128 reviews
Better than what other people have said...
This show, much like Gurinder Chadha's films, are extremely accurate at portraying a story which is authentic to Indian people as well as entertaining. Somebody who just consumes British TV would not understand the depths of this show - there are famous bollywood actors in this and the dialogue is particularly sarcastic and you can't help but want to watch the next episode to see what happens. It is a DRAMA, with mystery and particularly caters to an asian audience as it shows the clashes in culture.
- jasmine-07745
- Jul 16, 2019
- Permalink
So far I'm enjoying it
I'm a fan of the British period dramas and so far I am enjoying this one. I'm interested to see the characters develop and the storyline address the mysteriousness of the Beecham House. I am a fan of Gurinder Chadha's Bend it like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice so perhaps that's one the reasons I'm enjoying this show.
Enjoyable Sunday night fayre
I've watched this till episode six, not sure how historically accurate it is but I found the characters believable and the acting is certainly as good as any I've seen on television recently so I'm surprised at the bad reviews as the story is more interesting as the series continues, so perseverance pays off
Fabulous set, good cast, very atmospheric but rushed!
I adore the sets and filming, the cast is good, the plot is spot on so why cram this into a conveyor-belt soap opera and shoe-horn it into 6 episodes?? It has all the ingredients but is farcical in the situations it covers in each episode. I guess this is typical grab the audience within a period of short space of time or face having the next series cut! Sad that business comes before art, as this is fine art reduced to a comical parody. So disappointed!
- vincentbevan
- Jul 21, 2019
- Permalink
Much better than the reviews suggest
I really enjoyed it. Fantastic filming locations & fast paced dramatic action. The final episode of series one left the storyline on a knife edge so hopefully there will be a series 2
- aphunt-52757
- Apr 2, 2020
- Permalink
Love it!
I am shocked at all the negative reviews. I loved the show, however I am a big period drama lover and quite enjoy the quirks of English period drama. I did not find the characters dull in the least and will definitely continue watching. I'm very excited there is a period drama series to watch again as they are few and far between these days.
- snippitygirl
- Jun 25, 2019
- Permalink
Hoping for a season 2
Thoroughly enjoyable, a glimpse into a time/era leading to eng/indi imperialism that does not become enmeshed in the politics but stays true to its character's experiences...want a season 2!
WHEN IS SEASON 2?
I love it!!! It can not end like this. We need more. Pleeeeese!!!!!!
- krivleva-iva
- Jul 28, 2019
- Permalink
It could have been a contender but was ruined by the ending
Cliche After Cliche
I love India and I really wanted to lose myself in this show. The settings and costumes are beyond gorgeous, but that is where the magic stops. I am going to blame the direction and production for messing this up, because every single one of the actors are so stilted and unnatural in their line delivery that it can't be ALL of their faults. There are some quite good actors here, but they totally wasted in this production. And between the characters, the story arcs, and the dialogue, they have managed to hit on every cliche possible. Not to mention the pacing, which creeps along at the pace of a glacier. It's a real pity that such an obviously expensive project is so full and lifeless.
I Love Beecham House
I have absolutely loved Beecham House from the first episode. The costumes, sets, actors, the storyline. I can't wait for the next episode and tonight is the finally. To the person who criticised, the British in India, I agree there were a lot of bad British people, but there were some good ones. Indians are not all saints either. My late mother was treated very kindly by an English doctor, back in India, when everyone turned their backs on her. This kind man treated her for free and saved her life, and charged her no money, treated her like a daughter. There are good and bad people in every race!!!
- karunaraina
- Jul 20, 2019
- Permalink
Worth Time Viewing
As others have said ,great cinematography, costumes .First three episodes were interesting but starting with episode 4 takes a turn and starts going downhill. Storyline turns "hokey" and acting is somewhat wooden, except for mother character who is very god. All in all it's worth watching .
- bud2mac_03
- Aug 1, 2020
- Permalink
Great scenery and Costumes, But.....
I watched all six episodes. The scenery was magnificent, the costumes were glorious. Everything was clean and sparkling. The cast had some good actors, but even they could not breathe life into this melodrama. I think the scriptwriters should be hauled over the coals. They evidently came from the Barbara Cartland school of writing. Cliches abounded thick and fast. I did stick it out to the end only to see if it was going to get any better. It got worse. The two young English ladies in the series were purported to be in their early 20s. I don't know what they did to them make up wise, but they looked 40! The highlight for me was the baby August. He managed to keep smiling through the whole debacle.
