Boat Story (2023) User Reviews

If Tarrentino was to make a BBC drama?

[peterrichboy · 8/10 · 20 November 2023]

Then it would more than likely be along the lines of Boat Story. Its all here drugs, money, greed and some of the most violent shot outs I've ever seen on the BBC. I binged the whole lot in two day's, Daisy Hoggard and Patterson Joseph make an unlikely double act as they take on a very angry French drug lord who's drugs they have stolen, played superbly by the Missing's Tcheky Karyo.

The storylines are of course utterly ridiculous and totally unbelievable but when you get a mixture of violence and very dark comedy it really does not matter.

Overall a really enjoyable six hours of television. 8/10.

Lots of fun, as a good, old-fashioned farce.

[fustbariclation · 7/10 · 26 November 2023]

The acting is excellent, and the film really works as an old-fashioned farce, that doesn't take itself too seriously.

I think the American voice-over is supposed to be some sort of joke, but, for me, it failed to be funny, and was simply an annoying intrusion into a very English farce.

Once you have the genre, the plot makes sense - you're not supposed to take the plot holes seriously - they are supposed to be there.

Like any good farce, there is both the pantomime aspect, and some genuine tragedy.

It would be nice if there really was a film 'Les Enfants'?

It'd have been nice to know who the deluded Frenchman actually was, but, of course, that wouldn't make sense in the film.

Ridiculous fun

[paul2001sw-1 · 8/10 · 7 December 2023]

Crime is rarely fun; and cocaine is not some wonder drug with no serious ill-effects; but the criminal caper, often focused on cocaine dealing and featuring some stylised ultraviolence, is a well established genre. And you'll rarely see it done with more panache than in 'Boat Story', with its ridiculous plot and arch presentation, playing self-consciously with the viewer but actually well assembled and acted. The cast have great fun while managing to keep straight faces; I did enjoy seeing a good role for Joanna Scanlon, a fine comic actress when given something to work with. What you can't do is really care who lives and who dies; but that isn't really the point.

BBC doing something different to period dramas

[grovehill-69182 · 9/10 · 21 November 2023]

I really can't understand the low scores on here for this? They must have watched a different program than I did. This is one of the best things the BBC have done in a long time. It's gruesome, witty and totally clichéd, but you know what, it's brilliant. If you like Tarantino this is right up your alley. The story is set in a fictional Yorkshire coastal town, where a couple of dog walkers stumble upon a boat washed up on the beach. Inside they not only find a couple of dead bodies, but also millions of pounds of cocaine. For various reasons they decide to take the drugs. What ensues is a tale full of twists and turns as the true owners of the drugs want to get their stash back and will do anything to achieve it. The actors are all superb and the dialogue is sharp and witty. I was totally invested in it in within the first 10 minutes. Well done BBC for doing something other than another period drama.

God this was refreshing!

[katielaura06 · 10/10 · 25 November 2023]

Really enjoyed this! Such a refreshing change from the usual crap churned out on TV.

It is very Tarantino/Guy ritchie so if you're not a fan of their stuff it might not be for you.

I had seen some people being put off by violence - For me, the short scenes of violence weren't off putting or dragged out - probably because there's an interesting story to go with it and it keeps you curious...I hate pointless violence but it's cleverly done in this show.

Great acting from all the cast and the narration is incredible. The story is fairly ridiculous and far fetched but that's what makes it so good! I was laughing throughout but thoroughly enjoying every second!

Lots of funny moments! Good casting and likeable characters. Would highly recommend!

The moor the merrier.

[southdavid · 7/10 · 16 April 2024]

This BBC comedy crime drama was on the Guardians' best of 2023 list, despite appearing quite late in the year. I've been working my way through that countdown and landed on this a few weeks ago. It's a funny but dark series with a tone that reminds me of the Coen Brothers work.

