Bene Cumb As for Cold War events, the Brits and lately the Germans as well have produced so many good series that, from time to time, one might wonder that is it possible to outmatch them, to possess good framework and maintaining thrill, yet without insipid cliches. It is to my liking to announce that The Game has got into the list of the best of them in every aspect: there are lots of twists and turns, including each episode ending, the cast is even and distinguished, the mood and era have skilfully captured, and - last but not least - high-society British English is heard all the time. Well, one might ponder if the situation in the UK was then so harsh and unpredictable, with suspicious persons in the very top of the society, but all this does not seem ridiculous, as the logic and shift of scenes are motivated. I liked all the episodes, and it is regrettable that only one season was produced. People like Brian Cox, Shaun Doodley, Victoria Hamilton are always pleasant to follow, they have no trivial roles.

A_Different_Drummer It is my view that the writer and director did something unusual and experimental with this teleplay, and that experiment "cost" them viewers and ratings.Which it should not have.It is all about timing. This six episode mini-series starts slow and picks up speed like one of those amusement park rides, until, by the time you get to very end of the finale, it seems like you are going 100 miles an hour.This is not the traditional way to execute a narrative. But, if you give it a chance, it works just fine.Besides, there are so many extraordinary things going on here, that I rather think the odd pacing (which was deliberate, of that there is no doubt) makes the total experience all the better. I am thinking specifically of the performances of Tom Hughes and Victoria Hamilton, which are beyond good, they are unforgettable.And - another trick of the writer -- he saved the very best lines of dialog for the post-Dénouement (postscript), specifically the lines "It takes a whore to catch a whore" (all the more potent when directed at a man!) and "doubt will kill as surely as a bullet." If you want to know why those lines are so powerful, watch the series!

framesps As always ; the mood, atmosphere and production are top notch, as you would expect from the bbc. Brilliant character acting, good story (as you would expect) and amazing effects, camera work and editing. The impact is immediate and realism of the sets and effect grip the senses.. That is until a feeling of disappointment takes over. I would like to make a bold attempt to explain the slight dissatisfaction that comes up within some of the other reviews . Firstly; the bbc no longer really exists. Instead; programs are made by independent companies from a huge list, vetted by a managing body, chosen, kept and classified within certain 'standards'. This is why there seems to be a regularity to all new production. 'The game' is a good example of why the 'direction' of new production is becoming more disappointing. For anything to be exceptional, there needs to be a bit of genius. Sometimes wild. (as an example of what I mean - the group 'Pink Floyd' eventually lamented the loss of Syd Barrett ). And pure inspiration cannot be replaced by gimmick, style, effect or wackiness. What 'the Game' has is let down by what is missing. The bbc system may well be run by people with little creative interest and production made within limitation , simply because they don't know. The attempts a\t humour and being different , in 'the game' make me think of the kind of people with the ambition to work for advertising agencies. In fact, the production values are also similar and some people may well say, 'what's wrong with that'. Which could well be an indication of what has gone wrong with the system and of the way it is going. Were there was once rebellion against the system, it is now the goal , with larger audience, more programs, less range and tighter control. Ambition is a poor substitute for innovation.

whirligigfrenzy Watched this as a way to relax before going to sleep. Boy, was that a mistake.First thing's first. This show is intense. There were several times where I had to pause the episode, take a breather (knowing that crap was about to hit the proverbial fan), and then play the remaining scene. The music and camera work seamlessly complemented each other providing tension at every turn. There are strange, asymmetric camera angles that were meant to distort your view so that you, the viewer, couldn't get a good look at what was going on.Secondly, this show is more than just about the Cold War "game" between UK vs USSR. It shows the games we play in our social, professional, and public lives and how people cope. It's about intrigue and personal aspirations. Everyone is playing a game with each other.Thirdly, the actors are top notch. So fantastic to see these characters fleshed out and actually have personality.A thing to note: the show is definitely a slow burn. Things don't really "happen" per se as expected until episode 5. Every episode is DEFINITELY intense but when you stop and think about what actually happened during the course of 59 minutes, very little occurs. Each episode seems to focus on a particular aspect for the entire episode. Of course, in the end, everything comes together like a puzzle. So I guess an earlier reviewer was correct in saying that the real game is to make us watch. Because it does. It makes you wonder about what's going to happen next, forces you to think back to earlier episodes for little details and hints about upcoming events, and finally reach the conclusion with the characters at the end of episode 6.Really great watch.