Civvies Review
Civvies
Reviewed by David Savage
Starring: Jason Isaacs, Peter O’Toole
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 311 minutes
Number of Episodes: 6
Number of Discs: 2
Format: DVD
Release Date: 3 June 2013
Civvies is a drama, written by Lynda La Plante, about retired soldiers trying to adjust to civilian life after leaving the army.
I was sent the first 3 episodes of this British drama series originally shown on the BBC in the 1990’s.
Frank Dillion (Jason Isaacs) has left the army after 15 year’s service. He leaves with £5000, has a wife and 2 kids to support and is coming out with no job to go to. He is only trained to be a soldier so is struggling to find a job and is spending his time in the pub with other ex-soldiers. Only his mates from the army know what he is going through so they all stick together.
By sticking together they take on jobs, some not entirely legal, they get jobs like protecting salmon breeding grounds from poachers in Scotland but the crime boss Barry Newman (Peter O’Toole) is always lurking in the background as he recognises men with their training and experience could be of great use to him.
Overall, I found Civvies to be a very gripping drama. With the subject of soldiers trying to adjust to living in the real world without the regimented structure of the army it is still relevant today as it was when first shown on the BBC.
It is a hard-hitting and violent drama with well-written storylines and highly entertaining.
Rating: 4/5
Available to buy from Acorn Media here.
