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Season 1 – This England

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – This England Sep 2022 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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41% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Following the the prime minister's tumultuous first months in Downing Street as he grapples with the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

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This England — Season 1

This England — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

While This England's attempt to bottle very recent history is admirable, its premature depiction winds up being more caricature than convincing portrait.

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Critics Reviews

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Rachel Cooke New Statesman 10/20/2022
What an odd and oddly repellent thing This England turns out to be. Is it documentary or drama? Winterbottom, his co-writer Kieron Quirke, and his co-director Julian Jarrold seem not to know the answer to this question. Go to Full Review Liam Fay The Times (UK) 10/04/2022
An impressive enterprise but not an easy watch. Elegantly directed by Michael Winterbottom... the series blends fiction and docudrama in a way that’s almost too seamless, raising vexing questions about the authenticity of many scenes. Go to Full Review Anita Singh Daily Telegraph (UK) 10/02/2022
2/5
The dodgy thatch worn by Kenneth Branagh is an early portent of doom. This six-part political drama is a dud. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider 11/02/2023
Despite Kenneth Branagh’s brilliant transformation into Boris Johnson, This England takes too much time rehashing the beginnings of the response to COVID-19 as if they were 20 years ago... Go to Full Review Ricardo De Querol El Pais (Spain) 11/11/2022
There's an unsolvable problem: we know the ending and the people who made the series don't. We know Johnson will leave Downing Street humiliated, and that once everyone is vaccinated, we will learn to live with Covid. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Sara Wallis Daily Mirror (UK) 10/21/2022
A stellar cast playing living people does make this somewhat fascinating viewing... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Damien M @Damo3011 Feb 20 Brilliant series, comparing the anguish of ordinary people's suffering with the pompous incompetence of the tories. See more Niki M @RT49538820 05/26/2024 Worth watching for two reasons... the extraordinary performance by Kenneth Branagh, and the almost uncanny way the director melds news footage with dramatisation. The way the casting director has managed to match actors with the real people is nothing short of inspired. Seeing that this only happened a few years ago, and memories are still fresh, that is quite an achievement. That said, there is far too much about Boris's fever dreams, and, after the first few episodes, the pace only catches fire when the press go after Dominic Cummings. The trigger warning is apt... the harrowing scenes of ordinary people suffering are extremely distressing, but they go on far too long - after the first dozen or so upsetting death scenes we have had enough. To continue traumatising your audience simply makes them want to switch off. Overall, it's an uneven piece. There are patches of true brilliance, but overall the film-makers tried too hard, were not exactly sure what they were doing, and eventually fell short. See more Read all reviews
This England — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Kenneth Branagh

Boris Johnson

Ophelia Lovibond

Carrie Symonds

Andrew Buchan

Matt Hancock

Tim Goodman

Stanley Johnson

Alec Nicholls

Patrick Vallance

James Corrigan

Isaac Levido

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 28, 2022 Boris Johnson wins the 2019 general election and prepares for government; COVID-19 emerges in Wuhan and cases rise in China, then spread across Asia and to Europe; Boris prepares for Britain leaving the European Union. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 28, 2022 As the situation worsens in Italy, Johnson attends a tense COBRA meeting and prepares for the pandemic to reach the U.K.'s shores. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 28, 2022 As COVID-19 cases and deaths rise, hospitals and care homes continue their battle against the pandemic; WHO and scientists stress the importance of testing and Carrie hosts a baby shower at Chequers with Boris. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 28, 2022 Lockdown begins in the U.K.; more people are hospitalized and die as a result of COVID-19; the situation in care homes and hospitals gets worse as deaths rise; Boris tests positive and might need to go to hospital. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 28, 2022 A jogger sees Cummings and his family in Durham as more and more people fall ill and care homes and hospitals struggle to cope with the cases; at the same time, the government discusses contingency plans as Boris is taken to ICU. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 28, 2022 While Boris recovers, Carrie gives birth and the country tries to cope with COVID-19 cases; the Cummings' Durham story breaks and Dom has to hold a press conference to address the breach of lockdown regulations. Details

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This England — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Michael Winterbottom
Screenwriter
Michael Winterbottom
Network
SKY
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Sep 28, 2022
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