User reviews

I have worked for the last 25 years in a mixed environment but mostly male. I have seen some of the behaviours shown in this series so I can relate to some of it , what is missing though is the representative good people and particularly all the good men, the ones who are kind, thoughtful and supportive. I have worked with some difficult women but also many who have worked incredibly hard and remain wonderful. What I am trying to say is that this series lacks nuance, it like using a brick to open a window. It's a start but only that. Hopefully something similar can be produced which taps into the idea that we are not all good or all bad.

I very nearly didn't watch this because of the low score, but Maxine Peake is always in great things, so I decided to give it a go. It's very watchable, interesting even if not terribly likeable characters, and overall well done, with the exception of poor acting by the police detective.

The harsh criticism is uncalled for in my opinion. It shows so many different workplace issues and it kept me engaged all the way through.

I would say that Maya was definitely a bit obsessive and it would've been good to see her focus on other topics not just the one involving tess but I understand that was the point of the show. I didn't like the cheese club either that was silly and I can agree much of the cast was unlikeable but that is the point I think. Did we even see Maya's mother shed a tear?

Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it.

I enjoyed this series and can't understand why there are so many negative reviews. It used a common device of starting off with a death and using flashbacks to fill in the backstory. It was unusual in that the deceased wasn't revealed at first. There's a strong message about sexual harassment of women, which seems to have provoked some of the negative reviews, but I didn't find it detracted from the story. If you want a well acted, intriguing story that will keep you engaged then I can recommend Rules of the Game.

For a show that explores misogyny and toxic masculinity in the workplace, it's also done a pretty good job of exposing it (as well as other deplorable traits) among IMDb users as well - appalled by some of the comments here that are nothing to do with this 4-part series but all to do with the world view of some very blinkered people.

Therefore, sadly, just by being a MeToo drama, the series was going to face immediate backlash from the start. Hardly surprising then that reviews have been left panning the whole series after only episode.

That is not to say that Rules of the Game doesn't merit any constructive scrutiny. There are times the whowasit/whodunnit plot (which is a clever idea) drifts into soap opera territory, but it's the execution of that script that keeps it firmly in the wheelhouse of elevated drama we expect from the BBC.

The performances from Maxine Peake, Rahkee Thakrar and Callie Cooke are committed, and the direction/storytelling of the scripts whips the tale along clearly and at a great pace - even allowing for laughs here and there.

It's not perfect and it wont be for everyone, it will also be uncomfortably familiar viewing for some, but it tells an interesting story of gender dynamics in the workplace it's time we saw a lot more.

This is a very well-acted series; well put together cast. It's paced right without a lot of filler, and the directing and production were all good for me. It's just gets a bit ridiculous. The first two/three episodes are engaging, then it all gets a bit unbelievable and far-fetched. It was a decent watch and don't think it's deserving of the current 5.6 rating on IMDb.

I have just watched rules of the game on the BBC I found this 4 part drama/ mystery really entertaining, I don't know why others have rated it so low, I don't know what they were watching. The cast was excellent especially Maxine Peake & Alison Steadmans performances. The plot is plausible, I suspect this happens in many corporations around the world. The script was well written I would give it a go, but perhaps see all episodes before commenting to give the plot time to develop. I don't agree with other's sentiments on this drama, I would highly recommend.

A rambling and totally implausible story wasted on a good cast. Had potential but just becomes a mess with too many twists and relentless hopping about in timeframes.

Can't recommend it I'm afraid.

The problem with "Rules of the Game" seems to be a lack of structure outside of the sexual shenanigans of the various characters.

From beginning to end the core story just keeps returning to variations around personal gratification and the impact this can have on others.

But there is an underlying dark tone to this that is the main point of the story. The bleak and disturbing compromises or abuses many women most accept to get on either at work or at home. Or even to just move on day-by-day.

Uncomfortable to watch at times and some characters need more time to "fill out" but not a bad story, all in all.

Just not a good one either.

This was a good show. In the reviews you will see comments like old clichés or same old thing. Because yes it is the same old thing still going on to this day of what happens to women. One even wanted to know what companies allow 16 year olds to work for them?? Many! It's called an internship! Duh. You can pretty much guess who left those kinds of reviews. Shows like this are still being made because it's STILL happening. To women. So take a wild guess where most of the negative reviews come from. Yes you pretty much knew who was in the wrong but it was the unfolding of the story that was good. Some people just can't understand that. This is made for people who want to know the story not just try to guess the killer in the first 5 minutes. Give it a shot if that sounds like something you are in to. You might like it.

