Absolute Power (2003–2005) User Reviews

Pure Sophisication

[buddleja · 9/10 · 5 January 2011]

Here is British humour at its very wittiest and cutting.

The machinations of the team at Prentiss McCabe are a joy to behold as they spin the latest challenge.

The dialogue is edged with a delicious sprinkle of smugness. Not that you'd like to meet any of these people - they're utterly self-serving, and are a sharp reflection of the slick wheelings and dealings, counter-dealings, backstabbing, Machiavellian world that I could only imagine might take place in such a real world business.

I came late to this series, only discovering it last year and, I can thoroughly recommend it. Like Fawlty Towers, the limited production of episodes will ensure this remains a classic.

English wit from a brilliant cast

[jamesmoule · 8/10 · 17 January 2007]

"Absolute Power" reminded me of a cross between "Yes Minister" and the Australian series "Frontline". All three series are essentially concerned with spin. Only the people responsible for the spin are different (politians, media presenters, PR consultants). All three series are very funny but I rate this series as the third of the three. The casting is brilliant. I can't imagine anyone performing the roles of Prentiss and McCabe better than Stephen Fry and John Bird. The plot lines are also very well thought out but the script writing is not of the same standard as the other two series I have mentioned. In the first series, "Country Life" is not as well done as the others. There is a recurring problem of episodes ending "up in the air" with the resolution of the dilemma unclear but imagined. The percussion accompaniment to some dialogue makes the words difficult to understand. That said, I found myself chuckling quite often. I'll certainly remember some of the lines.

Another hit British series finally!

[tdk1147 · 9/10 · 1 January 2008]

Excellent series, really witty and the Stephen Fry is sensational. If only I could be as brilliantly deceptive as his character - he's a morally challenged rogue but so lovable!

Only two things that bug me are:

1. Alison is just too stupid and I'm not sure she can pull it off sometimes (acting wise); and 2. Colin, the Australian press secretary at Downing Street, has a terrible Australian accent. It's more like a New Zealand one.

Eg, the little shut (instead of the little sh*t).

But still really looking forward to series three this year!

Wickedly Funny Satire

[Dawnfrancis · 1 December 2003]

This really is an excellent series.Set in the murky world of PR,it brilliantly sends up the world of celebrity and political spin. Wickedly funny and all too true to life. Originally a radio series for BBC R4,it has successfully crossed over to the small screen.

Classic comedy

[FlindersRanger · 10/10 · 4 December 2017]

The incomparable Stephen Fry delivers the acerbic character, Charles Prentiss, and together with the rest of the terrific cast, deliver a wonderful rendition of the radio programme, with a level of satirical splendour not seen in other recent British comedies.

It's difficult not to keep watching both series over and over again. You will not be disappointed!

Brilliant!

[lizs1289 · 10/10 · 13 May 2023]

I don't know how this wonderful series passed me by but I came across it through seeing which other programmes James Lance (currently in Ted Lasso) might have been in.

All the actors give such good performances but Stephen Fry and John Bird are pitch perfect in their roles as Prentiss and McCabe, owners of a PR firm who specialise in 'bigging up' the profiles of those best left under the radar.

The writing is so clever and very funny. The first episode of series one didn't quite reel me in but having bought the discs, I carried on viewing and I'm pleased I did.

It's a pity more episodes weren't created as it certainly had more to give.

BTW, a radio series preceded this on BBC Radio 4. Worth a listen, if you can access it.

Truly witty and extremely funny

[UncleRiotous · 24 August 2005]

Set in a PR company who will attempt to spin anything in any direction I really believe this is one of the best television comedy series I've ever seen. Sharp, witty, fast paced and really very, very funny. The scripts are as densely packed as Fawlty Towers and repeated watchings are rewarded with new insights and ideas that were missed first time round. If you blink you're guaranteed to miss something.

Charles Prentis is superbly portrayed as a man with no scruples or morals whatsoever by Stephen Fry and John Bird, Zoe Telford and James Lance make a supporting cast to die for.

The other thing that makes Absolute Power so unusual is that the second series is as good as the first series. It covers topics as wide ranging and ridiculous in their scope and does so with such a slick style that you're often really not sure what's going to happen until the very last moment.

A damn fine job, brilliant!

[playdumb · 7 January 2006]

Hi, This is a fantastic satire on spin and th 'real' power behind popular news stories of the day. British irony at its best. Wickedly funny. Stephen Fry is at his best portraying Charles Prentiss and the script is far above the cheap humour seen on other comedy series, though some might find it a bit too high-brow.

There were 2 runs of this show one in autumn/winter 2003 and then in summer 2005.

PS - For those who like these kind of media based cynicism would also like "Trevor's World of Sport" another BBC comedy to feature around the same time starring Neil Pearson and Paul Reynolds.

Both shows at their heart are about (comic) observations of a crazy world that feature an ironic pair as bosses, one controlling manipulative and the other bumbling, meek work to look forward to retire.