Time

Mark Cobden, English teacher, year of birth 1964. He killed a man while driving drunk. As punishment, he has been sentenced to spend four years of his life in an underfunded British prison among inmates who don’t have to go far for a punch or a kettle of boiling water and sugar (many of whom would obviously need psychiatric care rather than time behind bars, but there is no capacity for that). From the moment he enters the prison, we follow his efforts to settle into an environment that he is absolutely not cut out for and to come to terms with his guilt, which is never in doubt. In parallel to this, the drama of a guard being blackmailed by one of the prisoners unfolds. There have already been so many stories set in prison that I didn't expect much from Time. However, it is an outstanding psychological study of how prison can fundamentally transform an individual (for better or worse) and, paradoxically, how difficult it can be for both prisoners and guards to behave morally in an environment where one should be getting rehabilitated. The two main characters, convincingly played by Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, repeatedly face difficult tests of character with no ideal solution. Whatever they do, either they or the people they care for will most likely find their lives in danger. Through gritty, suspenseful and moving situations that reportedly reflect the reality of the British prison system (the indirect criticism of which is an undercurrent of the narrative) quite authentically, the show’s creators depict the more general themes of guilt, punishment and forgiveness, and ponder over something that perhaps all of us have considered – what does it mean to live a good life? There are no clichés or – with the exception of one parallel montage with an improbably precise synchronisation of events – no artificially created drama. Rather, there is simply a credibly depicted prison atmosphere and several believable characters with their own demons and ethical dilemmas. (06/12/2021)

An absolute must for all lovers of quality cinema! From the BBC, one expects a higher level of quality, so I had high hopes for Time. And I can say with a clear conscience that it is an excellent series, possibly one of the best in recent years. The main acting duo elevates it to incredible heights, with Sean Bean as a teacher sentenced to four years behind bars and Stephen Graham as a guard. Both delivered flawless performances, honed to the last detail, and I believed every moment of it. The story is also above standard, with plot twists that manage to surprise and a suffocating atmosphere that can be cut with a knife at times. Moreover, it provides a glimpse into the workings of the prison system in England. And the ending is a treat, excellent in every way. I highly recommend it to everyone; such brilliant genre pieces are rare. For me, it’s a 9/10. (23/08/2021)

Every single character, conflict, dialogue, indictment of the system and theme here has been seen, heard and read elsewhere, and more than once. This doesn’t mean that this limited series doesn’t have anything to offer, quite the contrary, it presents it all in an urgently suggestive "it could happen to you" guise that makes the peculiarity of the world behind bars felt first-hand. And even though it's been done hundreds of times, it's so perfectly acted (and not just by the central duo) and delivered that the "I've seen it countless times" argument doesn't hold up as a complaint. (28/01/2022)

An excellent prison drama that tells a story that could happen to any of us. Sean Bean plays a character who, despite making mistakes that led to sorrow and punishment, could easily have been just an ordinary guy who ended up in a lion's den among real psychopaths. In just three episodes, the Brits have painted a stark picture of the prison system in England. While nothing overtly brutal happens, the writing is so compelling that you'll be thoroughly engrossed for all three hour-long episodes. (02/03/2022)

A decadent, dark and depressing drama set entirely in one prison, following two main characters: a warden who is forced to smuggle drugs into the prison under threat of his son being killed, and an older teacher serving his sentence. The atmosphere of the prison was incredibly oppressive, Stephen Graham and Sean Bean are absolutely flawless, both fitting the roles as best they could, and the running time of three episodes is sufficient. As a whole, the quality of the result is a cinematic highlight in every respect, and although, to put it stupidly, "the series isn't really about anything", it's a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Not that specific in terms of content, but just flawless in terms of filmmaking. (15/01/2022)