Two strangers, Janet (Daisy Haggard) and Samuel (Paterson Joseph) discover a boat washed ashore on the coast of the town they live in. It contains two bodies and a large amount of cocaine. Despite being singularly unsuited to a life of crime, the pair agree to take the drugs and sell them, splitting the proceeds. Whilst the police are an immediate issue for them and trying to work out how to conduct a deal and who with, of bigger concern is French Gangster 'The Tailor' (Tcheky Karyo) owner of the drugs, who sends his hitman, Guy (Craig Fairbrass) locate them.

Despite being quite a stylish production, with its self-aware narration and meta 'play within the story' device, the key to the success of "Boat Story" is probably the casting of Haggard and Joseph as the two leads. Both play their roles as normal people who make an extraordinarily bad decision and keep their characters likable, but always with an edge that they might betray each other at any point. Craig Fairbrass is good too, with his beavy/hitman a bit deeper and more unusual than he might otherwise have been, there's an air of Martin McDonagh's writing in him - and his desire to make vases and go the Chinese restaurant with his coupon.

I suspect that you're either going to like the style of this series, with its chapter headings, flashbacks, allusions to an old French movie, ultra violence and humour, or you're going to hate it and whilst it's a novel change for the BBC, truth be told there's not much that original about it.

I found it fun though, carried along on a strong cast doing good work. It makes me want to start "The Tourist" now.

Really enjoyable!

[debbiepainmanagement · 10/10 · 19 November 2023]

Thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining, dark comedy.

Clever storyline with some good twists, likeable characters and great acting. Some really funny moments plus some gruesome bits. Never guessed what was around the corner, so kept my interest across each episode. Brilliantly comic narration at the beginning and end of each episode.

Binge watched it in one weekend as I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I hadn't seen any trailers for this programme so really didn't know what to expect but it was definitely worth the watch.

Very well done to all concerned and more of this please, much more!

fabulous show

[serafinavb · 10/10 · 19 November 2023]

Great show, really enjoyed watching this on iPlayer, binged it in a day! The cast is very strong, Daisy Haggard in particular, and she has fabulous chemistry with Paterson. A great mixture of a gritty crime story with comedy littered throughout and I particularly loved the addition of the narrator throughout. Also loved the use of the vintage placards. Although I am not a huge horror or crime fan, it was such a successful culmination of a variety of styles that helped to balance it out and make it exciting, fun, and nuanced. The Two Brothers (Jack and Harry) really did a fabulous job with this show.

The best thing I've watched on the BBC in years.

[jaypee1986 · 9/10 · 26 November 2023]

What a pleasant surprise that the BBC can actually produce something contemporary and with some geniune edge. Very refreshing and a change from the super serious dramas, wildlife documentarys and lifestyle shows. This is not for the faint of heart and gets very dark at times - one particular seen I couldn't believe I was watching on the BBC. The darkness is offset with some genuinely laugh-out-loud funny moments. This is the true definition of a dark comedy. Brilliantly acted by an amazingly talented and recognisable ensemble cast and presented in a really interesting and engaging way. Satisfying stuff. Everybody involved should be chuffed.

Baffling, confused car-crash television

[rognvaldmartin · 4/10 · 4 December 2023]

This could have been great but suffered terribly from the writers not knowing when to stop. Granted, it kept me watching to the end and I certainly didn't see the twists coming, but only because they were so wildly unbelievable. Any comparisons to Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino are, frankly, insulting to two excellent directors. Pulp Fiction or Grand Budapest Hotel this is not. Badly handled, this level of violence is deeply uncomfortable to watch at times and any attempt to lighten things with humour largely falls flat. A strong cast does their best to drag this mess out of the mire but, time and again, the bizarre plot choices undermine them. A sometimes interesting, often infuriating watch but, ultimately, not good.

