This Town BBC 1

[Aquarius1234]

This Town starts tonight 9PM bbc 1

I neve really got into peaky blinders but it's the same writer.
Period drama set in the early 80s. Part family drama, part political , part music scene.

I've watched 3 episodes so far and found it really disappointing. Maybe it just wasn't marketed quite right! I'm from the area and was 16 in 1981 so was looking forward to the music and fashion. And haven't got any of that yet.

It's a depressing storyline and I know they were dark times, but there was also an awful lot of humour... and I'm not seeing any of that. Also no mention of Margaret Thatcher! Which seems very strange.

Also contrary to what PP have said, I think Michelle Dockery is totally wrong for the part of Estella. She's meant to be a raging alcoholic but her skin looks perfect. She needs to look way more haggard. And her accent is shocking! I get the feeling they only cast her as they needed 'a name' to advertise the series.

I didn't watch Peaky Blinders as I don't like gangster/violent stuff... this is drifting into that territory so I'll see how it goes... but so far it's just not what I thought it would be.

You’re right @JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn . Her beautiful youthful appearance was totally wrong.

I agree with you @JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn. Also I found her singing at the funeral laughable but not in a good way.

I really don't like the violence- and it's more about the IRA than anything else

And I'm going to be bold and say that I think there's a misunderstanding of skinheads. The original skinhead movement came from Jamaican ska in the late 1960s. The Two-tone fans loved that music (Skinhead Moonstomp, by The Specials, was a cover of an original Jamaican ska song). Those skinheads who love the 1960s Jamaican music are non-racist, non-violent , ska loving and a VERY different bunch to the right wing, nazi Skinheads who later emerged (who were more into hardcore far right punk and Oi bands).
I was hoping This Town might get that ... but not yet.

I think maybe they should have gone the whole hog and set it in Northern Ireland.

But by 1981, how many non-violent, non-racist skinheads were there?

Lots! And they are still a very active movement (the non-racist, non-violent skinheads ) and often completely obsessive about collecting original Trojan vinyl

I suppose that explains why Jeanie is going out with a skinhead, and why Dante doesn’t condemn her for it. It seems odd to me.

This is exactly what I think.

I was so looking forward to seeing all the places I knew, and being reminded of things from the time I was leaving school and all that was going on. The marketing suggested it was going to be about how Two Tone arose out of the anger about unemployment, Margaret Thatcher, and racism.

Instead we get a graphic series about some IRA cell. Nothing to do with what it was said to be about.
So disappointing.

I spent my 20's in Coventry and Birmingham so was drawn to this, just finished it and really enjoyed it although I had to suspend disbelief a couple of times!
It was really beautifully shot and somehow made even all the concrete look good and I was getting a bit nostalgic 😅

I really loved the characters and the story, and have to admit I was sad when it finished as I wanted more.

The music bits were less believable, how did Fiona get so good on the bass so quickly? And although none of them could really play anything at the start they didn't half manage to pull it together at the end out of nowhere!

To those who know the area: was there really a block of flats so close to the motorway?

I thought the same. What a nightmare!

I've finished watching it today & loved it. Took a couple of episodes to get into it but then thoroughly enjoyed it!

Suspension of disbelief gets harder with each episode.

One reason why it’s probably better swallowed all in one go - so you’re swept along without too much time to question the details.

@Teentrauma @CaptainMyCaptain It's not the motorway it's Coventry Ring Road. Yes it is that close.

Thank you. How can anybody possibly live with the noise, the lights and the pollution? Terrible.

@CaptainMyCaptain it's very near to the city centre so it is very noisy. Some of the blocks there are empty now. I suppose you get used to it.

I suppose blackout curtains would help. And double glazing if the council put that in.

I've only just started watching but I was at secondary school in Cov in the early 80s (though younger). There was a huge Catholic church near us with Irish dancing competitions, my friend's family who were Irish had 7 children, three beds, boys in one girls in the other.
I haven't recognised any of the locations yet (though I started out thinking the farm scenes were in NI, they were probably nearer my home in Warks).
I remember being evacuated from school and from town, we used to go into town after school to buy tights for 49p. I can't think how worried our parents must have been, or maybe they just took it in their stride because it was the same everywhere and you had to let your children grow up?

I was just thinking his delivery is very monotone.

Didn't understand the family relationship that meant Dante and Bradon had the same grandmother. And after all the build up and hype, the band were shit . Not ska or Two Tone at all.Fancy being in a band with your alcoholic mother . Smacks of The Commitments which at least had decent music and real social commentary in an entertaining way .

Their mums were sisters.

The happy ending seemed inappropriate.