This very good series can make your mouth water for the edenic peace of Village England and rural landscapes running the gamut from heartbreakingly serene to the powerfully majestic. Keith understands the value of re-enacting ancient historical pageants, even those that are but dimly understood, as rites that reinforce identity and devotion, and cause villagers to respect and protect what they have. The series explores, if rather lightly, the contrasts and continuities of past and present, using as its starting point the Batsford village guide series of the 1930 the.(and the splendid artwork). What a pity that much of the narration is smothered by the amateurish soundtrack. The 'music' is mostly syncopated noise, and it is offensively loud.
37 Reviews
Bad music editing
nateso7 May 2021
Season 2 has audio issues
bishopnan21 August 2021
Season 1 was great. I loved the photography, the history, and the many color stories Penelope brought to the viewer. I've just started Season 2 and am disappointed that the sound mixing was done so poorly. Her voice over parts are barely audible under the too loud (and too active) "background" music. Penelope's synced conversations are fine - at a much higher level than the voice overs. Can someone not redo this? I may have to mute the episodes and just enjoy the visuals. What a shame.
Wonderful Series
drednm17 November 2016
Dame Penelope Keith travels the byways in search of villages in this gorgeous series that delves into what makes a village and how villages survive in this age of non-community.
Using a series of 1930s illustrated books on English villages published by Batsford, she compares comments written 80 years ago with current conditions. Episode 1 sees Keith in East Anglia in quaint villages along the coast and inland.
Along with views of picturesque villages, we also get history lessons, stories about new cottage industries that keep villages alive, battles with beach erosion, and clinging to old traditions ... all things that unite and reinforce village life.
A fascinating look at rural life today. Not to be missed by the armchair traveler.
Using a series of 1930s illustrated books on English villages published by Batsford, she compares comments written 80 years ago with current conditions. Episode 1 sees Keith in East Anglia in quaint villages along the coast and inland.
Along with views of picturesque villages, we also get history lessons, stories about new cottage industries that keep villages alive, battles with beach erosion, and clinging to old traditions ... all things that unite and reinforce village life.
A fascinating look at rural life today. Not to be missed by the armchair traveler.
Horrible Music
Reelkim17 October 2021
Having come late to the village party, I completed the series last week. I enjoyed the 1st season, but seasons 2 & 3 were difficult to hear. The music loud and glaring completely overwhelmed Ms Keith's narrative. I wish the series could be remixed.
I agree about the music
deegiegee18 September 2021
I also agree that I wasn't sure I would enjoy the series as I didn't really like Dame Penelope in the BritComs I've watched.
However, she surprised me, and I thoroughly enjoyed season 1 ... Seasons 2 and 3 were very difficult to hear due to the music level being so high, and the voice so faint. Even with CC, it was difficult, but I plowed through and got the gist.
Too bad seasons 2-3 cannot be remixed.
However, she surprised me, and I thoroughly enjoyed season 1 ... Seasons 2 and 3 were very difficult to hear due to the music level being so high, and the voice so faint. Even with CC, it was difficult, but I plowed through and got the gist.
Too bad seasons 2-3 cannot be remixed.
Turn the music down
regina-1404117 June 2021
I love this series. The first time I watched it I cried because I wanted to visit these places so badly. My only criticism is that the background music is so loud I cannot hear the narrator. I sure it is too late to change it but I am so disappointed that I cannot hear everything that is said.
Beautiful show. Sound mixing atrocious.
amandamorton-395873 February 2022
First, this is an excellent show. I want to move to a village in Great Britain now. The sound mixing however is horrid. I don't know why the producers and sound people would think viewers would rather hear the background music rather than the narration?! I almost stopped watching it, because of this issue, which is sad, given what a great show it is otherwise.
Surprisingly Terrific
Gswillis12 June 2021
I wasn't sure if I would like this at first she seemed to be very pretentious and arrogant as she went about her adventures, but the virtue of patience always wins out and she proved to be a great host. This was a wonderful series with a great video of a beautiful country, even though the music was too loud at times.
SOUNDTRACK is awful or I would have rated it a 10
graciego21 September 2021
I loved the series except, as others have mentioned, there are huge problems with the music drowning out the excellent narration in Seasons 2 and 3. The photography and Penelope Keith are so wonderful that it is painful to see a great series ruined by such amateurish sound-mixing.
I do not suppose anyone would consider going back and correcting it but I so wish someone would - for reasons of professional pride if for no other reason. If nothing else, remove the music entirely except for the opening/closing credits. It would not be missed.
I do not suppose anyone would consider going back and correcting it but I so wish someone would - for reasons of professional pride if for no other reason. If nothing else, remove the music entirely except for the opening/closing credits. It would not be missed.
The best documentary I have seen.
llolynp19 June 2021
This documentary is excellent all the way around. There is no stone uncovered and her personality is so becoming. I am not a traveler but this documentary is calling out to me to explore the villages that I saw and learned about on the Hidden Village documentary.