It is boring, clichéd. I Watched the first episode but won't be watching any more. All the characters talk but say nothing. I know less at the end than I did at the beginning.

The story was sufficient to keep it interesting. The women were given the filled out roles. The men were the stereotypes of men in drama these days - sleaze bags, bad or gay. Some balance would've been refreshing. Vanessa the wife played a great role - it provided some humour and irony. The HR character could've been great - but her role was fairly under-utilised and underdeveloped. Some complexity would've helped a lot as she was such a central character. The COO role was acted well but the character was very unlikeable and could've done with some light and shade rather than all dark and harsh. This series would've shone with more character development and nuance to the characters. People are so multifaceted and complex and displaying this in a production adds great interest and reality. Missed opportunity to make this series very good.

I enjoyed watching this series. It was enough of a mystery to keep me hooked. I'm not sure I liked the direction it took but very watchable nonetheless.

What did stand out was the acting, particularly Susan Wokoma, Callie Cooke and Maxine Peake. I would love to see Susan have her own detective show, maybe even with the others.

Sorry, I abandoned part way through ep1. I started watching without any peeks at reviews or prejudice. Just sat down and gave it a go. Then came the avalanche of clichés and nonsense as I started watching. I was suffocating at the banality of the plot, how confusing everything was, which character was doing what to whom, etc etc. I don't know but is incompetence a necessary requirement for being in the police these days? This drama was below my dignity. Maxine Peake, she should know better. Not exactly desperate for work. The others I can forgive.

My Review - Rules of the Game My Rating 7.5/10 Streaming on Britbox

I'll watch any movie or series starring the wonderful Maxine Peake whether it's a touching comedy movie like Funny Cow or a legal series like the hit 2011 2014 award winning series Silk.

I wasn't disappointed in her performance in Rules of the Game even though some elements of the story bordered on melodrama.

Maxine Peake is cast as Sam Thompson an interesting choice of name because she had to match wits and play tough to hold on to her position as an executive at a Sportswear company with a lads club culture .

I would say this is an industrial thriller as Sam walks into her corporate building one morning she is confronted with the H. R. Manager Maya Benshaw that she appointed dead as a result of a fall from the mezzanine in what looks like a suicide?

This 4 part series is told in flashback and the present and much more is revealed .

It soon is apparent that the lads culture at Fly a family run Sports wear business in the North of England has covered up serious incidents of inappropriate conduct and worse inflicted upon its young female staff members .

We go back in time ten years to the death of a teenage girl who is found in an alley way after a boozy office night out .

This moves the story along in a very disturbing way as incidents of intimidation and power play toward women employees are revealed.

When Sam Thompson appoints Maya Benshaw played by Rakhee Thakrar as HR Manager she soon realises that Maya's reputation for weeding out injustice and sexual misconduct in the workplace is beginning to threaten her position in the company by exposing the toxic work culture in the company Sam in a blunt and very direct way gets Maya offside especially when a girl friend and colleague of the employee found dead in the alley a decade ago comes forward to relate how a male staff member sexually assaulted her .

There's at least 3 very impressive female performances in Rules of the Game ,Maxine Peake is excellent in this strong and at times unpleasant portrayal of a female executive .

Rakhee Thakrar is also terrific as the HR Manager who is principled and won't give in to pressure.

Alison Steadman plays Anita Jenkins the CEO family head of the company who patrols the corridors of power to protect her business's reputation like a grey nurse shark . She devours anyone who gets in her way as the business heads towards a profitable new affiliation.

Anita's sons Owen and Gareth Jenkins played by Ben Batt and Keiran Bew both give impressive performances as ruthless and self entitled executives of the company.

Directed by Jennifer Sheridan and written by Ruth Fowler Rules of the Game I found entertaining and the conclusion leaves open an option for another series.

I'm not agreement with all the reviews on here we really enjoyed it and unlike a lot of shows now actually finished watching it till the end to see the plot unfold...get pass the first one as people on here have commented without giving it a chance.

So boring. Storyline is really pathetic and obvious from the start. Please don't waste your time.

The BBC really need to get a grip, and it goes without saying that the way of financing this tosh is so antiquated. However there are many people in Europe who would pay to watch BBC iPlayer, but guess what, they can't! Where is the sense in that?

