The first thing that occurred to me when I finished the six episodes of The English was to watch them again.
This show is an absolute tour de force and works on every level. A fabulous script (Hugo Blick) with deft ducking and weaving and some clever conceals and reveals, a great sound-track and music (Federico Jusid), phenomenal cinematography (Arnau Valls Colomer), and some extraordinarily sensitive and carefully paced acting from a great cast of actors, with Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer taking the lead. The supporting cast also offers real depth and some delightful performances. Every word spoken and minor action adds to the dramatic tension and exposition - and the camera catches a lot of subtlety along the way. It all adds up to truly top shelf direction and production (Blick and Blick & Blunt respectively).
Having said all of that, the story will be difficult for some people to stomach. It has found a poetics (which is heart wrenching) in its difficult subject matter and much of the violence occurs off-screen, but it is still covering matters that are uncomfortable and confronting to think about and witness.. On the other hand The English offers a realistic and pragmatic encounter with these harsh realities - realities that the native American Indian population are still struggling with to this day - a tragedy when one considers their deep wisdom and connection with the land. The stories also make it clear that for settlers in the new land the reality was also harsh and brutal - but it's much harder to find sympathy there.
The English leaves one in no doubt that America was founded and built upon blood and violence and life threatening struggle - and that 'the land of the free' is a sentiment that some citizens are probably yet to experience.
On the other hand, The English is not sentimental. Its main characters endure their 'lot' with a resigned pragmatism and with little resentment - saving their revenge for those who truly deserve it, and otherwise only handing out justice when left with little other choice.
I can't quite believe this is a TV show as opposed to a movie such is its depth and quality.
2022 has been a treat full of some really good television shows and The English deserves to be right up there amongst those judged as the very best of the crop.
It's a very solid 9.5 stars, and I can see why some reviewers have given 10.
Exceptional TV!