This series is superb

[dxghvkw · 10/10 · 20 November 2023]

Where do I start? At the end. This has the best endings ever. It's not a misspelling, I do mean endings. It's not like there are choices to change the ending. It's more, well you'll see .. more endings. And the ending, while not the ending the tailor hoped for, was as spectacular an ending as anyone could hope for. The acting is absolutely top class and the story line has a lot of twists and turns. I particularly like the way actors who we know for their roles in other series suddenly confound us by doing the unexpected. Craig Fairbrass shows us he can play a character other than henchman. Joanna Scanlan goes from annoying dog trainer in wellies to iconic sex symbol and shows us her softer side. Then just as you get comfortable with the idea she might be a bombshell in bed drops coarse humour then later compassion. It's Villian meets French romance meets Godfather gangsters (tubas instead of violins) strung together in a series of sketches that have a Monty Python air of "and now for something completely different" with scenes broken by Keystone Cops title plates and a stage show reminiscent of Mulholland Drive. Yes, I've tried not to give away the plot, because you should absolutely watch it and once you've started you'll find it very hard to stop. Utterly brilliant in every way!

Thumbs up!

[per-181 · 10/10 · 28 November 2023]

Wow, was this a nice surprise! Comedy drama that is actually funny AND dramatic. Clever dialogue and plot twists galore - for once you have no clue what is going to happen, or what someone is going to say. Totally un-formulaic, well acted and - especially - masterfully edited. Even the narrator (a feature I normally never like) works. I'm three episodes in when I write this, so I guess they could still manage a really disappointing ending, but I don't think they will.

If you liked "Inside Man" with David Tennant and Stanley Tucci, you will love this. The same applies if you are a fan of Quentin Tarantino or the Coen brothers. This is right up there with the two first series of Fargo.

More, please!

So far enjoying it, 2 episodes in

[HowardB70 · 9/10 · 26 November 2023]

I don't understand some of the negative reviews - yes, you'll either love it or hate it - but watch it for what it is - I love it so far; very different and thoroughly enjoyable.

For me, the Tarantino-esque over-the-top violence and Lock Stock-like ineptitude and daftness of some situations/characters is what I enjoy about it so far. Yes there is violence, yes the plot is unrealistic, yes the dialog is sometimes corny, yes the characters could have been written better, but it's simply good fiction and a good plot so far, so watch it for what it is...a dark comedic thriller.

Although only 2 episodes in, I really cannot wait for the remaining episodes!

Would have scored it a 10 but....

[bevowen · 9/10 · 28 November 2023]

This series was very good but I think it dragged on a little too long. It would have been better if it was about 4 episodes. For me, the strongest characters were Samuel, Janet, Guy and The Tailor. It was also great to see Craig Fairbrass again as he is absolutely brilliant as an actor and I always wondered why he wasn't on mainstream tv more often. A great series with lots of twists and turns....i can see why it scored highly and would have given it a 10 but for the duration...by the end of episode 5, I guessed the ending by. However, worth watching and making up your own mind. A dark and compelling story that has some comedic moments!!

Yep, this one is a watcher, for sure.

[richard-is-still-alive · 9/10 · 27 November 2023]

A pitch-black comedy with lots of seemingly gratuitous violence - but very, very good.

The cast is super - every one of them, the settings add a great dimension and the unusual way the overall story is presented add a different slant. For me, the story unfolded clearly and - unlike some less enthusiastic reviewers - I found it riveting and entertaining.

The north England scenery is a bit grey and dour, but hey, that's what I imagine it's like up there. And wow, does it add to the feel of the story.

Yes, it has a good smattering of nasty characters in it, but also has the lovely Daisy - what a star she is.

If you don't mind too much blood and guts, give it a go.

Really Corny, badly written with crass dialogue, a wooden narrative which goes downhill fast.

[iplantagenet-13413 · 2/10 · 19 November 2023]

A fishing boat full of drugs with two dead bodies is found on a Yorkshire coastline by the two central characters a Londoner and a local girl down on her luck which is full of potential for a great story. However everything goes downhill fast from this point. It's filmed 80 miles away from the coast in the Leeds Bradford area which makes the whole narrative nonsensical and confusing. It could be filmed in Whitby or Scarborough and the North York Moors, which would make it much better, but it isn't. The narrative dwells in the completely absurd and incongruous, it's badly researched and badly conceived and the narrative is absurdly cliched, with really clichéd characters. From a French drug Tsar to a couple of East End villains to a few corrupt clueless and incompetent cops along with incompetent & clueless wooden top Yorkshire petty villains. None of this fits, makes sense or follows any kind storyline which holds you. It tries so desperately hard to be funny but just isn't. A great story should be plausible and realistic with some elements of reality, Prime Suspect is a great example of this. This however is just boring and ridiculously bad. On a positive note, some of the acting isn't bad, however the cast is generally typecast to the point of ridicule. The series collapses because of the fact that it's so badly written and conceived, it's very predictable with dull unimaginative directing.