Cheesy but could be worse
Just like someone here already wrote, it's just a bit of fun. Exotic escapism (obviously for someone who doesn't live in India!). At first I thought that it was horrible, but once I got over it and didn't have any big expectations for it, I realized that it was decent harmless entertainment. It's very predictable and obviously super easy to follow, just like one could expect after five minutes of watching.
I'm not big into TV-series like this though. Maybe I was spoiled growing up with some truely classic TV-series like Hercule Poirot, but for me personally many of the new TV-series are very bad. Compared to something like the new Sanditon, Beecham House doesn't even seem to take itself seriously.
I'm not big into TV-series like this though. Maybe I was spoiled growing up with some truely classic TV-series like Hercule Poirot, but for me personally many of the new TV-series are very bad. Compared to something like the new Sanditon, Beecham House doesn't even seem to take itself seriously.
- jussit-28958
- Feb 3, 2020
- Permalink
Lazy, turgid and just badly written
The photography is very pretty. But that's about all I could recommend. This is a drama so lacking in drama, I feel like ITV should be done under the trade description act. Woefully slow. Ponderous to the point where I pondered why I was watching it. Kept hoping it would get better, but it didn't. How on earth this got commissioned is a mystery.
- RedMars2017
- Jun 23, 2019
- Permalink
Second season gets the ax!
This soap opera set in India 1975 had beautiful sets, colorful costumes, and vivid cinematography but the poor script and stilted acting left much to be desired. The pacing was somewhat awkward and the way they tried to build up some mysterious secret was more frustrating than intriguing. Most of the characters are unlikeable in the first episodes but do start to develop and grow on you later. Although predictable and cliche, this soap gets a tiny bit better as it goes, and I stuck with it to see how it would end... which by the way is a cliffhanger to make you want to come back for next season...but, In My Humble Opinion, I just don't know if it will be strong enough to warrant a second season, so watch at your own risk. Edit: no second season for this show so watch up until the Taj Mahal scene in the 6th episode for a tidy ending, anything past there will leave an unresolved cliffhanger.
- LiveLoveLead
- Jul 25, 2020
- Permalink
Original story, beautiful sets
Beecham House delivers a uniquely original period drama, in a word full of reboots, predictability, and post-apocalyptic doom. The set decoration and costumes bring the colorful wonders of India to life, while the story itself gave this American a bit of a history lesson. Thoroughly enjoyed the entire season and hope it gets picked up for another run. It would be a shame to see another wonderful show meet an early end.
- sfgiantsjen
- May 13, 2020
- Permalink
Exotic Picturisation
A serial with good direction and good performance by actors...keeps your interest alive throughout. Watch if you like period dramas shooting in palaces w and exotic locales. I enjoyed watching it.
Easy going Sunday night tv
Ok its been a ittle slow but the scenery makes up for it. Its your typical chill out Sunday night drama and the story is just starting to come together. I am really enjoying it and am glad I have persevered with it and ignored the negative reviews.
- jo-bishop14
- Jul 7, 2019
- Permalink
Soap opera set in India
It is not bad. Just don't expect an exciting Indian adventure series. The acting is fine; the scenery and costumes are good and appropriate; writing could have a bit more drama added. It will appeal to some viewers and disappoint others. It is definitely watchable especially if you do not expect something riveting. There is romance, beauty and plenty of colour. There will be a second series as foretold by the ending of series one. It is not a 1 or a 2 but neither is it 9 or 10 rateable. The male lead is handsome and there are beautiful women so some eye candy for all. Enjoy or not depending on your expectations!
- KathleenK22
- Jul 21, 2019
- Permalink
The bachelor goes to India
In costume. With staff. And a beautiful mansion. And I don't care who gets him.
- sharonanneverrall
- Jun 16, 2020
- Permalink
Fantastic, beautiful scenery and costumes
Ignore all the negative reviews! It's fantastic.
It's fiction and romance/adventure so it's not meant to be taken literally.
- queenvickyv
- Jun 26, 2019
- Permalink
Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon: Make Series 2! Beef-up Plots & Characters to Match Superb ConceptProduction Values
10 stars for the very important concept and story and for its exceptional production values, less 3 stars for unrealized plot and character development potential, upon which a successor production company, in partnership with the series creators, could actualize.
Sets, costumes, and vistas are gorgeous. The story is most worthy of continuation, and its perspective feels unique.
Both plot and character development unfold too slowly for 2020 audiences. Transitional scenes that explain little about character or plot chew up too much airtime lingering over comings/goings that are more efficiently. creatively, and strategically handled in current period dramas (for example Downton). The result is that both plots and characters feel too simplistic and therefore antiquated, as if a production from, say, 1984.
