Wish Me Luck - Complete Series

(WARNING: Spoilers ahead!)As someone that's acquired an unenviable reputation in certain quarters for moaning about the dire state of modern British television - of which I attribute to politically/ideologically myopic writers more preoccupied with pushing a trite agenda than telling a good story (or indeed conceiving of plausible characters), I was recently challenged online to name a women/female character-centric drama series that I actually liked! Without hesitation I named late 1980's/early 90's ITV series 'Wish Me Luck' (henceforth WML). Sadly the majority of responses I received amounted to 'never heard of it!'.And that's a real shame as, across its three series, WML proves to be a thoroughly engrossing, superlatively written (and surprisingly dark) WW2 drama of which dramatises the courageous exploits of (primarily) female SOE agents infiltrated into occupied France.Despite WML's evidently diminutive budget the series consistently impresses, exuding both meticulous research into its subject matter and impressive procurement of historically-authentic vehicles, equipment, uniforms and costumes (bar the rare anachronism). If only modern television dramas depicting historical periods bothered to exercise the same professionalism and attentiveness when recreating the past!Kate Buffrey heads the cast as the redoubtable Liz Grainger of whom is arguably the series overall main protagonist despite being largely absent from the final series. Buffrey puts in a truly masterful performance as Grainger imbuing the character with tangible gravitas, humanity and substance. Recruited into "The Outfit" (a fictionalised SOE), she's brave, resourceful, tenacious and resilient.... yet also naive, vulnerable, stubborn and far from infallible. In short she's a convincing, plausible character.For Series 1 Buffrey shares centre stage with Suzanna Hamilton as fellow recruit 'Matty' Firman whose terse, cockney, half-French working class persona provides an intriguing (if slightly clumsy) contrast to the stolidly middle-class Grainger.Administratively, Jane Asher's diligent yet empathetic Faith Ashley works with Julian Glover's tireless Colonel 'Cad' Cadogan to ensure the survival of not only their field agents but also "The Outfit" itself - the latter having to fend off political machinations as well as determined competition from rival clandestine operations groups for the first two series.Rounding out the main/recurring cast are Jane Snowden as the plucky yet naive Emily Whitbread and Michael J Jackson's Kit Vanston. Vanston is a dependable, effective yet psychologically scarred SOE agent who develops a deep, reciprocated affection for Liz whilst attempting to confront his own personal tragedy.So why is WML so (arguably) good? Especially when compared to the deluge of contemporary, creatively-ossified dross that masquerades as 'quality' drama these days? Because the series depicts characters as flawed human beings, doesn't implausibly overpower female protagonists, refrains from callously devaluing male characters (despite them being of secondary focus) by portraying them as idiots (or just plain evil) and thankfully doesn't excrete a noxiously divisive agenda.Regardless, despite justly lauding WML for its many dramatic and technical accomplishments the series inevitably suffers from a few conspicuous shortcomings:The most prominent of these is the lamentable use of OB (Outside Broadcast) in lieu of proper film. Sadly this late eighties/nineties budget-conscious measure diminished many a good show of the time to looking visually amateurish. Alas WML is no exception.Though the standard of acting throughout the series is generally high a few actors disappoint in their respective roles. One of the most notable arguably being a young Felicity Montague (Lynn of Alan Partridge fame) as the treacherous Nicole in Series 3 whose tendency to deliver her lines in conspiratorial and/or ludicrously theatrical fashion undermines both her character and performance.Of the three series the first is arguably the weakest in this reviewer's opinion. It's issues largely being a consequence of the somewhat contrived character of Matty Firman who's used as a device to convey class-defined prejudices then prevalent within British society. Though social division is of course thematically pertinent, Firman's unlikely cockney/French/Jewish heritage combination feels a little too convenient to be totally credible.These are all ultimately trivial gripes though.----------In conclusion then Wish Me Luck is a wonderfully engrossing series that's as criminally underrated as it is frustratingly obscure (though it's good to see a good few people remember it fondly here on Amazon). It deserves far wider recognition and, at least in my opinion, is a prime example of a vintage British TV that effortlessly eviscerates most 'quality' drama these days!Unhesitatingly Recommended.

My wife and I have got into watching these ancient dramas which we missed when originally shown on TV as we were too busy with life. We started with Tenko (it's not at all bad) and now Wish me Luck, both my wife's choices. This tells the story of the brave, some might say foolhardy, British people who volunteered to be dropped into France to operate as intelligence agents. It is quite well done but certain elements are over simplified, (probably due to budget constraints) for example the rescue of an imprisoned agent from the high security Gestapo head quarters is carried out by four people who more or less stroll in have a look around find their mate and stroll out. One is shot and killed but it is his own fault as he drops his weapon, a crowbar! which attracts the attention of the solitary German guard. This aside the constant tension these people must have been under comes across well and their knowing who can be trusted and who can't is an integral part of the drama. In the first series, now watched, my favourite character Mattie or is it Amy (the code names can be a little confusing) is the token working class character and half Jewish too. She is a feisty, engaging character, other characters are, by contrast, a little cardboard cut outish ex public school boys and girls. She has vanished from series 2 after returning to England at the end of series 1, she being the rescued agent I refer to above. New faces for series 2 are a feisty engaging but posh young woman, come back Amy/Mattie all is forgiven, and a woman who is clearly too old to be employed in such work but despite this is quite an enigmatic character who may turn out to be not all she seems to be. The stories do engage usually more than most of the characters. Given it's time of production 1987ish the prominence and commonsense practicality of the female characters in contrast to their, for the most part, old buffer male partners and colleagues is quite refreshing. There is much more to this than boys-own-tales of daring do and I am looking forward to watching the rest of it, especially if Mattie/Amy is reincarnated. Incidentally if I had watched this in the 1980s I doubt I would have stuck to it a more reflective approach is definitely needed to appreciate the finer points. Later: We've now finished the lot and have enjoyed it. The final series is the best in my opinion concerning the communist resistance stronghold of Le Crest and its eventual destruction by the Nazis only for the allies to turn up and save the survivors a matter of moments later. The one thing throughout the series that jarred was the improbable psychology and obsessions of some of the British agents. Did SOE have no screening process to ensure the agents could withstand the almost intolerable pressure they would have been under and to ensure they didn't have their own agendas that could and did threaten their own lives and those of others? OK it's fiction but it still irritated though not sufficiently to spoil the whole. Watching these in box set format allows one (obviously) to watch back to back episodes and it is an indication of how hooked we eventually became that we have watched (on occasion) 3 episodes back to back only stopping when bed called us.

Excellent quality program, remember it when it was first aired.