DVD : Bodies - Series 1 [2004]

Rating: - The dark side of the NHS
As M Thornton has said "This is not for the faint hearted" it has very graphic depictions of medical procedures which I had to fast forward through, OK no excuses I'm just squeamish.
The show contrasts the decent hardworking staff set against the NHS's target driven cultures where health is a secondary concern compared to achieving a decent star rating. With this in mind most of the better performances are by the "villains" of the piece especially Patrick Baladi as the surgeon whose errors are at the centre of the story, Keith Allen as the chief consultant and the hard nosed hospital managers whose stony faces could coagulate your blood at 10 paces.
It is a very well written and directed series, at times it is quite disturbing to watch but well worth the effort.

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Rating: - White Knuckle JOY!
The absolute undisputed best medical drama ever, ever made! I was gripped from the second it started! Devastated that I have finished watching it, and there are no more to be made. Grusome in parts, but this only adds to the fact that you believe in every scene. Love it.

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Rating: - Not for the faint hearted!
'Bodies' is a shining example of medical drama at its best: tight plotline, ethical dilemmas and believeable characters. Written by Jed Mercurio of 'Cardiac Arrest' fame it explores many of the same themes: whistle blowing, management versus doctors, incompetent doctors and the toll a medical career can take on lives and relationships.

'Bodies' particularly stands out for its accuracy: the many graphic theatre scenes are disturbingly authentic and the medical jargon and cases are realistic. The show is also sexually graphic in places and is not for the faint hearted.

This is not a cheerful show but a gripping and controversial representation of life in the NHS from someone with firsthand experience (albeit some twenty years ago) and it shows.

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Rating: - Gripping white knuckle ride (no spoilers)
Although a high level description may make Bodies sound similar to other hospital dramas, the major difference is that Bodies completely avoids any tendancy towards becoming a soap opera. The plot is very tight and moves forward with every episode - our knowledge of the characters deepens, and the situations they find themselves in become ever more claustrophobic. Although it is never wise to base any political opinions on dramas, the insights offered into the state of the NHS are worrying. Whenever any surgical procedure begins to go off course the tension is extreme and unlike shows like ER, mistakes look messy, and the consultants do not always appear to know what to do to even attempt to fix them. The entire cast is brilliant, but the biggest surprise is Patrick Baladi (Mr nice guy from BBC's The Office) who ...well, like I said, no spoilers. The ending makes Series 2 absolute required viewing and I can't wait to get hold of it.
This show would suit anyone who ejoys gritty and tense drama, even if hospital dramas are not your usual thing.

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Rating: - holy crap
this show was amazing and puts many, many u.s. dramas to shame. everything about the show works; if this is what television is like in the u.k. i may have to move there. this was my first amazon uk purchase and the overall service was flawless.