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The Crimson Field, what did you think?

(41 Posts)
GillT57 Mon 07-Apr-14 22:38:42

I watched it on Sunday evening and was most disappointed. To be frank, the characters were one dimensional and predictable.....the dictatorial officer, the kind officer, the rebel vad, the stern matron.....expected better. Probably wont bother watching any more episodes.

granjura Mon 21-Apr-14 11:55:50

Really moving last night due to the soldier who panicked , shell-shocked and deserted- and is taken away to be shot for cowardice. Nowadays, he would be treated for post traumatic stress disorder.

Not sure if any of you read the French book about the soldiers maiming themselves severely to get away from the front. And of course the book which most marked me as a teenager 'All quiet on the Western Front' by Heinrich REmarque, a German soldier and objector.

granjura Mon 21-Apr-14 12:38:55

OH just dug out the trilogy by Pat Barker for me to read, starting with 'regeneration' about the horrors of that terrible war some call 'the great war'.

annodomini Mon 21-Apr-14 12:48:00

I was trying to get a set of one of the Regeneration trilogy for my book group this week, but the library has had a run on Pat Barker this month. Not surprisingly! I wonder what I did with my own copies.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 21-Apr-14 12:53:06

Granjura I think they believe he blew his own hand up deliberately so he would get sent away from the front. Poor bloke, whether he did or not.

Pittcity Mon 21-Apr-14 16:57:55

I'm losing interest too, not enough to grip you.
I watched Fargo on Channel 4 which was brilliant and flicked through Crimson Field on iplayer.

NfkDumpling Mon 21-Apr-14 17:05:46

It still seems to look too clean and tidy to me - the nurses uniforms stay too uncreased (pollycotton?). A bit like Call the Midwife but flatter, less depth of character. Still hoping it'll improve and grow on me.

goldengirl Mon 21-Apr-14 18:08:40

The young man who was led off to be shot reminded me of my visit to Poperinghe where you can visit a cell and listen to the story of a teenager in a similar position. After listening to the story you go out to the courtyard where the sentence was carried out. It was horrendous but equally awful for those who carried out the sentence. The cell 'bed' was covered in poppies left by visitors and photos of those who had for one reason or another died in this way. I'll never forget it.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 21-Apr-14 18:28:53

I don't think I'd put myself through that experience goldengirl.

Aka Tue 22-Apr-14 11:19:25

Yes, losing interest too. Thought it might hot up a bit, but apparently not. Too much gazing into space-type acting.

Mishap Tue 22-Apr-14 12:17:50

The whole Irish thread was weak and seems to have been put in to tick a box. I am in the whole disappointed with the series and watch it as a recording so I can fast forward when things get too tedious.

goldengirl Tue 22-Apr-14 20:48:01

I must admit I'm not enjoying the drama particularly - too predictable and too clean!

MaggieP Tue 22-Apr-14 21:05:39

It's not perfect but I am actually enjoying it!

Purpledaffodil Wed 23-Apr-14 15:51:19

I am enjoying it mainly but agree re the cleanliness and stereotypes. Possibly better reread Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain, about her time as a VAD in WW1. I think it is essential never to forget this awful waste of life, but with my cynical hat on, I suspect that the media overkill has an eye to repeats of all these programmes over the next four years. Always a centennial to remember and more mileage out of the initial investment.

papaoscar Thu 08-May-14 09:20:52

Very sad and thought-provoking, a bit like Mash without the humour. It may have gone on a bit long. The story lines are, perhaps, getting a bit thin.

POGS Thu 08-May-14 10:44:54

I am finding it OK,

Maybe now the characters have started to divulge more of their personal stories it will beef up a bit.

As for the cleanliness one soldier did comment it was summertime and therefore we could the opposite of clean during harsher weather months, just a thought. There would be cleanliness on some wards, hence they keep showing the huge amount of sheets blowing in the wind. I think they are portraying the emotion of war as opposed to the gore of war on purpose, at the moment.

I just think how different Surname Jones looks in this show, she is normally quite attractive but this hair do certainly makes her look , well, nothing much like her.