors.

1. Prisoners are sent to an assessment centre first to decide what kind of prison they would be sent to, he would probably end up in an open prison.

2. He would never be put in with violent criminals, he isn't one, he caused death by dangerous driving.

3. Any prisoner with a record of self harm would never, repeat never be given sharp objects of any kind.

Having said that, I have only seen episode one, other low scoring reviews have said it is too slow and short. Doing time is slow and boring, the idea of stretching this any further is absurd.

So the acting is fine, both SB and SG are faultless, Bean is out of character as you usually plays the hard man, maybe he's getting to old for that, it shows in his face but he does a good job of the mild mannered teacher.

Obviously someone on the staff is providing information on the officers son, how else would the threatening inmate know he had been moved when he is in solitary?

I will wait to see how the story progresses.
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Brilliant, visceral watch
RedMars201710 June 2021
The two leads are on top of their game, but supporting Bean and Graham is an outstanding cast. Excellence all round. The icing on the cake is the brilliant script from Jimmy McGovern. It motors along at a terrific speed. It's the most realistic prison drama since Scum. Hard to watch, but manages to humanise people who previous dramas would have made into monsters.
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3/10
Waste of Potential
connorwburnett23 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Time is a thriller/drama 3 part series depicting a prison inmate and prison guard's experiences in the prison setting.

Let me get this started by saying my opinion on "Time" is drastically different to the general public's. I honestly can't understand how this series is getting such critical acclaim. However, make sure to watch it for yourself before reading this review to gauge your own opinion, I will be exploring spoiler territory so read at your own risk.

I watched "Time" across a span of three days (one episode a night) and in my experience each episode dropped in quality from the previous. I must say that I loved the first episode. The levels of suspense and tension were handled expertly. It really gave this series some great foundations which, unsurprisingly gave me high hopes for the following two parts.

When watching the second the problems began to sprout up, it was paced far slower than the previous although overall it was still an entertaining watch. It was only when I watched the final part where the cracks began to show and the entire series utterly fell apart.

I have to admit that my expectations were rather high for this finale, primarily due to the quality of the previous two parts. I was expecting an ending to really throw me off my seat, but instead I watched one of the most predictable, boring resolutions possible. Even before I watched the episode I had the sneaking feeling something was going to collapse - by the end of the second part there was a ridiculous number of character arcs and mini-stories within the main stories which would have to be tied up well for a satisfying conclusion. And this is where I think "Time's" biggest problem lies, and that problem is that they didn't have enough time. This shouldn't have been a 3 part series. The writers attempted far too much for their limited (3 hours) worth of screen time. I think a 5 or 6 part series would be far more suitable - allowing enough time to flesh out the character relationships to make the ending far more powerful.

This is the second problem - the ending has no weight because we know far too little about the character's. This issue is most apparent with the death of Mark's (Sean Bean) dad. I simply didn't care as we knew nothing about this character or his relationship with Mark. So much of the final episode is spent on this funeral and the fact that it had no emotional weight whatsoever clearly shows how much time was wasted.

Don't let me get started on part 3's final scene, I was absolutely astounded by how awful it was. When he reveals what he wrote in his letter to the woman I was getting ready for some huge emotional pay off to round off the ending. Instead we were delivered something so comical that at the time I couldn't believe my eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry". Seriously! He's an English teacher and this is the best he could come up with. In full honesty I wasn't sure if I was supposed to laugh here or not - a terrible moment rounding off a terrible ending.

Overall, it saddens me to admit that Time was full of wasted potential. I would not recommend Time to anyone for any other reason than to discuss all its shortcomings and laugh at it. This shouldn't have been called Time, it should have been called a Waste of Time.
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