The acting was superb! The twists were great. I really liked how it was set to keep the mystery going and there was no predictability. The character build was perfect building up to the reveal in the final episode.

I clearly do not understand the negative reviews. A lot of very clever work went into writing and development and complexity of each character.

Sam played by Mexine Peake was truly a well crafted character. Very talented acting for such a challenging role. I will be looking for her previous roles and will be watching just to see more of her incredible talent.

All actors we perfectly casted and brought so much. Bravo to everyone involved in creating this little series.

Having only watched the first episode perhaps I'm being a bit harsh but this drama appears to be full of unbelievable characters, poorly written dialogue and a story which is total nonsense.

How does the BBC end up commissioning this sort of rubbish?!

I'm surprised (or perhaps sadly not too surprised) by all the negative reviews of this programme. I was engrossed and watched all four episodes. I've given up on many new series this winter after one or two just because I was bored.

First, it was good to have something different from the usual girl/woman on a slab/missing police procedural with the standard quirky/damaged police investigator. This is set in a workplace and there are too few programmes or films set in places where most of us work i.e. Not in a police station.

As for claims that it was all too implausible well so is most drama because it has a beginning, middle and end - a resolution when in real life there isn't one. And as for boozy workplace parties, sorry work events - well I can't think of anywhere that's had those recently. Not just plausible very topical.

I will say that the writers didn't need to cram in quite so many current stories - sexual harassment in the workplace, toxic workplace culture, children watching porn, abusive men/partners, activism. That is a flaw.

And it is nice to have more of a female focus to a drama although I accept that not all the men needed to be out and out beasts. There are some good ones out there. I also liked that a main character was actually Indian with a culture and plausible family and not just a brown person with a western name and no connection to their culture or background.

The script was laughable. The BBC is obsessed by drama that does not reflect society. Awful characters who you really don't care about. A script that is duller than dishwater and appaling acting. Pass on this and thank me later.

Maxine Peake is a wonderful actress, which is what drew me to the show. It explores themes highly relevant to the environments we work in today. A very relevant drama. Ignore the haters and give it a go.

BBC recently released this show onto the IPLAYER and I have now watched the 4 episodes of the show and here is my review for Rules of the Game. The premise of the show sees a new head of HR join a company and she starts to examine the toxic working relationship of the company and take action against the culture of the senior staff.

Main Character Maxine Peake plays the lead character Sam and the best thing I can say about her is that she is clearly acting well. It is a strong performance and you can tell she is really giving her all in the role but the problem is that she is so unlikeable in the role. You can have flawed characters but when there is pretty much nothing to make you care then it is a pretty difficult sell to an audience.

Supporting Characters Rakhee Thakrar plays the new head of HR and she is okay, again she acts the role well and you are obviously on her side because of the clear issues at the work place. But she is just a bit bland and boring, the show loses the ball with her in the middle of the show and it made it a struggle to full get on board. Callie Cooke as Tess Jones is probably the best character in the show, she is really affected by the issues at the workplace and for me she was the one person that I felt was genuine with her character and I kind of wish she was given more screen time as she was my favourite character. Ben Batt and Kieran Bew play the brothers who are the executives and they are okay but there is no denying they are cliché's and it is laughable how over the top they are. The rest of the cast do their best but there just isn't much here and I would argue the show is a bit cluttered and could have done with some having a smaller role.

Story The story is where the show really falls down, it is just absolutely absurd. It starts off trying to set the show in pretty realistic conditions but as it goes on you realise just how crazy it starts to get and how it is just laughable. It also doesn't help how predictable it is, I worked out what was going on by the end of the first episode and that was a big issue for me. The ending is also too abrupt, it leaves you wondering what happened to the majority of the characters and that is a big let down.

Script The script does have some okay dramatic dialogue that makes the interactions feel more intense. But it also feels quite superficial, it is also a pretty dour show and that makes it hard to stick with, especially with its slower pace. Now I don't mind if a show wants to push a message, this show is clearly pushing the feminism message and that is fine, but why do shows like this have to make every male character a scumbag, it just takes me out of it and feels like the message is outweighing the actual show.

Style The show is filmed well enough but it is so boring. The show trundles its way through the episodes and it can't keep the suspense and drama up enough for me. It is a shame that this is the case as the set design is pretty good but I fear people won't even bother watching till the end.

Overall Overall, Rules of the Game is a poor show that misses the mark. It clearly has a message but it executes it badly and I would say give this one a miss.

Rating - 3/10.