User reviews

I checked out the reviews on here before I watched the first episode, and proceeded despite the overall negativity. I'm glad I did - I was hooked right away and I won't find the wait until the next episode easy.

I understand how some people care about historical accuracy - but I couldn't care less and I'm sure that's true for many viewers too, and I don't think you could call any of this show's mistakes egregious. They made some compromises for convenience, some to spice things up, and some probably out of ignorance but if it's spoiling someone's enjoyment of the story then that's on them because there's nothing ridiculous.

Overall I think it's a finely polished show, focused mainly on the relationships between the characters, and particularly the struggles of the new female arrivals to find their place in the settlement and carve out some agency for themselves. I like all of the main characters a lot, and I don't get to say that very often. Verity and Jocelyn in particular are delightful. I can't wait to see what they are going to do and say next.

It's not as witty as Downton Abbey, but it's soapy in the same way. However, I wouldn't assume it would attract the same kinds of fans.

As stories go this was very well written and the acting was exemplary. Once again however we are reminded of why we should not learn our history from Hollywood. As far as to history this show is extremely inaccurate. Only one of the characters (James Reed) was actually on the censor from Jamestown at the dates listed. Jamestown was founded by the London Company not the Virginia Company as the show narrates. It was originally known as James Fort during the time this show takes place. Life in Jamestown was also a lot harder than shown in the show with almost 80% of the inhabitants dying from starvation, dysentery, or disease over the first three decades of the colonies formation with the colony actually being abandoned twice, the second time after the colony was burnt to the ground. None of this is mentioned in the show.

I can't see what the other reviewers are worried about. This show isn't meant to be a historical documentary, it's a brain out the box piece of pop corn silliness, and as that it's very good. The acting is fine, the scenery is beautiful and who cares if they aren't covered in mud all the time. I enjoyed the historically inappropriate over strong women and the fun story line. I enjoyed the show and will watch the rest with enjoyment without over analysing it.

I've seen people whining that it isn't historically accurate. But I've yet to see a show that truly is. This show is everything it needs to be. Thrilling, captivating and well acted. Period dramas are just that, dramas, set in history. It's not a documentary so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. Great and entertaining show.

Hey...Keep it coming.

Thought it was a lot better than expected. Maybe needs a little more depth of content.

I really like it a lot. I hope they keep it. I like the characters and still want more back story of each one.

If you expect a factual, realistic and historically based drama, this is not the show for you. If you are looking for simple entertainment value and not having to think too hard, this show does pretty good. The characters are good if a little caricatural with the obviously good and honourable James Read, the nasty greedy Governor Yardley and the scheming and sneaky Widow Castel. There is a hint of depth to them but nothing that will make you wonder very much. Yet you start to like some of them and hope they'll prevail.

I rarely pen reviews of films etc on IMDb but there don't seem to be many regarding the PBS TV series Jamestown, or what reviews there are are pretty negative, and I think that's just unfortunate. I also don't like to write about topics I know very little about, the real history of Jamestown belonging firmly in that category. I don't want to write much here, but I would like to at least state that I thought the series was very good, and that it deserves more attention than it seems to have received. Well, now that it's been cancelled after only three seasons, it can at least claim fellowship with another TV show which went on to have an enormously successful afterlife: Star Trek!

Why do I think it is 'very good'? Well, for the record, I thought it was better than just very good, rising to brilliant on more than one occasion. Certainly, I would say that the level of drama, the cleverness of the intrigues, the acting, the use of the historical background, the production values, the script, the characterization, and more, were all excellent. Do I hear 'nay!'? Yes, I do. Do I hear: 'Soap-opera! Flimsy drama! Superficial depiction of history. Unrealistic! Not believable!' My response: it depends on what you expect a TV series in this era (now being 2019) to produce. Ratings depend on weekly intrigue and violence and romance and beautiful ladies in danger and mysterious happenings which need to be resolved within the 45 minute span. Such criticisms may well have their place, but they might also be superficial and unrealistic. What would you expect, for crying out loud? OK. So why does any of this matter? Well, because this drama was able to depict some extremely important aspects of that history, and in a manner which was shockingly real and relevant. That's why it matters.

Sure, the two lead black characters might not have acted and interacted with their white overlords quite in the way they are depicted as doing, but as viewers we should be able to accept certain superficially false aspects in the process of engaging with the deeper aspects of what their actions and situations tell us about slavery. And once we do that, we can see, if we have eyes to see, that this drama was exposing the reality of slavery in the most uncompromising way, a depiction which does nothing but add fuel to the accusation that America was built on the back of some pretty racist white supremacist attitudes.

Then, of course, there is the depiction of the interaction between the white settlers and the indigenous population. Here, also, Jamestown the TV series was able to articulate in a very sophisticated manner the way in which these two peoples acted toward each other. It is compelling. And the way things are slowed down to build up over the entire series is a measure of the artistic approach: not seeking to sensationalize things, but to lay out, step by step, the kinds of interaction there was, or might/must have been, and the difficulties in which people on both sides became embroiled. There is delicacy and insight and sensitivity in all of this, and it is delicacy and insight and sensitivity serving both the needs of historical accuracy and the needs of drama. I think that is a remarkable achievement. The build-up to tensions takes a long time, but a three season series can do this, whereas a film might condense everything and fail. And those inter-racial difficulties which occur are the stuff of great drama. As with the focus on the slave characters, the drama here lays bare the awfulness of the intruders' behaviour in coming to a land which was not theirs and imposing rule, and their racial condescension. Among the cast of characters there are many who appear to voice outrage as to the imperialist actions of the settlement's governors: that may just be a nod to modern sensibilities, easily judged unrealistic by those who know the history, but their outrage is part of the raison d'etre of the show. Jamestown shows the ugly reality of what it meant to come as an uninvited guest and then proceed to take over the land.

