We all know about fake news, we are fed it every day. This series exposes the proliferation and frightening consequences for humanity in the very near future. A sophisticated and timely, well written drama.
5 Reviews
Be very afraid
mezzaitaliana-891315 July 2022
Slow but compelling.
iwilliams85 July 2022
I've not enjoyed the pacing of this whole series but still found the story and characters compelling. That said, I'm annoyed at the sudden non-ending which honestly makes me wish I'd not bothered watching the series at all. No consideration for audience satisfaction whatsoever.
Season One Review
southdavid24 June 2023
Although I, and apparently even the actors in it, thought this was a one off miniseries, the way the series end at least suggests the possibility of more, so I'll post this as a season one and move it to the main page if we get confirmation that no more is coming.
Saara Parvin (Hannah Khalique-Brown) begins a year of work experience at GCHQ on the day that the UK's internet services are taken down as part of a hack by Russian forces. Parvin makes friends with John Yeabsley (Mark Rylance) a veteran analyst and finds her profile rising when she spots a second attack hidden amongst the malware code, before it's schedule to begin. In Russia, Vadim Trusov (German Segal) who went to university with Parvin, learns the deep strategy behind the Russian attack and seeing the ultimate endgame, tries to get a message to her.
Unlike most of Kosminsky's previous work, which tends to focus on historical matters, "The Undeclared War" takes place in the very near future, when agenda driven news channels, combine with organised social media to create fake news. I don't know how prevalent any of this really is today, but it made for a depressing and farcical viewing at times. When you see people who's job it is to respond to other fake Twitter Account from their own twitter accounts you do end up wondering whether or not to cheer for the big asteroid.
I did like bits of the show, I enjoyed the "mind palace" scenes, the way they tried to demonstrate Saara's (and others) techniques for looking through code is reasonably inventive. It all moves rather slowly though and there's maybe too much time spend on bits of the story outside of the main thrust. I don't think we needed to do see both Saara's life with her family and situation with her boyfriend. I try and write my reviews without spoilers, so I'll keep this vague as I want to talk about the ending. If this is how the series ends, it's one of the most open ended "decide amongst yourselves" endings ever - if not, and the show comes back, then this of course would no longer be valid.
Overall, I think it's a bit too slow and a bit too depressing to recommend it to other people.
Saara Parvin (Hannah Khalique-Brown) begins a year of work experience at GCHQ on the day that the UK's internet services are taken down as part of a hack by Russian forces. Parvin makes friends with John Yeabsley (Mark Rylance) a veteran analyst and finds her profile rising when she spots a second attack hidden amongst the malware code, before it's schedule to begin. In Russia, Vadim Trusov (German Segal) who went to university with Parvin, learns the deep strategy behind the Russian attack and seeing the ultimate endgame, tries to get a message to her.
Unlike most of Kosminsky's previous work, which tends to focus on historical matters, "The Undeclared War" takes place in the very near future, when agenda driven news channels, combine with organised social media to create fake news. I don't know how prevalent any of this really is today, but it made for a depressing and farcical viewing at times. When you see people who's job it is to respond to other fake Twitter Account from their own twitter accounts you do end up wondering whether or not to cheer for the big asteroid.
I did like bits of the show, I enjoyed the "mind palace" scenes, the way they tried to demonstrate Saara's (and others) techniques for looking through code is reasonably inventive. It all moves rather slowly though and there's maybe too much time spend on bits of the story outside of the main thrust. I don't think we needed to do see both Saara's life with her family and situation with her boyfriend. I try and write my reviews without spoilers, so I'll keep this vague as I want to talk about the ending. If this is how the series ends, it's one of the most open ended "decide amongst yourselves" endings ever - if not, and the show comes back, then this of course would no longer be valid.
Overall, I think it's a bit too slow and a bit too depressing to recommend it to other people.
A cracking end to what's been a thought provoking series.
Sleepin_Dragon22 July 2022
Saara refuses to believe what's put in front of her eyes, she keeps focus, and tries to keep her eyes on the third stage.
I have been so impressed by this show, and in particular this final episode, a great story, well acted, very well executed. This is designed to make you think, question, and challenges you to consider what your eyes tell you.
It's been some time since I binge watched a show in a day, with this, I had to, it had me gripped.
Parts are very realistic, and fair to say parts are a stretch, I am a little worried for GCHQ, as none of them seem to be particularly bright, intelligence, more like lack of. Thank goodness for Saara.
Very well acted once again, and very well produced. Credit to this show, I can't remember seeing anything quite like it for quite a while.
Maybe I'll approach what's in the media with a more sceptical eye.
Excellent, 9/10.
I have been so impressed by this show, and in particular this final episode, a great story, well acted, very well executed. This is designed to make you think, question, and challenges you to consider what your eyes tell you.
It's been some time since I binge watched a show in a day, with this, I had to, it had me gripped.
Parts are very realistic, and fair to say parts are a stretch, I am a little worried for GCHQ, as none of them seem to be particularly bright, intelligence, more like lack of. Thank goodness for Saara.
Very well acted once again, and very well produced. Credit to this show, I can't remember seeing anything quite like it for quite a while.
Maybe I'll approach what's in the media with a more sceptical eye.
Excellent, 9/10.
Unsure how to grade the episode and the series..
ttimgents8 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Upon finishing watching this episode and the series, unsure how to grade this episode and the series.. For now 8 of 10.. I could watch again and possibly come back and grade it lower or grade it higher.
I get the point of leaving the viewer hanging at the end of this episode and thus the series since that's where we appear to be in real life.. But suppose we viewers do expect some closure (forgive me for using this word) when watching a TV series.. Not necessarily closure regarding the story of the cyber warfare, but some closure on the stories of the characters we have been following throughout the series.
Also think that the content of Episodes 5 and 6 could have been squeezed into one episode.. Things seem too stretched out, too slow in each episode.. Having said all this, would not hesitate to recommend this show to anyone. (Tjn - 09/ 08/2022)
I get the point of leaving the viewer hanging at the end of this episode and thus the series since that's where we appear to be in real life.. But suppose we viewers do expect some closure (forgive me for using this word) when watching a TV series.. Not necessarily closure regarding the story of the cyber warfare, but some closure on the stories of the characters we have been following throughout the series.
Also think that the content of Episodes 5 and 6 could have been squeezed into one episode.. Things seem too stretched out, too slow in each episode.. Having said all this, would not hesitate to recommend this show to anyone. (Tjn - 09/ 08/2022)
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
