The Hour (UK) Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

  • Summary: It's 1957 and Bel has more challenges with the Hour including: a new boss (Peter Capaldi), a new competing program on ITV, and Hector's growing fame brings about bad behavior in the news anchor.
  • Genre(s): Drama
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Nov 26, 2012
    100
    The performances, the writing, the intelligence that goes into the script and the characters--all reasons for welcoming the start of a new season of The Hour.
  2. Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Nov 28, 2012
    80
    As with "Mad Men," we all recognize the workplace dynamic here. And as in "Mad Men," it's satisfying to see it dramatized in such a fresh and knowing way.
  3. 80
    The Hour has never pretended to be anything other than a very classy potboiler filled with attractive people, one that puts its heroes into predicaments that wouldn't be out of place in a silent film while sneaking social and historical commentary into the margins.
  4. Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Nov 28, 2012
    50
    The players seem to spend much of their time entering and exiting the same drab offices while shoveling exposition at one other.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. 10
    Magnificent show. Superb cast -- particularly Ben Whishaw as Freddie Lyon. Gorgeous cinematography and a complex, intriguing plot are particularly impressive in the second series. The pacing of the episodes is incredible... Expand
  2. This second season of 'The Hour' trumps the first by a considerable margin. Brilliant writing along with engaging characters confidently performed by all the principles and the supporting cast combine to give us an outstanding drama that sweeps us along fully committed to its many story threads. The whole enterprise also looks absolutely stunning and the use of colour in the costume and production design is to be applauded. The ending leaves us in no doubt that there will be a third series and I for one am on board for that. Applause, applause. Expand