Although I am enjoying this series on BBC America I do have some reservations. It does make you think what living in a post-apocalyptic world would be like and how you might adapt and stay alive. But it's hard to believe Britain could end up like this. There are no zombies or Mad-Max wannabees in the Survivors, but there is anarchy. Without government control the British turn nasty and violent. There are plenty of strange and dangerous people who make this new world seem a scary place. Most of the survivors scavenge and prey on the weak. Trusting people has suddenly become harder and it's every man for himself. What seems slightly incongruous for this genre, is that most of the characters seem very British and ordinary. In post-apocalyptic films you expect that the good guys will be chased by gangs of crazed psychopaths, dressed like 1970s punk-rockers. The baddies are evil, but in an understated British way.
The story focuses on a small group who didn't know each other before the cataclysm. They travel about the country seeking a permanent home. The leader is a Scottish housewife, Abby Grant. The show is produced by the politically correct BBC so Abby's group is a coalition of what used to be called minorities. It includes a lesbian doctor, a Muslim playboy, a former prison inmate/murderer,a black systems analyst and a Muslim schoolboy.At first some members of the group seem selfish and there are tensions, but they gradually grow on you. As the series develops they gradually become more like a family. The group unites because there is safety in numbers. They are generally helpful and courteous towards the other people they meet. It seems that decent law-abiding white males have been wiped out. If you see one in this series it usually signals danger.
This series is more exciting than the 1970s version of Survivors. It holds your attention and is often gripping. But to me it does not seem very realistic. Why would they need to start coal mining again? There must be plenty of coal sitting at power stations. I have not lived in the UK for nearly 10 years but I find it hard to believe that the British could be become so unpleasant. I would have expected more cooperation and camaraderie.
The story focuses on a small group who didn't know each other before the cataclysm. They travel about the country seeking a permanent home. The leader is a Scottish housewife, Abby Grant. The show is produced by the politically correct BBC so Abby's group is a coalition of what used to be called minorities. It includes a lesbian doctor, a Muslim playboy, a former prison inmate/murderer,a black systems analyst and a Muslim schoolboy.At first some members of the group seem selfish and there are tensions, but they gradually grow on you. As the series develops they gradually become more like a family. The group unites because there is safety in numbers. They are generally helpful and courteous towards the other people they meet. It seems that decent law-abiding white males have been wiped out. If you see one in this series it usually signals danger.
This series is more exciting than the 1970s version of Survivors. It holds your attention and is often gripping. But to me it does not seem very realistic. Why would they need to start coal mining again? There must be plenty of coal sitting at power stations. I have not lived in the UK for nearly 10 years but I find it hard to believe that the British could be become so unpleasant. I would have expected more cooperation and camaraderie.