Lockerbie - Sky Atlantic

[witchycat2]

Is anyone watching this? Stars Colin Firth as Jim Swire.

The first episode was horrifying when they depicted the plane crashing down on Lockerbie. The bodies, the baby, the seats, the woman hanging in a tree... the little boy who went out for a bike ride and then returned to a crater where his house once was. His whole family gone.

I wasn't even born when it happened, but I've read quite a bit about the politics and events that have followed. This may be a controversial 'drama' but it does illustrate the real horrors of that night.

I didn't live far away then. I lived in Burcot.

I don't think I'll watch. I remember it vividly and had a colleague who lost family in it.

We’re going to watch it. We saw the documentary last year with Jim Swire in it and whilst it was hard to watch at times, it was truly fascinating

I think that will be the case with this one too. One amazing man, how the heck he managed to do some of the things he did was just incredible

We stopped at the memorial in Lockerbie last year whilst en route to other places in Scotland. I hadn't realised that bodies literally fell from the sky or were still strapped in their seats. I know I sound awfully macabre but I thought there had been total devastation of the plane and all in it.

I found it a hard watch too, I remember this vividly, I was 22 at the time and travelled up to my parents in Scotland for Christmas 2 days later. I remember seeing the crater and a bit of the plane as we drove past, some motorway lanes were still closed.
I knew Jim Swire was not convinced of al-Megrahis guilt but didn't know they had become friends.

I haven’t got that far in the TV series yet, but one quote from Al-Megrahi has stayed with me. Just before he died, he is reported to have spoke to Jim Swire and said “When I see your daughter in heaven, I will tell her that her father was my friend.”

I thought it was a good drama. Will be interesting to compare it to the BBC one that is due to be aired later this year, especially as it’s a joint production with the US I believe

You hope both of these dramas have a similar impact to the Post Office one and force a wider conversation about what actually happened. The US embassy staff all changing their flight last minute and leaving a half full plane days before Christmas was a massive red flag

I was young when it happened but I remember the trial being on the Scottish news every night. I even passed his convoy on the motorway when he was heading to Glasgow Airport after being released.

This drama and the Sky documentary that was on last year and was very good, does make you wonder if the families have received their full justice. I don’t really know if they have if I am honest

One fact that didn’t come up in the drama but has always stuck with me is that the people of Lockerbie washed and repacked all the clothes from the plane so the families got them back in as good condition as possible once the police had finished their investigation

I visited the memorial a few years ago and remember seeing Flora McDonald Swires name on it. It struck me as a bit of a coincidence as I'd been watching something about Bonnie prince Charlie that week so it stood out to me.

It's only this week with the stories around the documentary that I discovered that Flora (Swire) was named after "that" Flora McDonald as she was a distant ancestor ❤️

I suppose that also ties in with the holiday home on skye.

The people of Lockerbie treated the bodies and belongings with the upmost care. I remember reading of a family who cared for the body of a man still strapped in his seat who fell in their field. They wanted to bring him inside 'so he wouldn't be cold', and kept in touch with his family

I have watched the whole series now and personally feel it was possibly the best drama I have ever watched sadly. Absolutely compelling but heartbreaking.
Interesting that Jim Loach, son of the great Ken Loach, (and has a fine CV himself) is one of the directors.
I can't imagine how playing the part has affected Colin Firth, I can't praise his portrayal enough. All the cast played their parts so well. I hope Jim Swires feels at least he has tried his damnedest to get justice. What an amazingly strong couple and Jane Swires must have had the patience of a saint. Terribly sad scene when they were packing the house up to move.

I'm on episode 4. It's very well done and Colin Firth is superb.

I had no idea that there was a school of thought that al-Megrahi was innocent and that Dr Swire believed it.

Remember it so well. We’re retiring to Scotland and split between two homes atm. Each time we drive by the Lockerbie sign I feel a catch in my throat.

Not sure I can bring myself to watch it.

@MrsSkylerWhite it is very well done give it a go. And good luck with your move.

It's interesting that the real Dr Swire praised the series as being very close to real events but his daughter Catherine has spoken out very much against it. I don't know why as I think her sister Flora and the whole Swire family are portrayed as amazing people and a really lovely family.

I don't think I'll be able to watch it. I was on the same flight 4 days before it happened. As per pps I do hope it spurs some further investigation into who was behind it though, I was unaware about the controversy about the conviction until I saw a doc (possibly Bitter Lake?) that mentioned it tangentially.

I just finished it , Colin was superb. I read an interview with Jim and he said he was really hoping Colin would play him.
I was 14 I don't remember the news but do remember the pictures in the papers, I didn't know the width of the devastation or that people fell from the plane like that till this show though.
It's so sad , and so sad that there is still no public inquiry.
This is one that's going to be in my mind for a very long time

Luddite26 · Today 22:29

it is very well done give it a go. And good luck with your move.

Thank you. Reading through the thread, I’ll steel myself and will.

I've just finished episode 5,I was 18 when it happened but both dh who was 21 and I didn't recall half of what happened. So well done and very informative. Best series I've seen for years.

I remember it happening.

I had to drive by Lockerbie for work not long after it happened. The devastation was like nothing I'd ever seen and never want to see again.

I won't be watching the film.

It was very interesting and there was a lot of information I didn't know. It's awful to think of cover ups and for this to go on for so long. I've started watching the Sky documentary on it, this one is extremely difficult to watch as it's very detailed real footage and the people who lived there and the families being interviewed . Only on the 1st episode of the Sky documentaries and quite a few details in the Sky Atlantic are different to what happened/was said.

Has it popped up on any of the other streaming services yet?

I think it will be a while (if ever) as I'm not sure Sky tends to share their programmes with other services. Maybe look into a free trial or short membership?

It's on Now. Probably the same thing as Sky Atlantic

It's pretty harrowing to watch. I can't imagine those poor souls and families who have had to live through it.

I saw Dr Swires on the TV the other morning and was struck by how eloquent he was.