Survivors-BBC.

[UltraCulture]

Now here's a drama series to make grim winter nights go with a swing - a disturbing vision of a post-apocalyptic Britain whose population has been decimated by a killer flu-type plague. But fear not, because plucky Julie (Bonekickers) Graham is here to save us. She's Abby, a mum on a mission who, having survived the virus, takes to the deserted streets to find her son. Some viewers might remember Terry Nation's 1975 series of the same name and, though everyone involved in the production is at pains to point out it's not a remake or even a follow-up, there is no escaping the striking similarities. Still, Survivors 2008 stands up very well in its own right. This first 90-minute episode (part two is on Tuesday) is absorbing, painting a convincing portrait of a society in meltdown, and tension builds nicely. The characters inevitably have the whiff of stereotype, but the performances are good, on the whole, with Max Beesley in particular impressive as a murderous escaped prisoner who joins the survivors as they face a new world. And you'll probably have fun guessing who will get off with whom, if the revealing trailers haven't already given the game away.

Starts Sunday BB1 9pm

Watching it?

[Foxbat]

I haven't seen this but I do have the original series on DVD. It's still entertaining after all these years (apart from the third year where it seemed to lose its momentum a tad).

I'm not a big fan of remakes (no matter what they may say, that is, in essence, what it is) but I might give it a peek.

[The Ace]

I'll reserve judgement until I've seen it.

[sloweye]

Same here Ace. looking forward to it though

[ctg]

How interesting, I'm definitely going to watch this and I hope BBC has learned their lesson on what they can do differently this time around. Premises looks very promising for a hit series. Hopefully this series doesn't have Jericho's fate, but become something much better then that.

[ctg]

It was brilliant even thought they tried to say that's it's not a remake. LOL. The first episode very well didn't stand on its own and I believe it was even better then the one from the original series. All the characters seem to be very well picked and I didn't feel a moment that the acting was out from the picture. However, I did see me in the shoes of the black geezer driving the Jeep, as I would have done the same.

Definitely worth to watch. Thank you BBC for making this. It's good. Five stars.

[andrew.v.spencer]

I enjoyed it, well set and well acted.

There is something inherently fascinating about the disease survivor. I think it's wondering what you would do. Where would you go, how would you do it, do you think you'd have the strength to carry on?

I hope it doesn't collapse into a soap opera.

[Harpo]

I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the original in the 70s (haven't seen it since then, but I remember watching it at the time)

[The Ace]

Well, ten minutes in I was ready to throttle Julie Graham's character but she improved a bit. Not a total loss.

[SJAB]

I enjoyed it until the last couple of minutes...

spoiler..... Highlight to see...

Nasty men in white coveralls did it.

[purple_kathryn]

I missed the end because I kept flicking back to watch Desperate Housewives

I'm just hoping they don't go down the "god is punishing us for being too smart" road. it gets rather tiresome

[Ice fyre]

I forgot this one was on! Will look at it tonight on the replay option.

[ctg]

If you missed it, then you can find it on BBC iPlayer at BBC iPlayer - Survivors: Episode 1 The next episode is on Tuesday. The one thing that's bugging me is that what happened to that Minister of Health (?). Is she with the white coated people in that underground laboratory facility, waiting for the topside to sort itself out or what?

[ctg]

Episode two was even better. The survivors are getting into the grim business of surviving in the post-apocalyptic world where the first rule is not trust anyone. Like everyone, they refute the second old profession in this world, scavenging. I thought that warehouse was brilliant idea but the new characters had a strong resemblance to the original series scavengers.

A couple of things that bother me. What's the black character profession, as I cannot stop thinking that he's ex para or something similar? He definitely has a survival training or then he's natural born survivor with his instincts in right place. Like him, I would have hit the backwaters of the civilisation and let the scavengers thin their lines. The only problem would be the medicine as I'm not a doctor. Although, like it was said, you can learn awfully lot from the books.

On the killer character, I thought it was very well acted. He measured the shotgun wielding man and saw that he's not able to kill a man. Hence, I thought he was acting so boldly.

[UltraCulture]

I take it Freema Agyeman will soon be reanimated, as she had the same symptoms as Julie Grahams character,?

Enjoying it lots.