The Bletchley Circle

During WWII four women worked together as code breakers, trying to gather information on Hitler’s forces using information, mapping, and other sleuthing techniques. They spent their days and nights making a huge difference in the war for Allied Forces. Years later the same four women live their lives as civilians. Their glory days hidden away by protocol, living as wives, girlfriends, librarians, waitresses.

Susan (Anna Maxwell Martin; Becoming Jane), a housewife now, has been following the recent murders of several women by a serial killer. Using her code breaking skills, has found pattern in the killers trail of bloodshed, but she knows to catch the killer she’ll need help. After going to the police with her findings she realizes the best men for the job are women, and she knows three of the best.

Bletchley Circle comes together well. There are some instances where I kind of just shrugged and watched on, but all together it make for a pretty great cat and mouse suspense with the four women seemingly within arms reach of the killer, but our villain is no slouch.

I loved the cast. Anna Maxwell Martin plays her role perfectly. A housewife, but former special agent, missing the glory days when everything she did made a huge impact on the world. A bit drab about her daily life she rises to the occasion. Every facial expression, nervous smile, half lie, all delivered without doubt.

Rachel Sterling (Snow White and the Huntsman) was awesome as well, playing the tough as nails independent woman, working a witnessing gig, doing what she has to too make it. She isn’t resentful about her place in society, but she doesn’t just accept her role as a woman in a chauvinistic era.

Jean (Julie Graham; Survivors) and Lucy (Sophie Rundle; Episodes) are pretty much a means to an end. Jean, somewhat the glue that keeps their team together and has all the higher connections to help them on their case, and Lucy, a metaphor for the state of being a woman in that day and age as well as fitting certain plot devices to keep the show moving forward. Still, great casting and a great suspenseful series.

PICTURE QUALITY:
The picture for The Bletchley Circle is in 1080i, basic digital HD. That being said though, the picture looks pretty good. Black levels are solid, detail is mostly high, there are some scenes where focus appears out of sorts. Most of my complaints come from the camera work. There are several scenes where the cameraman is shaking far to much as they shoot back and forth between girls as they discuss the case. Why? What was the purpose? In any case, if you’ve seen a British drama before, and in this day and age of Downton Abbey, who hasn’t, then you’ll instantly recognize the drab gray world of Britain. Color isn’t vibrant but not completely muted. That’s about it on the negatives though.

BONUS FEATURES:
~Interviews with the cast