Customer Reviews

Wish Me Luck - Series 1

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

To anyone who has taken an interest in the work of SOE during the War Years this series is absolutely brilliant.A lot of research has gone into the making of this series and the detail and background is second to none.If you are looking for a lot of action,you may be dissappointed,as the series does tend to concentrate on the people involved and the effect it has on their lives and the people involved in their lives.but this all makes for very real and believable drama.The characters portayed are very much based on real people involved,and the series does show how the different "social" barriers were overcome during these times.It doesn't tend to overglamourise the situation,and portrays the dangers the agents faced on a day to day basis.
As someone who has a keen interest in the work of SOE I would thoughly recommend this series.
My only concern is when are they going to release the 2nd and 3rd series ?

I have this series on VHS and, after having watched it at least three times, still really enjoy it. I find it well-written, well-acted, well-paced, and an interesting take on the usual male spy story. As a woman, I admittedly enjoy stories about women who succeed at difficult tasks. The two women who star in this series face an extremely difficult task--to pass as Frenchwomen in occupied France, despite having spent the majority of their lives in England, while passing secrets under the noses of the ever-watchful Germans. Unlike another reviewer, I won't try to say whether members of the other sex will like it or not. I don't see it as a chick flick at all--simply as a story about spies in WWII which features the women who were spies, as well as the men. Jill Hyem is a fine writer and this is fine WWII drama. If you're looking for lots of battle scenes, however, this isn't it. This is about people, not weapons, and life among the enemy. I recommend it.

Finally, an exploration of WW II that demonstrates that women can be brave, loyal, daring and patriotic. For all the compelling war movies out there, its very rare that women are allowed those noble qualities as they are usually subjugated to the role of lover, femme fatal, wife, mother or child. "Wish Me Luck" features women, in all their various personal roles, but also engaged in the war to save their nation. Refreshing! For the insecure among you who need bang-bangs to reassure you there's a war going on, yes, look elsewhere for your pyrotechnics. "Wish Me Luck" tells the story of three "Baker Street Irregulars" -- or members of the British Special Operations Executive - spies sent to France to assist the resistance movement. Although the British series ran for 23 episodes, only the first 8 have made it to DVD (we can all hope for more) and follow two women and a man from training through their perilous missions in France. Subtle, thoughtful and filled with great period detail, this is great entertainment with a slightly different view of the war. If the topic interests you, do try the films "Carve Her Name With Pride" and "Odette," both based on the real experiences of well known women in the SOE.

I couldn't believe it when I saw these videos in a mail order catalog. I had no idea anyone had done a program on SOE apart from documentaries. I had no idea anyone in the country knew what SOE was but us! My husband and I are WWII re-enactors and at living history events, we portray agents for the Special Operations Executive in occupied Belgium. We explain to the public that this branch of the British military recruited civilians to train, supply, and communicate with local Résistance forces (with varying degrees of success). This is a great series to show our fellow re-enactors when they are just beginning to learn the impression. The videos are a bit melodramatic and it's entirely a fictional account (none of the characters portrayed are real, although they have copied some stories straight from the SOE files). But Bob and I agree that they get alot of things right (Résistance's distrust of SOE and vice versa, the unavailability of good equipment and timely drops, the quarrelling between SOE and normal forces...). It's the fictional story of two women who go through training together and are eventually posted as a courier and wireless operator on the same team. Still it's not overly romanticized. The constant fear of discovery comes through very well. I highly recommend it.

This is a decent series--but don't expect "Enemy at the Door"-a similar type melodrama-with superior stories and acting. However, if you like WW2 stories-this is a nice set to watch and rent/own. There's nothing particularly bad about these stories-but events sometimes strain credulity-example--Matty doesn't know how to ride a bicycle-but manages to keep up with Liz without problem on a lengthy bicycle journey after arriving in France--a few of the escapes from capture are a little unbelievable as well-at one point Liz detours her bicycle through the woods--eventually losing it and making her way on foot--but somehow managing to evade and escape the Germans and the dogs that are chasing her--but these are minor flaws. All in all-the series is worth watching-though I would recomend rental rather than purchase--if you can find a video store that rents it!
Honestly, I would recomend either "Enemy at the Door" or "Piece of Cake" over "Wish Me Luck"--but if you've seen those two series and enjoyed them-chances are you would enjoy this one as well

Civilian women were recruited and sent to Nazi-Occupied France for espionage and intelligence gathering. They get the job done but it takes a toll. The "WISH ME LUCK series ONE" is based on the actual activity of women in Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE). At the peak of WWII fighting, women did their part. This DVD set dramatically tells that story, complete with fantastic period sets, costumes, scenery, and hair. Almost as expertly done as the hugely successful (6-stars) war/home-front set "Foyle's War: Series 1-5 - From Dunkirk to VE-Day" (SEE MY REVIEW).

Men & women train together for spy work and survival while in London and 3 from the group are sent together into occupied France for an operation. Liz "Celeste" (you'll need to connect them with their code names) played by Kate Buffery is married, wealthy, with a husband in the African front, and a daughter age 5. Matty "Aimee" (Suzanna Hamilton)is low class, 1/2 Brit, 1/2 French, & 1/2 Jewish. Both well know the area being sent and speak fluent "Frog". The 3rd is Colin "Cyrano" (Jeremy Northam-"Emma") and they all meet French Resistance leader Kit "Gregoire" (Michael J. Jackson-not the former singer but from "Mobile", see my review). London SOE head is Col. "Cad" Cadogan (Julian Glover) and you also see lots of Faith (Jane Asher) a SOE exec in London.

