The BBC show This Town is set in the 1980s in Birmingham. It’s the story of a few creative people and how they started to shine during a tough time of social unrest.
A while ago, if you had asked if I knew about “This Town” by Steven Knight (the guy behind Peaky Blinders), I might have had to guess. Steven Knight has made a lot of stuff, from movies like “Serenity” to series like “SAS: Rogue Heroes” and new takes on classics like “Great Expectations.”
His work is all over the place.
But This Town is different. It feels closer to his own experiences growing up in the Midlands, making it a story that hits home in the chaos of that time.
The show received critical acclaim after the first episode that aired on 31st March, so I had to watch it!
The story starts with Dante (Levi Brown), a poet with a broken heart, walking through Birmingham. He ends up in the middle of a clash between protesters and police. That’s where he meets Jeannie (Eve Austin), who teases him for being weird.
The show also tells us about an 80s band getting together, influenced by ska, reggae, two-tone, and punk music.
Dan Carey and Kae Tempest helped make the music, which promises to be something fresh. At first, you might not be sure about it because it’s a bit different and uses a lot of poetry.
But give it time. By the third episode, it starts to mix in some laughs with the serious stuff, making it really interesting.
This Town review – there is no point in resisting this bold, brilliant TV show https://t.co/2Pj7dyp2DL
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 1, 2024
An IMDb rating of 7.6/10 is a testament to the fact that the show hits home for many viewers.
Dante’s story is at the heart of it all. He’s a college student in Birmingham and a poet. He’s pretty quiet and really misses someone he likes. As we follow his story, we meet a bunch of different characters. The show shows how tough times can make people’s talents even stronger.
It captures how things felt in the UK during the Thatcher years, with a lot of places falling apart. Music became a way for people to talk about how unfair things were. This Town shows how music can be a way out, not just something to listen to for fun.
The BBC series ‘This Town’ addresses issues like structural racism and IRA activities, but its approach is blunt and lacks subtlety. The portrayal tends towards caricature rather than nuanced exploration, favoring bold actions over emotional depth.
Watch the show on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
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Chris Mack
