Customer Reviews

This is the whole point of the BBC - to inform, educate and entertain - By: anglo-frenchie, 21 Nov 2008
When people now wonder where the BBC is going & what happens to the licence feein a world of millions of satellite & cable channels (most of which are rubbish) let it be said that this series is the epitome of what the BBC stands for. It is supposed to inform, educate & entertain. This series does all three magnificently. The concept, the scripting, the casting, the producing, the editing - all of it is brilliant from start to finish. Another reviewer, Rob of South Shields (a Newcastle suburb) notes he grew up later than the periodin which this is set - but I was a child at that timein that very same Newcastle. The emotion is all so real that it is like being punchedin the stomach - the corruption, the infighting & everything that grew out of it.

When the BBC produces its most superlative work, as here, no other broadcasterin the world can touch it.

Now consider,in the light of the recent scandal of imbecilic presenters ringing up & insulting an actor. One of those presenters is paidin a year almost what this whole series cost to make. (At the time there were raised eyebrows at how much of BBC 2's drama budget had gone on just one production.)

The presentersin question are grotesquely overpaid.

The millions which went into Our Friendsin the North,in contast, were money exceptionally well spent.

For people who lived through the erain question, who relate to the political world & the community around them as we all should, & who also know Newcastle upon Tyne & the peculiar socio-political history of the Northeast, this is far more than a play & far more than television. It is not escapism but life itselfin the most tangible sense.

Much televisionin recent years is junk.

This, on the other hand, while painfully raw & brutally true to lifein parts, is the best of the best, written by the best, starring the best & broadcast by the best. Would that the BBC never ever strayed from this path.

Do yourself a favour - buy it, watch it - and,in due course, watch it again. Then please post your own review.

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Very, very good TV! - By: Jose Alves, 11 Oct 2007
Brilliant drama! Pity it has no English subtitles. Sometimes, the accent from Newcastle is a little difficult to understand!

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The BBC's finest drama of the 1990's - By: Jl Adcock, 16 Aug 2007
Often overshadowedin popularity by the inferior "This Life" - Our Friendsin the North was the BBC's finest drama achievment of the 1990's. An epicin every sense, the series covers the lives of four central characters from the optimism of their youthin the 1960's through to mid-life realityin the 1990's. En route, we encounter major political events of the times, including the miners' strike.

It's staggeringly well-donein every sense. The actors all portray the different life-stages of their characters with absolute conviction, & the supporting cast are superb as well. (Notably Peter Vaughan as Christopher Eccelston's crusty old Dad, who turnsin a blinder of a performance throughout.)

Like another reviewer has pointed out - who would have thought Daniel Craig as the hapless Geordie Peacock would eventually don the tuxedo of James Bond, or, for that matter, that Chris Eccleston would assume the mantel of Dr Who.

But here's where they all really started -in this unmissable, brilliant drama. If you've not seen it before - a treat awaits.

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Classic - By: J. S. Meins, 08 Mar 2007
If you saw this went it originally came out, loved it & are wondering how much it has datedin the past decade before buying or renting the DVD - don't worry, its still brilliant! The series is made up of nine episodes (three setin the sixties, threein the seventies, twoin the eighties & onein the nineties) & is essentially the story of four characters from Newcastle set to a backdrop of labour politics & rock'n'roll. If that sounds a bit boring it isn't, it's actually the one of the BBCs best & most memorable moments & packed full of A-list actors from today (although it has to be said no-one would have guessed Daniel Craig would ever have been Bond after seeing him as the lovely but tragic Geordie!). In the end "Our Friends" is about how people fadein & out of our lives, how we misunderstand those around us & the endemic sadness of lost ideals & distant friends. The series closes to Oasis "Don't Look Backin Anger" & was actually aired on the day that classic went to No.1in the UK; at the time it seemed like a brilliant & moving momentin my life. Watching back all these years later it's still a special moment, but now I am that little bit older it's tinged with melancholy sadness. Worth watching every year.

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Top quality drama - By: J. Southworth, 15 Jan 2007
You will never see better acting, scripting & direction than this gritty serial from the North-East covering several decades, notably the Sixties. Politically astute, it skilfully analyzed the corruption that threatened the hopes of the most idealistic generation we have known. The four young stars were relatively new to TV & deservedly went on to become major stars. Daniel Craig as Geordie, the loose cannon, was outstanding - entertaining & moving by turns. Landmark TV.