The Crimson Field - BBC drama series

[kenneth505]

Which is preferable : that one million people be entertained, and have their interest aroused in the Great War, at the cost of ten thousand disgruntled experts ; or that the ten thousand are satisfied in an accurate depiction, while one million people are bored and turn away from the subject of the Great War ?

If the Crimson Field fulfils the first criterion, then it has some merit, in my opinion.

Phil (PJA)

If these are the only two options then of course entertain the masses and pique their interest. But it's not either or. We've seen plenty of telly that meets both standards. The wife and I await transfixed for tonights thrilling dramatic conclusion of Love Boat - Western Front and wonder plantively, will there be a plot, will someone strip down to their kit, will we find any redeeming information or will it merely be another misspent hour with the tube knowing we're the boobs.

[Kath]

Via email from the N.A.

http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MAN-2FS6U-8E3BO1ZKDA/cr.aspx

Kath.

[catfishmo]

An interesting look at what went in to designing the set of The Crimson Field here.

~Ginger

[mbriscoe]

Too many loose ends for there not to be another series.

Has the set used for the hospital been left in place? I can't imagine it being demolished if there were plans unless they wanted to set a second series at a different location.

[Steven Broomfield]

Review from today's Tottygraph. I can't say I disagree

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10820129/The-Crimson-Field-final-episode-review-soapy-and-disappointing.html

[Old Tom]

Well said, Cary, my view entirely. Having read the last few posts there seems to be enough there for a doctorate, or so. in media studies, if such doctorates exist. However there will, no doubt be another series. If it transpires can we declare an early armistice and as someone, was it Cofucious, said. If **** is inevitable, relax and enjoy it, or watch something else or read a good book.

Old Tom

[mbriscoe]

Once upon a time, there was a fairy story about nurses in a war.

The End (hopefully!)

Any drama series based, even remotely, on fact will have lots of errors to anyone with even just a minimal knowledge of the subject. If that is used a reason not to watch then those people will never watch any drama. Even the greats like Shakespeare took big liberties with fact but many base their knowledge of history on his works.

The same applies to an quiz type programme, if you know the subject you often see that an answer is wrong or there are several possible answers but they are only entertainment.

[CarylW]

Sorry Old Tom, I deleted a comment I made because it was a bit inane and I've already expressed my views here, for what they're worth. Edit: I see it's been quoted above. Apologies.

[Sue Light]

If anyone thinks that a story about a British nurse with officer status, stripped of most of her uniform, dragged and manhandled by NCOs, her food thrown at her on an enamel plate and spat in by a grubby orderly can even count as 'drama' let alone have any connection with reality, they must be brain dead, let alone having 'minimal knowledge of the subject.' It appals me that anyone can go even a tiny way to thinking that life was like that for British nurses during the Great War and shows what a huge gap there is to be filled, and how shockingly the BBC have failed in the task.

Sue

[Guest]

If you are easily annoyed, and have an issue with the accuracy and the 'research' don't whatever you do read the interview with the author Sarah Phelps here

She states:

"I have done so much research into the First World War I have read so much about it. I am amazed at the stuff I never knew, I never thought I would know, especially about the medical, and the surgical, and the nursing aspects"

Really. MG

[Sue Light]

Yes, I seem to remember that was the day I had my first nervous breakdown - though there have been so many since then I could be mistaken ...

[Bellflower]

Thrilling drama spoilt by the large number of casualties all over the place, Oh' wait a minute......................

[Michelle Young]

Today is international Nurses Day. The so called drama was an insult to those women who served

[Steven Broomfield]

Yes, I seem to remember that was the day I had my first nervous breakdown - though there have been so many since then I could be mistaken ...

Another 18 and you'll be celebrated in song, I suspect.

To be frank, I think this is quite possibly the worst historical drama I have ever seen. Intended as a tribute of some form, it has actually ended-up as a pastiche of historical drama and, in all honesty, a hand-book for future series on "how not to do it". For that alone, maybe we should give thanks.

[stiletto_33853]

Today is international Nurses Day. The so called drama was an insult to those women who served

So glad that I did not tune in after episode two. Still this thread has given hours of entertainment!!!

