Manhattan - tv series both on Drama channel and Pluto Plus

[IwantToRetire]

I cam across this by chance and thought it might be a bit cheesy, ie not a difficult watch with a bit of history thrown in.

But have found it quite watchable and some nod towards life isn't always nice.

Turns out the Guardian thinks it should have had more attention

Before Oppenheimer, there was Manhattan: this underrated drama is a must-see
Most of the characters are not real but loosely drawn from real-world counterparts; the only two actual scientists to pop up in the show are J Robert Oppenheimer and Niels Bohr. General Groves, played by Matt Damon in Oppenheimer, is only sometimes referenced.
Manhattan instead tells the story of life on “the hill”: those working and living in the secretive Los Alamos compound. It’s a rich tapestry of the triumphs and failures of the teams charged with creating a superweapon to stop the deranged dictator laying waste to Europe.
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/aug/09/tv-series-like-oppenheimer-manhattan-where-to-watch-stan

Watch online or catch up

https://uktvplay.co.uk/shows/manhattan/watch-online

https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/series/65116b13a61c2a001b4d115e/details

Have just finished series 1 and thought towards the end it got a bit over the top in turns of plot twists and suspect they were written more to try and ensure a 2nd series, which they got.

But found it quite interesting, but wonder if the US authorities really behaved like that, even allowing for it being the war. But given what happened a few years later in the McCarthy era maybe they did.

Also, although I am not an expert, thought the costumes looked much more authentic for the period, than some recent dramas where you get war time clothing with a 21st Century spin!

I thought Rachel Brosnahan (who I wasn't really aware of but in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) very good reflecting the change her new life had on her.

Also Olivia Coleman who I haven't seen in much lately.

So just to say have now finished series 2 and as I feared they seem to come up with more and more bizarre plot lines, maybe hoping they would persuade the original streaming company they should have another series.

Which is a shame because if they had stuck with the main story line they could still have raised the issues like for instance, how did those making the bomb feel about its potential to kill thousands and thousands of innocent civilians. Rather than strange sub plots about were communist spies really communist spies or double agents planted by the CIA.

Just thought I would add this, in case anyone comes across this thread!