However, the series is not only about unremitting outrage and awfulness, or punishing the myth of foundation as a wonderful thing: the producers put in plenty of light amidst the dark, making the characters attractive and colourful. There is humour in the series and that humour derived from the intelligence of the holistic approach and the emphasis on humanity. As with Trek, while there is plenty of brutality and violence, often the conflicts in Jamestown are resolved by invoking humane solutions to human problems. This is a measure of its sophistication. Viewers, however, should be advised that sometimes shocking moments occur. They are never gratuitous.

I have to say Jamestown does a great many things, and deserves much more acclaim than it gets. It brings history to life, and it is simply unfortunate that it is now cancelled. Maybe it will revive, like that other show from the sixties. Or maybe it will just resonate.

Hurrah for the actors and writers and creators of Jamestown!

I thought, "oooh, from the producers of Downtown Abbey, that bodes well." I quickly decided that the producers should have stayed in the 19th - early 20th centuries, and across the pond. There's only so much suspension of disbelief one can expect from a viewer, and this is Historical Fiction not SciFi/Fantasy.

Examples: There was no gold in or anywhere near colonial Jamestown. Wolves do not spontaneously attack humans. Clothes do not walk themselves magically clean after a struggle in a swamp. In a society where men are so terribly starved for women, how is it there's a handy ladies' maid waiting patiently for an imported mistress to serve? No idiot would publicly admit that he cheats at dice in a culture that hangs thieves. And another reviewer mentioned the nagging detail about an ocean-going vessel docking in obviously shallow water at a small upriver pier. Even the music sounds unoriginal--I swear it's recycled from the show, Hell on Wheels.

I sincerely hope they get a script writer who has read some history. The cast deserves it. (And note to the reviewer who complained about the bleached blonde: that actress is actually blonde. It's the red head who was dyed for the part.)

Not everything has to follow the history books, though i normally prefer that it does, I have run out of anything decent to watch and have found that this is well acted, and filmed.

Are people comparing something set in the 1600's to something set in the 1930's?!? Am I missing how people are comparing a serie about the lives of an aristocratic family of the 1900's to colonizers of the 1600's?!? Downtown abbey is bleak and non factual. This may not be either but it's more exciting than dreary Downton Abbey where they all speak with those horrible artificial British accents they so often display back then! I fall asleep a lot throughout as I watch it late after I'm done with other things I am watching but none the less it's a decent , intriguing show. Yes Mercy, Jocelynn the one idiot Burn Gorman and some others are irritating it's a decent watch with all the trite available out there now..

I thought the acting was very good and the characters worthy, but right from the beginning the script was lacking and you notice things are off. Coming out of the water or the woods and the character is spiffy clean? the clothes are not perfectly period, though that won't bother many, the ship mooring as some others have mentioned, and honestly, a gay man wearing an earring in the open, in such a tough society? he'd have been flogged and tossed off the ship before it even landed. I found too many things that were not believable and a script lacking. Too bad because I love period drama's.

Am now halfway through box set of Series 2 on NowTV and loving every minute of it! I am addicted to historical drama / fiction but if you are expecting much accuracy in 'Jamestown' then forget it. The acting quality ranges from excellent to poor but any shortcomings are compensated for by the attractive ensemble cast and lush photography that makes full use of the stunning scenery - this show is beautiful to look at. It's very easy to become totally involved in the life of the characters as this is purely and simply a soap opera in fancy dress. Don't bother to analyse - switch off your brain for 50 minutes sit back and enjoy!

Why are the accents modern day English? The English accent was equivalent to the modern Northern American. In other words, in 1607 even the British SOUNDED American. When will TV and movies get this straight? If British actors are imported for the appearance of "authentic", when is the UK going to get with it? The massive shift to the "modern" accent was not complete before at least 1750, and most of it occurred between 1700-1750.

The series started out stronger than it finished, but that happens when a series that is hoped to go for more than two seasons gets axed I suppose. I liked it well enough. It has some great actors like Burn Gorman from "Turn" and "Game of Thrones" and Sophie Rundle from "Peaky Blinders." I was interested in the couples for the most part, but the characterization got a little wobbly and aimless toward the end. The introduction of the slaves in S2 was a good idea but kind of rushed.....they appeared and it seemed like right away they were all speaking English. A lot of political intrigue, some interesting, some convoluted and unbaked. My favorite couple ended up being the "comic relief," the drunk tavern keeper and his sassy wife. Limited budget obviously, but the scenery was still lovely. The ending didn't satisfy but they tried their best. I had hoped for a little more closure. Oh well, a two season binge watch is not a big commitment, so I'd say it's worth it.

I really enjoy watching this show. Been watching it from the get go. Great characters that you grow with as the seasons progress. I just hope they continue with a season 4.

I totally love this show it is entertaining sat is beautiful the characters are well-thought-out I find this show very intriguing and I'll continue to watch it I would recommend it to anyone else who's watch Downton Abbey loves this type of drama it's great I hope that keep it coming

Again only make nudity. This is sexist in its own right. Very depressing.

I love this show and I hope it continues running for a long time.

It is made for women more than men. The women are strong characters and you want to cheer them on.

Who cares if it isn't exactly as history says it should be. It's entertaining! Go watch a documentary if you want factual history.

I only started this after it was finished, by then end of the first season I was puzzled why it would be cancelled, half way through season 3 I understand. The way the portray slavery is laughable and insulting at the same time.

What I've noticed most after two episodes that that the pretty girls cast as the leads always have contact lenses that carefully match their clothing. The pretty boys have the current 3-day-old scruffy beard at all times. The casting is millennial stereotypes in the Shona Rimes mold and anyone over 40 is either vile or stupid.