I was recommended by a colleague to watch this show. To put it bluntly I was sceptical - it seemed just like a kids cartoon, and I am in my mid 30s - but I decided to give it a go, mainly because he kept saying "trust me"!
Over the past month I have watched the entire series and must say I was quite impressed. While it definitely is aimed at a younger audience, like all good children's stories it appeals to parents and children alike. If anything, it appeals to adults because it reminds them of what they loved about children's stories as kids.
The first season took a few episodes to get going. It took me a while to get into it and embrace the characters. The early episodes tend to be generally self-contained stories, however towards the end of season 1 the story takes off, and the story become much more serialised. From then on out it is a really enjoyable ride all the way through to the series 3 finale. If anything it gets better from season to season.
The animation is first rate for TV. I have never really watched any anime (or anime-style, in this case) series before so I was definitely going into this green, but I found the quality to be first rate. The characters were also very well written, and the constructed world of element benders was believable within its mythos. I highly recommend this to kids and adults alike. Better still, watch it with your kids.
At the end of the day, they are just telling good stories, and who wouldn't enjoy that?
The first episode sets a very bleak tone, which had led some people to label The Village a "misery-fest" on social networks. While the first episode is darker in tone than many Sunday night dramas, this description is unfair. I think it paints a plausibly more realistic view of country life that other recent period dramas. The characters are also much more rounded and complex than the first episode would lead you to believe.
The Village is impeccably acted by all concerned, and beautifully shot. All member's of the Middleton family are outstanding, with the young Bert a particular standout. Maxin Peake is wonderful. If you are willing to persevere, you will be rewarded. The later episodes go from strength to strength.
Being a period drama set in a similar period of British history, it is inevitable that this show got called the BBC's answer to Downton Abbey, but truthfully the shows couldn't more different. Downton has gone progressively down-hill in recent seasons, becoming more and more soapy. I see much more potential for The Village in both scope and storytelling as we move through the decades.
Peter Moffat has conceived the show as a UK version of German series Heimat with the story being told through the decades until the present day. I can't wait for season 2.
