This City Is Ours - BBC iPlayer binge watch ie spoiler thread

[IwantToRetire]

Has anyone else watch all episodes of this new crime drama?

I don't usually like family crime dramas, as they are fairly predictable.

I was quite taken with this, but I think for the wrong reason!

What did anyone else think?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028mhs

(There is an existing thread for those who are watching at tv pace and dont want to read any spoilers!)

When I started off I thought oh no, more male beefcake numbskulls being unbearably violent, and for unknown reasons they have loads of loyal female followers and family members pandering to them.

Then quite early on I somehow got the idea that it would end up with all the women easing the men out for being so stuck in their acts vengence and hurt male pride and taking over.

So kept watching.

But I dont think this was what the plot was about!

And unfortunately despite rewinding to listen more that a few times I could not make out what Julie Graham's character said right at the end. I sure it was significant in terms of the moral of the story so rather let down.

Although I think they have set it up to make a second series.

‘This isn’t the last of it, that’s all I’m saying’ is what I heard.

I haven’t finished it yet (so avoided the first 2 posts!) but have watched 4 episodes. No idea how it will end but surely - so far - it’s a version of Macbeth?!

Macbeth??

From an online plot outline, cant see it at all.

No witches.

No power mad wife.

Well have now seen it was "inspired" by Macbeth.

In which case it is a failure.

Would prefer to discuss it on its own merits.

I absolutely loved it and watched all the episodes over Monday and Tuesday. The last one was one of the best endings I have seen on a series, not what I was expecting at all and a proper end to the story. I actually cried through it.
I didn't have trouble with the accents as my best friend is Scouse and I spend lots of time with her.
Well done to the writers and actors, brilliant and don't think anything I have seen recently comes anywhere near it.

When I first watched it, I was a bit meh, thought it was a pound shop Peaky Blinders, but stuck with it, and absolutely loved it. Used to teach Macbeth, and can’t see any similarities. Thought the cast was excellent, loved it.

I think, if subsequent series are played right this has the potential to be Britain’s answer to The Wire

@IwantToRetire Elaine says :

“You know you killed us both, you’re lucky I have a grandchild but know this, I will come to despise you Michael, both of you, this isn’t the last of it, that’s all I am saying”

I just watched the end now and I had subs on

Just finished it this evening. Really enjoyed it. Feel it’s a shame it hasn’t been more heavily advertised as lots of people I’ve been raving to about it hadn’t heard of it!

We switched subtitles on. Incredible show.

Excellent cast, intriguing story and great cinematography! I enjoyed the focus on the women.

That's a high bar to set, but agree it could go on to have interesting story lines as it wasn't all guns and knives but looked a the lives of family and friends.

Though having said it wasn't all violence, quite liked the final scene.

Which shows I sort of get the revenge part. (Will have a quiet talk with myself later tonight!)

Thank you.

So a sort threat of dont think you have got away with this.

Yes, I suppose it was this that made me think maybe the women will join forces and stop the men being well so mennish!

Which in a way I suppose they did. Encouraging each other to take steps they might not have taken.

@IwantToRetire Re : The Wire, I was thinking if it was played like an anthology and reflected different issues in Liverpool each series as well as the drug scene as The Wire did for Maryland, the show title allows for it…..

Yes, Elaine was saying it isn’t over and obviously what Banksey did at the end will have consequences for Michael

Also reminded me of Top Boy.

I agree - that also did a great job of portraying the effects on those close to the gang members and the women in particular.

Binged it over two nights.

I didn’t have a problem understanding what was being said

i loved this series and really got into it and look forward to the next one

Going back to the core(?) of the plot.

Why for Michael was killing Ronnie "necessary".

Was it that Ronnie had a short fuse and so made mistakes.
Was it that he spent too much time covering up for his son at the expense of others.
Was it that he was trying to break the deal with (oops cant remember which SA country it was) that Michael had set up the deals with.
And Michael aspired to that more "sophisticated" way of being a criminal.

By the way, Michael (or the actor) was the main flaw for me.

He wasn't so much acting as endlessly making poses for some fashion shoot.

Michael had to kill Ronnie to get back on top - not only was Ronnie blind to his Son’s shortcomings, he’d also just killed his mate because of it so was not thinking straight. Jamie had also convinced his Dad to possibly cut Michael out and to make him the successor so Michael was potentially losing both the money he had earned (and was tied up) and his status within the organisation. Jamie also wanted his Dad to do a deal with the Albanians which would’ve caused problems with the Amigos.

I thought the actor who played Michael did a great job. Will Sean Bean ever get past two episodes in a series though? 😂

I was curious as to why Diana always wore Green ? Even DH noticed it. I love Julie Graham but she wasn’t quite convincing as a gangsters moll for me - not quite ruthless enough maybe? Someone like Polly Walker would’ve been better suited I think? I loved Laura Aikman as Rachel and I thought Melissa was cast well too. Thought the story arc with Diana and her mum was a great addition.

Overall, loved it. Ending was surprising and I loved that too. Personally if I’d been Michael, I’d have asked for that house in Spain in exchange for walking away. What a gaff!

Michael can’t walk away because like Christopher in the Sopranos, he's a "soldier" and doesn’t know any other way of being. Probably psychopathic too which doesn’t bode well for his relationships. I guess that makes Diana similar to the Adriana character in that she was approached by the police and may eventually "flip" in order to save Michael and their potential family.

I think green really suits her hair colour and skin tone. She wore brown or, might have been dark grey, in one episode and it was noticeable that it didn't suit her so well.

I said exactly that to DH about the Spanish villa!

I do agree about Julie Graham @Netaporter they could have got a Scouse actor in, even if they were an unknown it wouldn’t have mattered

I’m just about to start the final episode - and already wondering what I’ll do with my life once I’ve finished the series.

Really surprisingly excellent. Having slogged my way through the disappointing S3 of Gangs of London I wasn’t really in the mood for more of the same - but this felt very different somehow.

I did guess the ‘Marnie’ twist with Diana and her mother almost from the start - but it was nevertheless affecting and interesting. And actually a valid attempt to comprehend why someone with her outward aspirations would be attracted to Michael.

And the storytelling … The group dance and its terrifying repetition. The absolutely perfect choice of music - some of the best and wittiest juxtapositions I’ve heard on any show. The clothes. The costume designer deserves many prizes. As does every single one of the female cast members.