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Rating: 
Summary: A 70's British drama worth viewing.
Review: As another reviewer mentioned, I too was bothered by showing the German's as reasonable occupiers. In that sense, the show is a whitewash. I would be interested in knowing what was the reception in Great Britain when this series was released in 1978. Of course, American's had Hogan's Heroes a few years earlier.
That said, I admit to having enjoyed the series of two years. I have no clue if the show was cancelled after the second year, but I could see that it may have run its course. The actor who played the German commandant was exceptional. I understand that he was a well known British t.v. actor. I wouldn't mind seeing some of his other work.
My favorite show of the first season was "Jerrybag" that was about the relationship between a native female, with a German soldier. This resulted in a child, but the soldier leaving to the Russian front. The story was troubling and captivating. Interestingly, it was the only story line repeated in the second year of the show. The ending of that second segment was rather upsetting.
Not all of the stories were as interesting as others. And not all of the recurring characters were as appealing. The British doctor was too self righteous, and his wife was a bore. The show was also clumsy in how it wrote out the doctor's daughter. The best characters to like or hate were mostly the Germans. I already mentioned the commandant, while the SS officer was particularly irritating in an entertaining way.
The viewer should know that these discs do not have good photography. The color is often washed out looking, and the actors sometimes rush their lines as in American soap operas. I found the sound on the video set to be better than the dvd. Also, the extra material on the dvd set was of little-to-no use. Finally, the viewer will be likely pleased with the theme music. I heard that the music was popular enough in Britain that a record of it was released in the late seventies.
Rating: 
Summary: Compelling WWII drama
Review: I really enjoyed both series 1 and 2 of Enemy at the Door. It is fine period drama--well-written, wonderfully acted, and a fine production all around. I don't quite understand the negative comments; I didn't feel it was a whitewash at all. Not all German soldiers were Nazis; many were simply young German males who were required to serve. In fact, in the series a German commandant is also a victim of Nazi repression, despite being a stellar German officer. I found it an excellent, insightful series. I highly recommend it to all drama lovers.
Rating:
Summary: a great soap/drama
Review: If you're looking for great combat action with acompanying mayhem and destruction--this series probably isn't what you're looking for. While classified as a drama--it's really more of a soap opera in a world war II setting. I normally don't care for soaps--but this one is done very well. Some characters aren't used as well as they should have been--John Nettles, for example, appears in only one episode as a policeman investigating black market activities-and though he's a bit younger than Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby--he plays the part in a very similar style. One of the better episodes involves a young German soldier who is accused of rape-although from what we are shown-he is only guilty of poor judgement coupled with a typical young mans testosterone--but his "punishment" is a very moving moment.
Another fine episode involves a young German named Eric who falls in love with a British girl, but the German command opposes his interest in her-and he winds up transferred to the Russian front. Of the Germans-Alfred Burke as Major Richter and John Malcolm as Oberleutnant Kluge are actually two of the more likeable characters--while Simon Cadell as Hauptmann Reinecke makes an almost perfect villain. The British are mainly represented by the Martel family, Peter Porteous and his invalid mother. All in all, I give this series a high recommendation, well worth the cost--there are a total of 13 episodes, each roughly 55 minutes in length and though some episodes are clearly better than others--all are interesting and well acted
Rating:
Summary: a great soap/drama
Review: If you're looking for great combat action with acompanying mayhem and destruction--this series probably isn't what you're looking for. While classified as a drama--it's really more of a soap opera in a world war II setting. I normally don't care for soaps--but this one is done very well. Some characters aren't used as well as they should have been--John Nettles, for example, appears in only one episode as a policeman investigating black market activities-and though he's a bit younger than Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby--he plays the part in a very similar style. One of the better episodes involves a young German soldier who is accused of rape-although from what we are shown-he is only guilty of poor judgement coupled with a typical young mans testosterone--but his "punishment" is a very moving moment.
Another fine episode involves a young German named Eric who falls in love with a British girl, but the German command opposes his interest in her-and he winds up transferred to the Russian front. Of the Germans-Alfred Burke as Major Richter and John Malcolm as Oberleutnant Kluge are actually two of the more likeable characters--while Simon Cadell as Hauptmann Reinecke makes an almost perfect villain. The British are mainly represented by the Martel family, Peter Porteous and his invalid mother. All in all, I give this series a high recommendation, well worth the cost--there are a total of 13 episodes, each roughly 55 minutes in length and though some episodes are clearly better than others--all are interesting and well acted
Rating:
Summary: Season One
Review: In this compelling television production of events on English Gurnsey Island during WWII, peaceful island life is transformed overnight by the arrival of the governing military command of occupying German soldiers and officers. But the island can only support so many people .. supplies, food, fuel and medicine become scarce as the Germans hoard for themselves. Tensions fly as the two populations confront eachother: The islanders wish to preserve their lifestyles .. whereas the German military commands respect and control under order of death! Decisions made by each person impact others with dire consequences. Each episode is a cliffhanger!Season one episodes should be watched before season two as the story line continues.
Rating: 
Summary: The Whitewash
Review: The series would have you believe that only 1 German for every 500,000 believed in Adolph Hitler. The other 499,999 Germans were not only good people, but saints. In contrast, the British Islanders were spoiled brats who thrived on their false patriotism. Watching this series one would never know that Auschwitz existed. More to the point, one would never know that the British Islanders helped the Germans ferret out the local English Jewish population. Nevertheless, in this delusional fairy tale the actual stories are quite good. But never has the line between fiction and nonfiction been thicker. What is most remarkable is that this is a British production and it was after all the English civilian population who suffered so much during the Blitz.
Rating:
Summary: a small piece of history
Review: This series was on BBC television years ago and although the DVD quality isn't as good as productions made today, it is a well told story of how the UK Channel Islanders survived during the German occupation in WW2. You will get caught up with the characters and find yourself wanting to watch all segments in just a few stretches, so it is good to buy both season one and season two at the same time. Alas, the series was cancelled before it reached the end of the war and I found myself wanting to see more. If you have visited the Channel Islands and seen the artifacts left by the Germans during the occupation then you need to watch these shows. I'm glad I have it in my collection of WW2 stories.
Rating:
Summary: The Whitewash
Review: This series will capture your interest and transport you back to WWII. The only downside is that the series was cancelled before the story progressed to the end of the war. I've watched Series I and II twice now in the month that I have had them and really want the series to continue!
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional series
Review: This series will capture your interest and transport you back to WWII. The only downside is that the series was cancelled before the story progressed to the end of the war. I've watched Series I and II twice now in the month that I have had them and really want the series to continue!
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