Parade's End: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	Your Score
7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: August 24, 2012

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rebecca Hall

Summary: During World War I, Christopher Tietjens (Benedict Cumberbatch) struggles with decorum, duty, and his feelings for his socialite wife Sylvia Satterthwaite (Rebecca Hall), who may not be carrying his child and suffragette Valentine Wannop (Adelaide Clemens) in this five-part miniseries adaption of Ford Madox Ford's novels.

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series, Action & Adventure

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E5. 5
Air Date: September 21, 2012
tbd
S1:E4. 4
Air Date: September 14, 2012
tbd
S1:E3. 3
Air Date: September 7, 2012

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Dorothy Rabinowitz

Feb 22, 2013

Moment after moment the drama deepens, the rich complexity of Ford's characters make themselves felt in all their strangeness and variety. Read full review

Sara Vilkomerson

Feb 22, 2013

You'll be pining for more once it's over. [1 Mar 2013, p.62]

Mary McNamara

Feb 26, 2013

Parade's End must be taken on its own terms, because it is offering something rare and provocative: a poetically precise consideration of what it means to be caught out of time, clinging to the lip of one era or reaching desperately for a foothold in the other. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Feb 22, 2013

Stoppard's storytelling structure has an odd rhythm to it, and White's direction can be both majestically beautiful and transitionally jarring. But combined, their choices allow Parade's End to achieve an exquisiteness, a sense of high art. Read full review

Ross Langager

Feb 26, 2013

Despite character-based faults and multiple narrative cul-de-sacs, [Parade’s End] does come around to revealing the consequences of maintaining public status and reputation at the cost of personal realization. Read full review

James Poniewozik

Feb 26, 2013

Sometimes unwieldy, sometimes beautiful, Parade’s End is--like the turbulent new order it ushers in--a bit of a mess, with no easily identifiable good guys. This miniseries doesn’t tell you how to feel, and it’s not exactly bursting with charming, loveable characters. But there’s a poignance to its story of people realizing their orderly parade is breaking up all around them. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Feb 20, 2013

Ultimately, though, the story boils down to its central love triangle, with the sides stretching out a little too long as viewers wait for Tietjens to return home and choose whether to pursue happiness and risk public humiliation, or remain in his shattered and unhappy marriage. Read full review

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User Reviews

OneArmedBandit

Mar 20, 2013

This is an extremely ambitious, loyal and high-end adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's tetralogy. In essence, it's about an old fashioned, eccentric—part Don Quixote, part John Keats—and gifted aristocrat who is self-destructively and at times comically out of his time. His moral code isThis is an extremely ambitious, loyal and high-end adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's tetralogy. In essence, it's about an old fashioned, eccentric—part Don Quixote, part John Keats—and gifted aristocrat who is self-destructively and at times comically out of his time. His moral code is constantly challenged and tested by those around him, which creates ample conflict and drama for us to feast on. Benedict Cumberbatch, Rebecca Hall and Adelaide Clemens' performances are exceptionally magnetic. Keep in mind, the miniseries plays like a literary novel in its narrative pace and character development; definitely not suited for the mass culture consumers.… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

PinBB

May 11, 2013

I don't like watching series or movies based on the wars but I watched this because of Benedict Cumberbatch and I have fallen in love with this series. I have not read the novels or have any idea about the writer but if the books are even half as good as the TV adaptation, they must be aI don't like watching series or movies based on the wars but I watched this because of Benedict Cumberbatch and I have fallen in love with this series. I have not read the novels or have any idea about the writer but if the books are even half as good as the TV adaptation, they must be a must- read. Christopher Teijens is a brilliant, very committed and decent gentleman. He has a wife who cheats on him and he is love with a girl. At the backdrop is the world war 1. If you are looking for a story, there is not much of it but the true star of the show is the direction, cinematography, amazingly poetic dialogues and unblemished acting by the whole cast. The music compliments the settings and the backdrop very well. Benedict Cumberbatch has shown the world how talented he is. Flawless acting, deep emotions and superb voice modulations. Rebecca Hall and Adelaide Clemens have made the characters of Sylvia and valentine unforgettable.