Bravo Penelope!!
Bravo Penelope!!
Music during voiceover way too loud
gretchenmarrufo7 May 2021
Seasons 2 and 3 are only viewable if you are willing to read subtitles, unfortunately. I truly enjoy this series and it would be rated a 10 if the voiceover sections were not drowned out by what is clearly supposed to be background music.
Music is WAAAAAAY too loud
leoncelionnet7 February 2021
Penelope Keith travels to villages across Britain
barryrd25 June 2017
Penelope Keith does a superb job hosting this series and she has excellent research and interview subjects to back her up. I am fortunate to be able to find quality British shows in Canada like this one on PBS, Vision and TV Ontario. I have seen a number of programs and Penelope Keith sparkles with wit and enthusiasm as she tells us about the villages she is visiting. Interviews take place in these locations with residents who know and appreciate the history and people in each one. I viewed villages in areas such as Cornwall, East Anglia, Yorkshire, the Lake District and Scotland where she visited a village near the Queen!s residence at Balmoral. There are many stories to be told in these out of the way villages that you realize the wealth of interest away from the usual tourist destinations. An excellent television series.
Penelope Keith, subject matter & photography:10, Music and sound editing:1
imdb-837052 March 2022
I have to agree with the many, many reviews about the horrendous sound mixing. I didn't find the music itself so horrible as other commenters' earlier reviews, but the editors responsible for mixing should be sent to the Tower. It's way too often offensively loud, drowning out Dame Penelope who's engaging and generally terrific when you can hear her. Sometimes the volume kicks way up and it's as if Dame P is yelling. Then it's suddenly brought way down. Lather, rinse, repeat. What is a great series from a subject, visual and narrative perspective is sabotaged by the criminal performance of the sound editors. Giving it a 9 overall, but the sound and mixing is an utter failure.
LOVE this show; wish the music did not drown out her voice.
dlightd-322923 July 2022
LOVE this show; wish the music did not drown out her voice. Thank goodness for closed caption. The program is delightfully entertaining like a visual. AMSR. History, festivals, reenactments, and personal recollections round out this dream.
Music so loud, narration difficult to hear.
pmjrcvmk21 December 2022
I'm watching the East Sussex and Kent episode narrated by Penelope Keith and the music is so loud the narration is all but drowned out. Seems a shame since the show is about the narrative, not the background music. I've watched quite a few of the Hidden Villages series and this is the first show that I've noticed the difficulty in hearing Penelope. I don't know if anything can be done about these already released episodes, but would hope that future episodes, if there are anymore, would keep the background music in the background. Would love to have been able to hear more of Penelope's narration.
Difficult to hear her
scharpy-358-57383421 May 2023
Much of her speaking is hard to hear for the background music they play. You have to listen carefully. Wonder if they can redo the soundtrack and lower the music? Otherwise it's a delightful travel through the English countryside. Use of audial shots really shows off the beauyEnglish countryside.
Didn't realize there could be so much sunshine in England. And it's so vibrant green. I highly recommend watching this with close captions because of what I said above. England is on my short bucket list and this series come close to what my own visit would include. Wish me luck when I get to do my tour.
Didn't realize there could be so much sunshine in England. And it's so vibrant green. I highly recommend watching this with close captions because of what I said above. England is on my short bucket list and this series come close to what my own visit would include. Wish me luck when I get to do my tour.
Amazing culture and breathtaking views!
me-445122 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Ms. Penelope did an amazing job hosting this series. I couldn't stop watching once I started. Even today, the areas including some Highland villages, are steeped in tradition. It seems as if you've taken a step back in time. Simplistic living, caring/watching out for your neighbors and coming together as communities. Knowing where your food comes from, keeping traditions alive throughout the centuries. The small shops are beautiful as well as quaint. Every building is magnificently made and visually pleasing. What a wonderful way to live. A simple way to live life for those lucky enough to live in these small villages. Not without hard work but so worth it!
I don't hear the sound issues
trainjustleft4 July 2022
Volume levels ruin a GREAT show
dmeymca24 June 2021
The music volume overwhelms the wonderful Narration of Dame Penelope Keith. Such a basic production error that is very easy to fix. I hope that Amazon looks into this. Or BBC (if they produced this great program). Improve video for a 10+++
Great content, poor sound mixing
donnargough12 March 2022
Loved the cinematography and visuals and content of this charming series, which offers a window into small-town (or rather village) England. However in too many episodes, the narration was almost completely drowned out by the background (or rather what was supposed to be background) music, so that the predominate sound was music, with Penelope Keith's voice overwhelmed by it all, so that it was often difficult to hear and understand what she was saying, Very frustrating and something that distracted from the overall quality of the program.
Love the scenery but..
lachawkfan29 March 2022
Who mixed this? Did they listen to it? Every time Penelope has Voice Over, her voice drops about 6dB and the music over takes her voice. When she's on camera, it's fine. Did they listen or look at meters or were they just in a hurry and let it rip. Thank God for captions.
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