Setting up operations followed by receiving and sending data is crucial to the Allied war effort. It's tough, touch-&-go work. Many risks are taken creating plenty of suspense, intrigue, mystery, and a very realistic look into this special group of people from WWII. Who is helpful, who is the enemy, who can be trusted, where is safety, when and what is all addressed, but never the WHY? Each of the members in the operation have their own reasons for being prepared to give their all for the success of the mission.
.....The 8 episodes in the Series 1 combine for one continuing story, one operation with some set-backs, some losses, some successes, and even some romance. A very good presentation of historical fiction done so well that it's hard to forget you are not watching a dramatized documentary. Plenty of sub-plots.

THIS SHOULD BE SHOWN TO EVERY MILITARY PERSON, MEN AND WOMEN. Also, historians, and period film lovers will want to watch.

You will not be able to stop between episodes, so find a time to watch the entire 388 minutes in one day. At least in 2 evenings. But, alas, there was a Series 2 & 3 on TV, and you will have to wait for those. They've not been released...yet?

Bonus is a bit of authentic historical background on the real SOE and a photo gallery. Sorry, no subtitles this time, nor CC.

A well-written, well-produced series about two ordinary Englishwomen who join the Resistance in occupied France. It never drags; you can't wait to see what happens next. I loved it. I also loved the brilliant score, written by Denis King, who did the music for "We'll Meet Again." It's difficult to imagine someone not liking this series.

I am going to disagree with a lot of reviewers. Clearly money was spent on this series and I like a number of the cast from other works. But it's not put together well. The Editor did an amateur job and so the cuts and scenes are roughly assembled. And what's with the music? Out nowhere it comes, too loud, too long, and inappropriate for the scene or mood. I felt like a night club band had sneaked up behind my chair to give me a surprise.

The music was a bit lighter after episode 1 but it always seemed inappropriate as the episodes continued. There were some terrible gaffes in the plot such as Amy staying in the same place after the Germans had raided and caught her, and giving personal information to a fellow prisoner. This would not have happened, we know all the agents received training against that. Hey author, if you don't allow Amy's character to grow, then you make her into a fool. There were frequent instances where the agents were talking loudly in public that would not have happened. Celeste was prowling around town in her second visit without any attempt to disguise herself when she already knew her cover was blown, and Claudette should have gotten out of town the moment that she was finished covering Amy's escape, not waiting to be arrested. These mistakes are just the beginning of a large list that are so glaring that I can't enjoy the show.

So, a good cast and a good story idea are ruined by a sloppy production. For a comparison, take a look at a WWII series where everything in the production is done right: Danger UXB. Also, Foyle's War.

Wish Me Luck - It's British, so I bought the first series anticipating chintzy sets, average acting and barely credible storylines.

What a surprise when the entire series turned out (in almost every aspect) to have as much detail, quality and professionalism of production as anyone has a right to expect from a made for TV series. The quality in that respect is stellar. I bought the entire series after watching two episodes and have absolutely not been disappointed, so beware, because if you enjoy this period at all it is likely you will be spending money on the remaining episodes.

Wish Me Luck is one of those rare (for me) British made series or movies that don't come across as third rate (at best) in terms of acting, screenplay, sets or storyline. The language and dialogue are very easy to understand and although complex at times remain simple to follow.

This series of almost stand alone episodes takes the viewer from the inception of the British womens' spy service, and the resistance to its creation, through to (in later series) the end of the war, it depicts very clearly the struggles they faced, not only from their enemies but also from their friends overseas, who were often less than likely to accept a woman as a leader especially in time of war. It often takes the history of individual women from before joining or being recruited into the service through training, deployment, and eventual capture, death, or for the lucky ones, promotion and survival.
It's excellent at demonstrating the worries and concerns of those left at home, how a husband has to deal with a wife or mother putting herself in mortal danger, how he reacts when she chooses service to country over servitude at home and the fractures that are ever present between mothers and children.
Some of the most poignent parts are when these special individuals become betrayed, not in the line of duty, but by simple human meanness and small mindedness by supposed loved ones left in safety at home. It is truly entertaining on so very many levels.

The various episodes take the viewer expertly through the atrocities of the Third Reich, avoiding the most graphic representations, while leaving little to the imagination. One gets to experience almost firsthand the pressures of life as a female spy in occupied Europe, the ever present threat of capture, the friends posted missing or known killed, the panic and the joy, the love and sorrow are all sewn expertly into this vivid tapestry of life in WW2 Europe.
The sets, the costumes, the daily life episodes, all are woven into a rich background of espionage and intruge in the most human fashion imaginable.

I bought the first series, followed quickly by the set, and will watch it many times over the comming years, as I actually found nothing that looked obviously "fake" or "graphics generated", or alerted the viewer strongly that this was a low budget effort and detracted from the series' main efforts to pull the watcher thoroughly into the period.

Based on the true stories of "ordinary" British women who risked their lives to go undercover for the Resistance in Nazi-occupied France, this riveting series will have you on the edge of your seat! Well-written, historically detailed and accurate, superbly acted; don't miss this one.