Rules of the Game (TV Series) Episode #1.1 (2022) User Reviews

RG/1

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 13 January 2022]

I found myself pleasantly surprised by the first episode of Rules of the Game.

With so many run of the mill dramas that seem to come off a conveyor belt. At least a bit of thought went into this.

Sam (Maxine Peake) is the hard as nails manager of a sportswear company Fly Dynamics that is about to go public. She has worked there since she was 16 and the firm is run by two brothers Owen and Gareth.

The story is told in flashback as Sam is interviewed by the police. There has apparently been a suicide and the victim fell from the second floor of the firm's office.

Sam recalls the first day of the new HR executive Maya Benshaw (Rakhee Thakrar) who had new ideas for the firm. Sam is against it.

On her first day at work, Maya deals with a troubled employee Tess. She certainly gives a picture of a firm that is toxic.

It has the setting of a murder mystery. It actually examines sexual politics in the office. By the end of the first episode it is clear that Fly Dynamics is a rotten place to work with a dark history. Drugs, drinks and sex are bound to be involved.

Maybe Maya should had just run by the end of her first day. Despite being upbeat she has her own issues with a former partner.

I did think having the wives of Owen and Gareth made the drama lose focus. One of the wife complains about the lack of attention she gets, her husband is more interested in Sam.

I am sure there is a good reason why the victim has not yet been identified. It may get darker as the series goes on.

A slightly dull beginning.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 22 January 2022]

Personnel Manager Maya joins a new, family run firm, she has a can do attitude and wants to change the culture at Fly, but she's arrived at a troubled time.

It is an ok first episode, on the plus side it is beautifully made, it's slick, sharp and looks fantastic, the music, the acting is generally very good, especially Maxine Peake.

Maxine Peake is clearly on demand, this went out at the same time as Anne, that showed just what she can do, this didn't allow those heights, but she was still very good.

On the downside, the story was very hard to follow, the strands seem all over the place, some pieces of the jigsaw were kept from us, and that was frustrating. Maya is so far the most irritating character of 2022, you can imagine she'd be a bundle of fun with health and safety.

Audrey the cat, now that's creepy.

Right now I don't know what I'm watching, is it a crime drama, or a show about workplace culture. I'm hoping it gets a bit more exciting.

6/10.