Episode 3

An Overwrought British Potboiler: Intense, But Rather Empty-Headed In Its Depiction Of Political Maneuvering
There is a lot going on in the heavily stylized three part British miniseries "Blackout" and I don't always mean that as a compliment. I was drawn to this presentation due to the involvement of Christopher Eccleston, an actor that I almost always find fascinating to watch. While he gives a largely successful performance, the actual adaptation is overwrought and even borders on preposterous. It may seem like an unusual feat to make something that is simultaneously over-simplified and over-complicated, but that's just what "Blackout" has done. As a study of addiction, of infidelity, and of political machinations, "Blackout" is a show that had a lot of interesting themes to work with. But nothing is explored in any real detail or depth, so there isn't much with which to emotionally connect. And it doesn't help that the political side story is just plain silly! To compensate for some of the plot's shortcomings, the show is fashioned as a quick-edited and jarring nightmare that...

Let's hope 'Blackout' will be back out!
'Blackout' is what I would call a tense, character driven, political 'Neo Noir Thriller' series from BBC. Christopher Eccleston effortlessly plunges himself into the role of an abject alcoholic who still just does manage on as a respected councilman. He has many flaws - prostitutes, drinking, and work fraud to name a few - but his fatal flaw, which we don't ever really get any kind of clinical read on, is one of self-hatred. Never-the-less, with his one sober-fueled but brain-numbed act of gravitas, our sad protagonist changes direction and begins a very interesting, yet fraught-filled course.

The premise of this series is quite interesting. There are those who are evil and we know it, and there are kinds of evil operating behind the scenes, so-to-speak, that keep us off balance.

Eccleston handles himself very well as the lead, Daniel Demoys. In fact, this was my first opportunity to see him in a lead role and I was very impressed. Demoys' wife (Alex), Dervla...

Lost Time
Well played by Chris Eccleston. Really believed his distress as his life unravels in a series of flashbacks caused by his destructive alcoholism.

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