Heady mix of comedy and drama

[mgumsley · 8/10 · 30 November 2023]

I must say I approached this mini series with some trepidation, as it can be quite violent in some phases of the story. One has to appreciate the humour and take much of the plot with a pinch of salt, but it really is a good tale about a mismatched pair of unlikely thieves who find a stash of cocaine in a shipwreck. After that the body count mounts as the cocaine owners come after the couple.

If you like the Coen Brothers and Tarantino, this is for you. The cast is tremendous throughout, I especially liked Daisy Haggard, Joanna Scanlan and the eponymous 'tailor' who switches from villain to lovesick hero at the drop of a hat.

Outrageously entertaining...

[InnerWisdom1000 · 10/10 · 5 December 2023]

This is a black comedy like few others I have ever watched.

Firstly, enormous credit to the script writers Harry Williams and Jack Williams who wrote a drama masterclass. It is absolutely off-the-wall crazy, zany and everything in between. There are beyond numerous scenes where imagination and believability are completely stretched to the limit. And then stretched some more.

But of course, as we know, superlative scripts cannot exist in isolation where great dramas are concerned. The acting here was for me, astonishing and delightfully unexpected: everyone - and I mean everyone - acted their socks off, and gave utter credence to their roles. Whilst making the viewer laugh out loud on their zany journeys.

But if that weren't enough, this wonderful drama series was copperfastened by out-of-the-box direction that I am sure the master of this genre - a certain Quentin Tarrantino - would probably readily and wholeheartedly approve. As well as laughing his head off for good measure. And - I nearly forgot - the genius narration throughout, which added sublime to the most glorious of ridiculousness.

I hope I am not overstepping myself by saying this drama should be nominated for numerous awards. Take your pick from the above.

Entertainment and enjoyability of the highest order.

Thank You All involved in this wonderful production...

Fantastic tv

[nicb-71438 · 10/10 · 28 November 2023]

Watched the first episode and wasn't sure if I'd continue with the rest as I'm not over keen on narrated shows but I'm very glad I did.

Episode 2..... one word, wow. I watched open mouthed, on the edge of my seat, screaming at the tv at a particular scene. And the rest did not disappoint. In fact I couldn't turn off and had to binge them all. It was indeed a thriller with some top twists and turns but it was also a dark comedy with some great lines that made me laugh out loud. Tchéky Karyo, " The Tailor", had a few of those lines and delivered them with subtle comedic effect but played a different kind of character than I'd seen him play before. A far cry from Baptiste or The Missing, other BBC shows. Was very pleasantly surprised, the character and the way he played him was fantastic, he was my favourite character but to be honest, it was a pretty strong cast. Daisy Haggard was fantastic as always. She never fails for me. Back to Life was one of my fave shows as was Breeders, but in this, she excelled. And her Russian accent was on point lol. Craig Fairbrass gave it a good go and delivered. Bit of a one truck pony I think but this was a bit different and his cold hearted character had a bit of vulnerability about him. Joanna Scanlon was as strong as ever and Phil Daniels in anything is always a bonus. Great writing that really got me thinking and what I thought had happened one way, went a totally different way, every time. I recommend this is the next thing you watch. Big thumbs up from me.

Poor man's Fargo

[redlightlessness · 8/10 · 3 December 2023]

I am positivelly surprised that an English drama could be somewhat fun to watch. I mean if you don't question or criticize everything happening and enjoy the show then it's really great. The characters are colorful but perhaps a little unrealistically swing from romantic to violent. Apart from some unreasonably inserted theatrical replays or whatever they were, which you can easily avoid by fast forwarding it's not a disappointing show really.

Yes in the absence of quality tv shows this can be a weekends fun if you watch all episodes at once. It's an English show at the end of the day so don't be so harsh.

