The Monocled Mutineer

The Monocled Mutineer is a brilliant drama / comedy mini-series, recounting the true story of rogue British soldier Percy Topliss (Paul McGann), starting at the end, and retelling all the events that lead up to the present. It tells of Percy's humble beginnings and up to the age of how he has many encounters with the law. And is perceived by people at the time to have redeemed himself by serving God, King and Country in the Great War.

The story also represents how people if treated badly will react negatively, and lash back. It also shows the terrible effects of war, and how it affected the poor men, and their lives in the trenches, and it makes you totally understand and support their uprising in the officer training camp.

This film is brilliantly directed by Jim O'Brien, it tells a brutally honest story, and holds no punches in portraying the bloody trenches of WWI. It shows the terror that those men faced and does not apologise. It is based on a great script by Alan Bleasdale, who tells a wonderful story with good characters, and as a recurring theme, explores the lives of working class people, representing their hardship, and how they went about their lives. The series has a great performance by Paul McGann, and fans of the film Excalibur may recognise Cherie Lunghi, as Percy Topliss' lover.

The story is tragic, yet the theme song is quite upbeat, I guess it is a juxtaposition. I would recommend this series greatly. It is a good mixture of comedy and drama and is another fine example of the BBC's brilliant programming.