The Gallows Pole - BBC2 - starts 31 May 2023

[IwantToRetire]

I will probably hate this as it is a "modern" telling of an historical story, made by Shane Meadows (This is England) and compared to Peaky Blinders (groan).

But it may turn out to be really interesting!

Just posting in case anyone else might be interested.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mg3k

[iloveautumn3]

Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten it was on tonight.

[TitsInAbsentia]

I'm giving it a shot.

[TitsInAbsentia]

The Resurrection of DaveThe Gallows PoleSeries 1 Episode 1 of 3
West Yorkshire, early 1760s. David Hartley is returning to his family’s remote moor-top dwelling after seven years away in Birmingham.
Gravely wounded and dragging a mysterious bag of tools, he receives help from six mythical stag-men, who let him know that his work on earth isn’t done yet.

Well, if I hadn't known it was Meadows I would certainly have guessed it with Socha and Turgoose being in the cast!

[SerendipityJane]

"Hangman, hangman. Hold it a little while;
I think I see my friends a-coming, riding many a mile ..."

[bellac11]

God I was so looking forward to this

Im sick of historical dramas being played with very modern mannerisms, interactions, tones, wording, language etc.

And whats with the woman with the trousers and mock mohawk

[AnyFucker]

Every other word is “fuck”

[bellac11]

@AnyFucker

Every other word is “fuck”

Its not the swearing thats the problem, people have always sworn

But the method of communication is too modern, its really jarring

The two women talking about the mans dad being dead 'I dont see why I should give him dead dad sympathy' - thats not an expression from those times, its a modern sarcastic type of talking.

[AnyFucker]

Not enjoying it, tbh.

[TitsInAbsentia]

I don't think it's working.
Also, how long were the opening credits!

[ThomasHardyPerennial]

The script is dire.

[Kaftanesque]

I've given up already.Shame as I'm from that area and it's an interesting story.I expected it to be gritty but I'm hating the clunky script.

[duc748]

Was looking forward to this, and intending to dip in shortly, but that looks like a pretty unanimous thumbs-down. 🙁

[HPD76]

@ThomasHardyPerennial

The script is dire.

There is no script, all Shane Meadows stuff is improvised.

[topcat2014]

Watching it because a friend is descended from these 'coiners' but gave up

[ThomasHardyPerennial]

@HPD76

There is no script, all Shane Meadows stuff is improvised.

Eek, and it shows. Moany Daisy from Downton is terrible.

[RoseBucket]

I gave up, it’s like a student production, the acting is dire.

[bellac11]

Im still here to see how awful it is.

It is very awful

[TitsInAbsentia]

@ThomasHardyPerennial

Eek, and it shows. Moany Daisy from Downton is terrible.

Even for improv it's too stilted. I've switched off, got plenty of trash tv to catch up on!

[Gonksmum]

Agree! It was quite slow and tedious. The improv didn't work at all. I love 18th century stuff but not this.

[FancyFanny]

This is terrible!
It's a complete insult to Benjamin Myers' book which is fantastic. It does not capture the spirt of the book at all and I think it should have been disassociated with it as it seems totally different.
I cannot see how they are going to tell the story of the coiners when they haven't even touched on it yet. And the modern Yorkshire language is and multicultural cast is just ridiculous- why can't we have historical drama any more which actually reflects history rather than this dish-mash of historical facts mixed with modern day elements?

For anyone who is interested in the story of the Cragvale coiners- read The Gallows Pole instead. It's a really gritty and atmospheric tale and based on true events which Myers has embellished and complemented with his signature writing style which uses descriptions of the Yorkshire landscape to enhance the tale.

[duc748]

Yeah, half-way through, I hardly feel like carrying on. I see the critics all loved it: the Graun, the Telegraph, the FT...

[214]

Am I the only one here who enjoyed it?! I liked the sweary-ness but then again I work in Customer services so it all felt very normal chat to me!

[DeadbeatYoda]

I gave up after half an hour, it lacked atmosphere, felt stilted, didn't seem to be going anywhere. Won't be bothering with it again.

[Unbridezilla]

Is this based on the Benjamin Myers book of the same name? (I know it's also based on a true story)

[purpleme12]

Ah it's just a different style that's all!
Sure it wasn't amazing but then I didn't go to watch it thinking it would be so I wasn't disappointed. It's watchable so I'll watch the next ones.
It's nice seeing the people from This Is England again.

I don't believe it's supposed to tell the story of the coiners though. I believe it's supposed to be a prelude to the coining thing, taking place before that (and the programme is fiction).