Absolutely brilliant

[scrabo39-938-658370 · 10/10 · 31 December 2023]

From start to finish, a roller coaster ride of blood, lies, drugs, and yes, quite a few laugh out loud moments........oh, and watch until the end of the credits, to finally meet our narrator.

Here we go, 600 hundred characters.... I guess thats why so many reviews give you the plot outline, and the name of the 2nd grips 3rd cousin?

Completely pointless, but here we are, whiling away the time until I get the thumbs up.

Nope, not yet, 177 more, so I'm told. Oh yes, Happy New Year everyone in 2024. No .ore guff about Global Boiling or the WEF ballix.

We let them get away with Covid, no more, I say!

Ahhh, minimum character limit reached, which is a pity, as I was just getting into this.

Ah well, until next time......

Falling between stool(pigeon)s

[horsa-09369 · 3/10 · 26 November 2023]

This might be intended as a comedy, but it's not funny. It might be intended to be serious, but it's not plausible. The gratuitous, graphic, hackneyed violence sucks out the laughter & rapidly becomes predictable as well as unpleasant. The gratuitous surrealism voids the plausibility. It's an interesting (if unlikely) scenario with tortuous & meandering handling: a (gratuitously) serpentine mess. Some scenes are even played deliberately to be cringe-inducingly embarrassing at around the level of a sixth form play.

It's very unusual for me to lose patience with a well cast, well-played, carefully shot thriller, but I'd had enough - more than enough - after an hour and a half. I'm quite happy to admit this might not be enough to form a rounded and incisive opinion, that maybe I'm missing out on a modern Hamlet, but frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. I'm out.

Stick With It to Episode 3 or 4

[cramondperry-15015 · 9/10 · 5 January 2024]

The series mixes a number of genres that don't normally go together, but it keeps just the right side of the ridiculous line to be entertaining and rewarding. Initially I focused on how stupid the lead characters were particularly Samuel and Janet who kept on behaving like idiots presumably for some dramatic intent. He was a lawyer in a previous life, and you would've expected him to be thinking through the logical next steps, and not panicking like a teenager. And shrieking.

The lead characters histrionics nearly sunk the Boat!

However, by episode 3 or 4 the characters are developed in such a way that you start to care for them and you can see the interactive dynamics and some of the parts start to become enjoyable and rewarding to watch to the end.

Suitably different to many other programs. This is to be commended for its originality, and ultimately, it was a really enjoyable watch.

Trust the journey and the effort watching past, episode three is worth the investment of time. Well done BBC. I'd rate this an 8 but other reviews were a bit mean so I give it an extra star!

Does a Pomeranian count as a shaggy dog...?

[gogartyster · 9/10 · 28 December 2023]

Binge this if you dare. I lost count of the bits of other films/tv series/people or just characters it "borrowed" from in order to tell this (far-from) simple story. Which, incidentally different from a lot of the reviews I've read so far, I found hilarious and was totally hooked-on.

It uses all the "devices" you find in more conventional stories: only it mixes them up when you least expect them. Like when the "omniscient" narrator says, "Remember me...?" Or when the "Stone Killer" turns out to love pasties!

The actors who do all this amazing deadpanning are really on their game throughout. Paterson Joseph's face deserves its own show and all of the other "stereotypes" ham it up like they're really in on the secret all along. Which, of course, they are.

People who talk about "cliches" or "unbelievable plot twists" should be watching more Eastenders and leaving the real good stuff alone.

I'd have given it a 10 but that isn't done is it!

Great fun and escapism!

[simon-walker40 · 9/10 · 16 December 2023]

I just love this series! It is so fresh and original, I always like it when someone tries to do something different and not repeat old narratives or try to twist what has come before.

This is dark comedy at its finest with gore and silliness in equal amounts however it's delivered in a knowing way. This series features geat story writing and is backed up by a brilliant cast who all deliver stellar performances.

If you are looking for gritty realism, this isn't the series for you but for pure good old fashioned fun and escapism, this series is superb and I highly recommend it.

We'll done BBC!