The Bletchley Circle

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Season 1
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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Critic Reviews

  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    Apr 22, 2013
    80
    A smart and highly suspenseful miniseries.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Tirdad Derakhshani
    Apr 22, 2013
    80
    With its fine acting, tight script, and tense tone, The Bletchley Circle is pure ecstasy for mystery fans.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Alessandra Stanley
    Apr 19, 2013
    80
    Both series [The Bletchley Circle and "Call the Midwife"] find a clever, entertaining way to pay tribute to women who in their time were often overlooked and underestimated, and nevertheless found ways to never be ordinary.
  5. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Apr 18, 2013
    80
    The drama might have had more depth and texture if more time had been spent contextualizing their relationships instead of just showing the ladies putting up with a series of oafs. But there's only so much Bletchley can do in three installments, and it has many sustaining qualities to offset the relatively thin supporting characters.
  6. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Apr 17, 2013
    80
    Perfectly cast and cleverly paced, consider it a mini-"Masterpiece Mystery" for that franchise’s crime-loving loyalists.
  7. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Lesley Smith
    Apr 22, 2013
    70
    While the mystery genre has a rich history of incisive social commentary animating a compelling investigation, this series struggles to balance an examination of women’s place in post-war Britain and a classic race-against-time mystery.
  8. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Apr 19, 2013
    70
    The intriguing three-part The Bletchley Circle, which admirably avoids preciousness as it depicts the teamwork of four women who during WWII worked secretly for the government as code breakers (Bletchley Park was their HQ).
  9. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Dorothy Rabinowitz
    Apr 19, 2013
    70
    A marvelously complex atmosphere of wartime tension hovers over the peacetime lives of these characters--no small saving grace in a script that includes the hunt for yet another tiresome serial killer/rapist with strange sexual tastes, now a staple of British television mysteries.
  10. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Apr 19, 2013
    50
    The performances are superb and make Bletchley Circle more than the sum of its pedantic parts.

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best TV Season of 2012
88
#88 Most Discussed TV Season of 2012
49
#49 Most Shared TV Season of 2012

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. drcaos
    Apr 22, 2014
    10
    Excellent actors, director and plot. Really refreshing! Too bad people did not support a third season. This kind of quality work deservesExcellent actors, director and plot. Really refreshing! Too bad people did not support a third season. This kind of quality work deserves higher ratings… Full Review »
  2. Kestrelfalke
    Apr 2, 2014
    10
    Excellent writing, acting, and plot. Riveting and suspenseful. Susan does a couple of unwise things to ratchet up the suspense, but it's quiteExcellent writing, acting, and plot. Riveting and suspenseful. Susan does a couple of unwise things to ratchet up the suspense, but it's quite forgivable.… Full Review »
  3. Coldhwayne
    May 18, 2013
    9
    I have to admit I am a student of the history of Bletchley Park and the code breakers and have visited the facility recently. I initiallyI have to admit I am a student of the history of Bletchley Park and the code breakers and have visited the facility recently. I initially thought the series was about BP and its role during WWII but it is much more. The story line is fascinating and the period costumes, automobiles, interior decoration of the buildings and use of restored train stations and buildings put the viewer into the period with the actors. The four lead actors are superb in their respective roles. Because this is a British series (shown on PBS in the US) you have to concentrate a bit on the dialogue and accents. The series was recently renewed for another season and f I look forward to the next mystery for them to solve.… Full Review »
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