By its end, each episode was like a luscious glimpse of well-executed visual art, instead of a satisfying serving of story and characters.
It wasn't renewed for Series 2, possibly for reasons including the above weaknesses.
The story is MOST worthy of a resurrection into Series 2 by another production source. If the program's strengths could be matched by a faster pace of enriched character and plot developments, Beecham House might earn the larger fan base loyalty that the story's very important history and location so richly deserves.
Netflix, Hulu, & Amazon have invested richly in far less interesting & far less worthy material. Beecham House Series 2 would be a great project for any one of them.
PLEASE find Beecham House a new home for Series 2+++!!!!!!
Sets, costumes, and vistas are gorgeous. The story is most worthy of continuation, and its perspective feels unique.
Both plot and character development unfold too slowly for 2020 audiences. Transitional scenes that explain little about character or plot chew up too much airtime lingering over comings/goings that are more efficiently. creatively, and strategically handled in current period dramas (for example Downton). The result is that both plots and characters feel too simplistic and therefore antiquated, as if a production from, say, 1984.
By its end, each episode was like a luscious glimpse of well-executed visual art, instead of a satisfying serving of story and characters.
It wasn't renewed for Series 2, possibly for reasons including the above weaknesses.
The story is MOST worthy of a resurrection into Series 2 by another production source. If the program's strengths could be matched by a faster pace of enriched character and plot developments, Beecham House might earn the larger fan base loyalty that the story's very important history and location so richly deserves.
Netflix, Hulu, & Amazon have invested richly in far less interesting & far less worthy material. Beecham House Series 2 would be a great project for any one of them.
PLEASE find Beecham House a new home for Series 2+++!!!!!!
- lgnelson-1
- Jun 28, 2020
- Permalink
Oh dear.....!
The trailers had looked impressive, promising a sumptuous visual spectacle in the Sunday evening prime viewing spot, and as my better half was determined to commandeer the TV I thought I'd give it a fair 'go'. Well, I've managed two episodes, biting my tongue for fear of spoiling my wife's enjoyment with any observations, only for her to turn to me as the credits rolled and remark: "how on earth can they put this rubbish on? Seriously, is it a joke?".
As others have observed, the setting, scenery and cinematography is a big plus-point. Full of colour, it does it's best to evoke the period before the Raj, but that's about the best I can say. Each scene seems to be confined to a small 'lot', only the eponymous Beecham House showing any sense of scale. The actors, I am sure, do their best, but the script and 'delivery' comes straight out of the school of 'Crossroads' (of hallowed memory!). Long pauses and meaningful stares, as the cast read their next lines off the door/wall etc... The Indian staff in BH are straight out of 'It ain't half hot, Mum', cardboard caricatures with little purpose beyond reinforcing jaded stereotypes, certainly with no character development. Mind you, that pretty much apples to the entire cast.
As for the plot, such as it is, there are the makings of an interesting story about a neglected period in history. However, it is just a complete mess, too many holes, gaps, non-sequiturs to even bother listing. I'd not be surprised if it were 'pulled' before the series ends, or at least shifted to a graveyard slot in the schedule. I will not, I'm afraid, be wasting any more viewing time on this tosh, not while there is drying paint to watch!
As others have observed, the setting, scenery and cinematography is a big plus-point. Full of colour, it does it's best to evoke the period before the Raj, but that's about the best I can say. Each scene seems to be confined to a small 'lot', only the eponymous Beecham House showing any sense of scale. The actors, I am sure, do their best, but the script and 'delivery' comes straight out of the school of 'Crossroads' (of hallowed memory!). Long pauses and meaningful stares, as the cast read their next lines off the door/wall etc... The Indian staff in BH are straight out of 'It ain't half hot, Mum', cardboard caricatures with little purpose beyond reinforcing jaded stereotypes, certainly with no character development. Mind you, that pretty much apples to the entire cast.
As for the plot, such as it is, there are the makings of an interesting story about a neglected period in history. However, it is just a complete mess, too many holes, gaps, non-sequiturs to even bother listing. I'd not be surprised if it were 'pulled' before the series ends, or at least shifted to a graveyard slot in the schedule. I will not, I'm afraid, be wasting any more viewing time on this tosh, not while there is drying paint to watch!
- gattaca-44120
- Jun 26, 2019
- Permalink
Continuity error.
Within the first minutes a rifle becomes a hand gun.
Hope the rest of the series is better.