Andy

[Hedley Malloch]

I agree with many of the sentiments echoed here. I saw the first episode and didn't watch anymore. But I think that many of the criticisms here are OTT. It's a creative art form and therefore will not please everyone. Nor should it try to. The target audience is middle England, the majority of people who watch Holby City, Downton Abbey and Coronation Street, Mrs. Miggins who lives in Huddersfield and watches it with the cat on her lap and a mug of tea. It is not the cognisenti, the largely expert and informed subscribers who post here. It is not intended to mirror reality. It is no more insulting to WW1 nurses than Holby City is to their modern equivalents, or Breaking Bad is to chemistry teachers. Get a grip.

[Guest]

It is no more insulting to WW1 nurses than Holby City is to their modern equivalents, or Breaking Bad is to chemistry teachers. Get a grip.

So they're not using the centenary in any way?

Mike

[auchonvillerssomme]

If anyone thinks that a story about a British nurse with officer status, stripped of most of her uniform, dragged and manhandled by NCOs, her food thrown at her on an enamel plate and spat in by a grubby orderly can even count as 'drama' let alone have any connection with reality, they must be brain dead, let alone having 'minimal knowledge of the subject.' It appals me that anyone can go even a tiny way to thinking that life was like that for British nurses during the Great War and shows what a huge gap there is to be filled, and how shockingly the BBC have failed in the task.

Sue

I wonder if the QA association has anything to say about it?

[Sue Light]

It is no more insulting to WW1 nurses than Holby City is to their modern equivalents, or Breaking Bad is to chemistry teachers. Get a grip.

As someone who admits to only watching one episode I hardly think you're qualified to give an opinion on it, nor to tell us to 'get a grip.' Why bother to comment on something you know very little (or nothing) about?

Sue

[Hedley Malloch]

So they're not using the centenary in any way?

Mike

Only as a marketing tool. They can, and do, show tripe like this at any time.

[Hedley Malloch]

As someone who admits to only watching one episode I hardly think you're qualified to give an opinion on it, nor to tell us to 'get a grip.' Why bother to comment on something you know very little (or nothing) about?

Sue

Sue,

It's not real. It's a form of drama, and like many other forms of drama it requires the suspension of disbelief. You know it isn't true, but you go along with it for the sake of the story.

[David_Underdown]

But do you not find that gettgin even the most basic facts wrong in somethign rather gets in the way of suspendign disbelief? If the characters are plausible, and doing something in a way that they would actually have done it, it becomes easier to overlook the non-factual aspects (which will of course always be present, as you say).

[Sue Light]

Thanks to Taff G. who reminded me this morning of one very erudite spokesperson, Edmund Blackadder, when he said:

'Well, it started badly, tailed off in the middle and the less said about the end the better, but apart from that it was excellent ... '

Sue

[Guest]

On the BBC Schools - World War One - "Knowledge and Learning" - website here there is a section that shows World War One - "How the BBC is Marking the Centenary of the Conflict" It leads directly to a page here that includes The Crimson Field. This seems to suggest the BBC thinks the Crimson Field is suitable material for 'knowledge and learning' for BBC Schools.

To me this is one of the really depressing parts. We can all switch the TV off (or choose not to turn it on) but here is the BBC actively promoting this online, not just as a drama but as 'knowledge and learning' of World War One (sic) to school children. Optimists might well argue that it at least raises awareness of the Great War. It is a nonsense argument as the Great War is already on the curriculum.. For argument's sake let's assume it does raise awareness among schoolchildren - if this comes at the cost of implanting incorrect basic information (dates v events for example) or distorted perceptions of the Great War, we are doing the nation's children a huge disservice. The BBC in its desperate attempt to commercialise the Great War by pushing dramas out as representative of history is actually de-educating schoolchildren rather than educating them. It is crashingly irresponsible and very disturbing.

MG

[MartH]

The BBC in its desperate attempt to commercialise the Great War by pushing dramas out as representative of history is actually de-educating schoolchildren rather than educating them. It is crashingly irresponsible and very disturbing.

MG

I agree desire to make money for the BBC must be huge. Especially if it is more than one series, I even fear one a year till 1918. Generations Our Mothers, Out Fathers, is supposed to be one of the most expensive German productions at 14 million Euros, but also has made a lot because it has been syndicated worldwide.

Sue has said it perfectly, they don't show what made the nurses and the hospital tick, if you can't get the details right for the reason d'etre of the hospital which is the framework to hang the drama around, it won't and never will work and then has to rely upon fantasy plots.

It's such a wasted opportunity.