The series is simply not busy enough, and the lack of charismatic characters, makes viewing rather boring. We gave up after 6 episodes, and the production smacked of being done on a limited budget. At least a snappy and creative script might have saved our day, but my wife and myself, kept asking why are watching this?

It appeared in episode one, to be a war time soap but it's growing up into a sophisticated viewing option. The Halcyon is getting better and better each week. It's a glamorous reminder of how far we have come. The story lines fit snugly together with a smart script and beautifully worked scenery. A real treat on a dark winter night. Roll on commissioning series 2.

Reading the other reviews I find they are a bit harsh, but not completely without merit.The sets are gorgeous, as is the costuming. I like most of the female characters, they feel less forced and and more nuanced and the 3 female leads: Hermione Corfield, Olivia Williams and Kara Tointon are all to my male eye, easy to watch and credible in their performances.I have seen some suggestions online comparing Hermoine Corfield to Scarlett Johansson, but Hermoine is much prettier and more attractive physically. I think she is also a better actress in respect of dramatic contexts.I will also add that I have since seen Kara Tointon inteviewed, and she self-deprecatingly refers to herself as a shower singer, but this is not true, as evidenced by her recent role in the Sound of Music. She has a wonderful voice and fine tonal quality and range. She will be able to do as much theater as she desires in the future. She plays the "minx" role in this show, and she has the figure and the attitude to carry it off with aplumb, and her vocal abilities are the icing on the cake. As the episodes have progressed, some of the male characters have improved -> Steven Mackintosh is particularly strong, but the complaint that clichés abound in the writing particularly in respect of the male characterizations is regretfully quite true. It makes for some real plodding moments as a result.Unfortunately, in episode #5 the clichés only got worse as the inevitable gay plot lines to appeal to every fringe audience were introduced as well. It is out of place for the show and just not of any interest to me whatsoever - dull and boring. It was unnecessary and detracts from the show.Likely that was the final straw and I shall drop my viewership of the show. Its to bad as The Halcyon had potential, but I am honestly not interested in such indoctrination, it was the final straw in a mixed bag of writing, and so I shall have to pass.

This is supposed to be ITV's "replacement" for DOWNTON ABBEY, but it's an elaborate game of dress-up.That was a poor marketing ploy, because by comparison THE HALCYON is tarted-up run-of-the-mill soap. On its own, the show is fancy, sometimes fun, and often unbelievable. The writers have packed in as much trauma as possible -- every A and B-list character has something tearing at them.THe characters are written as graphs: no actual realization possible. Those in charge of the plot and characters seem to be making it up as they go along, because the characters don't arrive fully formed and ready for discovery. Back story details feel tacked on.It was believable that DOWNTON characters prized their positions and sacrificed a great deal. At THE HALCYON, a senior staffer is nearly axed, has had three precious days off in a decade, but decides to take off the day when a major social reception is booked. Not the day after, but the day of. Sorry, but that disservices the character and the story.