This has got to be the most aggravating television series I've ever seen/watched. I don't know which is more appropriate as I seem to have watched it despite myself. You can't not watch it, you're bound to be curious as to what happens next, but it's a painful viewing. Yes, as in not very well made. Which is heartbreaking as there's clearly something there. The topic is fascinating, the plot potentially thrilling, the characters and the acting somehow more human and believable than it would be were it an American production. Benedict Cumberbatch inhabits this enigmatic geeky OCD character with a Jimmy Stewart-like everyman hero-ness about him while never oversimplifying him. Anamaria Marinca paints a sincere and passionate character in Yasim. Now, these two actors and these two characters and their story makes sense to me. The rest of the characters weren't as clear or good, which no amount of good acting could (or indeed did) save. The plot itself wasn't that hard to follow, but comprehending the motivation of the characters or being convinced by it was a bit of a stretch. Something somewhere in the making of this series went wrong. Strange thing is it's pretty hard to put one's finger on it. Was it the writing? But then what made me want to keep on watching? Was it the directing, the photography, the editing? I think the director should take some blame - all the bits didn't seem to tie in. The camera movement did at one point actually bother me - when the camera tilted diagonally to fit the heads of actors squarely into the shot (very bizarre). And the story could indeed have been helped along in editing. Watching it in 2012 I was never going to be harsh on how realistic it is or isn't. It's more of an exercise of thought, what could happen and perhaps make you question the things you willingly do in this day and age already, what this could mean. The ending was both frustrating and not frustrating. What happens to Michael and what Russell ends up being (by the way, what WAS he?) would be the frustrating bit. And the situation Stephen ends up in is mentally and emotionally deliciously excruciating.

It is not just that THE LAST ENEMY is disappointing or doesn't fulfill its promise. Rather, the mini-series takes a downhill plunge such that, by the end, TLE is annoying and downright painful to watch.The film begins as most promising, intriguing, etc. The ninety minute intro episode introduces several interesting characters and events that compel the viewer to "tune in next time". The second episode, now an hour in length, is still fun though it seems to just offer more characters and circumstances; i.e., without much in the way of moving things along. By the third episode we're getting character vignettes without much in the way of cohesion and with plodding method.By episode four we're frustrated as far as what or who we're supposed to suspect and are absolutely bored with the personal stories, love conflicts of the main characters. By then we're so tired of seeing our lead character's facial expression of screwed-up astonishment that we want to paint a mustache on it. By episode five we just want Robert Carlyle's character (by then his thick Irish accent is the only fun thing left) to just kill everyone, which he almost does anyway.

You have to be focused/undisturbed/observant to watch this ( so far, I have viewed episode 1 only at 9pm). Up to par with all the other UK, BBC, PBS British mystery series .. etc. It re-broadcasts here in 2 hrs at 1am. So you can be sure that I will be tuned-in. Like a good book, a second reading reveals twists, comments and turns of a phrase missed in the first reading. Looking forward to the other episodes (weekly here).This is masterful, captivating, suspenseful and ladened with detail. Little text is needed, the actors' expressions convey well the mood and foreboding of the events to come.This series eclipses the violent/sadistic/illiterate/inane scripts we here are so often subjected to by the US media - British mystery remains unsurpassed; how can it fail ? It dominates.Enjoy !Best Regards

And it is not just because I am Romanian, either. I agree, the series is a bit slow at times; things happen that cannot possibly happen at others. But it is worth watching it till the last episode, which pretty much explains away most of the inconsistencies.Saying anything about the subject would spoil it, so I'll just say this: I have a friend who despises all corporate or governmental attempts to control the individual. If he would have seen this series, he would have paced nervously the whole time, cursing as he walks.It is medium budget UK/Romania coproduction about the perils of personal data processing in a not too distant future. Most of the things in the series is possible even now, if they would have more powerful cameras installed and a bunch of software analyzing every bit of data in real time.Bottom line: definitely worth watching, as one of the few quality series that are also believable, make a point and are also dark not all about how to make the audience comfy in their potato couches. And if Robert Carlyle plays in it, it is a must see.