I somehow missed this series on its first BBC broadcast well over 20 years ago but went looking for it after seeing the recent David Fincher / Kevin Spacey Americanised remake, which I had much enjoyed.
Looked at today, I'd have to say I prefer the remake. In my opinion, the poisonous mix of sex, politics and power plays better against the backdrop of the more open and ruthless brand of politics across the water than staid old Britain. Unlike Spacey, Ian Richardson as the reptilian villain of the piece exudes no sex-appeal whatsoever, so that you get no sense of a physical attraction between him and the young female investigative reporter (Susanne Harker), indeed there are almost no bedroom scenes of the couple to hammer home this point.
I also found the plot-lines just too fanciful and unbelievable, Richardson's Francis Urquhart character's stop-at-nothing persona taking the cliché of the utterly selfish and self-deluding politician's ambition a bit too far. Yes, there are identifiable types in the background characters, but that's all they are, ciphers more than characters. As a for instance, the American series builds up the background character of Urquhart's wife more effectively than here, while complicit in her husband's rise up the ranks, she too is a shadowy, unsubstantial figure, another wasted opportunity. The only person we're interested in is Urquhart and besides himself the only people he appears interested in are we the viewer, as he breaks the fourth wall and speaks out directly to his untouchable audience. This first series ends up with a bang, literally, but shockingly spectacular as it is, it's too fantastical and doesn't ring true, like lots of other plot-lines in the show.
The acting is very good, despite my observations above, Richardson obviously relishing every line, especially the now familiar tag-line "...I couldn't possibly comment". This was still however racy, entertaining viewing although even knowing it was written by a Westminster insider, I never got the sense that I was close to the realms of truth, but once that point is conceded, this parliamentary pantomime is fun to watch.
Looked at today, I'd have to say I prefer the remake. In my opinion, the poisonous mix of sex, politics and power plays better against the backdrop of the more open and ruthless brand of politics across the water than staid old Britain. Unlike Spacey, Ian Richardson as the reptilian villain of the piece exudes no sex-appeal whatsoever, so that you get no sense of a physical attraction between him and the young female investigative reporter (Susanne Harker), indeed there are almost no bedroom scenes of the couple to hammer home this point.
I also found the plot-lines just too fanciful and unbelievable, Richardson's Francis Urquhart character's stop-at-nothing persona taking the cliché of the utterly selfish and self-deluding politician's ambition a bit too far. Yes, there are identifiable types in the background characters, but that's all they are, ciphers more than characters. As a for instance, the American series builds up the background character of Urquhart's wife more effectively than here, while complicit in her husband's rise up the ranks, she too is a shadowy, unsubstantial figure, another wasted opportunity. The only person we're interested in is Urquhart and besides himself the only people he appears interested in are we the viewer, as he breaks the fourth wall and speaks out directly to his untouchable audience. This first series ends up with a bang, literally, but shockingly spectacular as it is, it's too fantastical and doesn't ring true, like lots of other plot-lines in the show.
The acting is very good, despite my observations above, Richardson obviously relishing every line, especially the now familiar tag-line "...I couldn't possibly comment". This was still however racy, entertaining viewing although even knowing it was written by a Westminster insider, I never got the sense that I was close to the realms of truth, but once that point is conceded, this parliamentary pantomime is fun to watch.