Don't watch this if you are a fan of fast paced action. This is for patient, connoisseurs of literature and romantics. Watch it for intelligent viewership.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

InvasionMolly

May 11, 2013

The first thing about this series is that the photography and production design is sumptuous and stunning. Even if the story and characters were of no interest, the visual appeal of this is memorable.

The only strange thing in this aspect of the production is that the music in scenes forThe first thing about this series is that the photography and production design is sumptuous and stunning. Even if the story and characters were of no interest, the visual appeal of this is memorable.

The only strange thing in this aspect of the production is that the music in scenes for the parties is jazz 1920s sounding jazz. It is very odd and historically inaccurate for the social status of the story as jazz entered England in 1919, apparently.

As to the core of it, well, it is an abbreviated working of a complex set of novels written in a certain way and Stoppard has done well with the time limits etc of the medium. It works but one is always aware of what is being abridged to make it fit.

Cumberbatch is the most intense, internal English leading man in a long while and seems to have borrowed Jeremy Irons's mandible crunching pensiveness. But he is absolutely right here.

Hall as Sylvia Tietjens is ravishing and confused in right order. Her performance is entitled' and arrogant, though it might be a bit too modern in its overtness.

Highly recommended.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

franclinolin

Mar 5, 2013

In spite of ravishing cinematography, beautiful dialog, and impeccable acting, this series will most likely have limited appeal in the US because of subtle character development and deliberative pace. For those such as myself who found Downton Abbey' a yawning bore, this series willIn spite of ravishing cinematography, beautiful dialog, and impeccable acting, this series will most likely have limited appeal in the US because of subtle character development and deliberative pace. For those such as myself who found Downton Abbey' a yawning bore, this series will represent a lush alternative. For the mainstream masses, the opposite will be true.… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

Zutron

Oct 24, 2013

Beautiful, complex and engaging. Unlike another reviewer, I was captivated until the WWII scenes hit, where I felt like the action was slowed way down and I just wanted to get back to the "real story" of the relationships of the central characters. Overall, a great show though, perfectlyBeautiful, complex and engaging. Unlike another reviewer, I was captivated until the WWII scenes hit, where I felt like the action was slowed way down and I just wanted to get back to the "real story" of the relationships of the central characters. Overall, a great show though, perfectly cast, smart and passionate.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Mike_M

Jun 29, 2013

This is something like Downtown Abbey, as nearly every reviewer mentions. I'd say it has less guilty-pleasure fun, and more smarrts and art to it. There are a few filmmaking devices that we're not generally accustomed to seeing on television that are pretty refreshing.
Another way ofThis is something like Downtown Abbey, as nearly every reviewer mentions. I'd say it has less guilty-pleasure fun, and more smarrts and art to it. There are a few filmmaking devices that we're not generally accustomed to seeing on television that are pretty refreshing.
Another way of contrasting it with Downton, as I've noticed from the user reviews for and against, is that this isn't the kind of story where one should necessarily choose a character to sympathize with. In Downton there are 15 characters and enough soap opera to go around. There it's hard not to pick a character to love or hate. Parade's End is more of a well-rendered look at complex characters from a particular time and place. You need not like Downton to enjoy Parade's End.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

rijit

May 15, 2013

In general i'm a period serial fan, but this imo, is shockingly poor, terrible acting, cumberpatch, lol lives up to his name cold and boring the plot is just lacking, seems to be relying on the 'in house' anglophile vote from our distant cousins. sad really, relying on the gullible.

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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Seasons & Episodes

73

Series Overview
Season 1

73
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: August 24, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E5. 5
  Air Date: September 21, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E4. 4
  Air Date: September 14, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E3. 3
  Air Date: September 7, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E2. 2
  Air Date: August 31, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E1. 1
  Air Date: August 24, 2012