# The Bletchley Circle - BBC thriller featuring ex-WW2 Women code-breakers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2013, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085 "2013-04-30T11:34:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/1 "2013-04-30T11:34:37Z")
Anyone else watching/watch this? I caught the first of I believe 3 episodes via DVR. Four women in mid-50’s Britain “get the gang back together” when a series of murders occur that their unique strengths - first applied to breaking German codes - to try to find the killer. That first episode was good and fun - the show does a great job of showing a woman’s situation in 50’s Britain - not taken seriously as anything but homemakers - without hitting you over the head with it. And the case itself was set up well. So far, so good. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/2 "2013-04-30T12:24:03Z")
Saw it in the UK run - it’s a gripping story. The contrast between what the women did during the war, where their considerable intellectual abilities were recognised as extremely valuable, and their post-war relegation back to second-rate citizens really adds to the tension of the piece, especially since they can’t tell anyone about their war activities. You spend a lot of time wishing that someone would JUST GODDAMN LISTEN to them as they track down an extremely clever serial killer. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/3 "2013-04-30T13:28:21Z")
Just found out about it, haven’t watched it yet , it’s on the DVR. I’ve been reading a couple novels about Bletchley. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/4 "2013-04-30T13:32:49Z")
Any chance this is or will be on BBCAmerica (or PBS)? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/5 "2013-04-30T13:45:51Z")
It’s on PBS, on Sunday nights after the Masterpiece Classic airing of Mr Selfridge. But they’ve already broadcast two of three episodes. You might be able to catch up on [PBS.com](http://PBS.com). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/6 "2013-04-30T13:51:55Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Saw it in the UK run - it’s a gripping story. > > The contrast between what the women did during the war, where their considerable intellectual abilities were recognised as extremely valuable, and their post-war relegation back to second-rate citizens really adds to the tension of the piece, especially since they can’t tell anyone about their war activities. You spend a lot of time wishing that someone would JUST GODDAMN LISTEN to them as they track down an extremely clever serial killer. The [review of the show in the New York Times](http://tv.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/arts/television/the-bletchley-circle-on-pbs.html) mentioned this aspect. These women worked at Bletchley Park during the war, doing important but secret work, and then had to become housewives and couldn’t even brag about or discuss what they’d done. The review says, “nowadays, it is still possible to read newspaper obituaries of 90-year-olds who never told their spouses, parents or siblings what they really did during the war.” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/7 "2013-04-30T21:34:06Z")
I loved the exchange between the Scotswoman and the women in the records office when the latter tried to claim she was only “general clerical” with a straight face. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/8 "2013-04-30T21:36:41Z")
Check out YouTube for earlier episodes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/9 "2013-04-30T21:41:17Z")
I’m so glad someone posted about this. I’m loving the series. The whole Bletchely Park saga is quite fascinating. There are quite a few [books](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_0?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Athe+Enigma+machine&keywords=the+Enigma+machine&ie=UTF8&qid=1367357783&rnid=2941120011)on the Enigma Machine. There was such secrecy instilled in the people who worked at this codebreaking facility that even after the war most of them never spoke about it. In last night’s episode, did anyone recognize Cavendish as James Bellamy, Richard’s son, from the original _Upstairs, Downstairs_? ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/10 "2013-05-01T00:42:31Z")
I’m enjoying this series too. And yes, I did recognize James Bellamy. And I lust after that beautifully patterned floor in one of the scenes. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/11 "2013-05-01T01:50:33Z")
No kidding. Did you watch the behind-the-scenes thing that followed? All the patterns in the sets and clothing were intentional. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/12 "2013-05-01T01:53:07Z")
I’ve watched the first two episodes and liked it very much. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have accomplished what they had and then go back to such a mundane existence. It’s almost made worse in the case of Susan’s husband, who seems like a good man in general, but I wouldn’t blame her if she hit him over the head with a frying pan the next time he suggested buying her a book of puzzles. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/13 "2013-05-01T23:37:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s on PBS, on Sunday nights after the Masterpiece Classic airing of Mr Selfridge. But they’ve already broadcast two of three episodes. You might be able to catch up on [PBS.com](http://PBS.com). It’ll depend on where you live and your local PBS station(s)'s schedule(s). I have Optimum Cablevision and searched my TiVo and I’ve only missed episode one! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/14 "2013-05-01T23:53:51Z")
🙂 [http://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=bletchley+circle&oq=blechley+&gs\_l=youtube.1.1.0i10l10.4525.11257.0.15442.9.9.0.0.0.0.152.1075.0j9.9.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.KAYqu4pYgLg](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bletchley+circle&oq=blechley+&gs_l=youtube.1.1.0i10l10.4525.11257.0.15442.9.9.0.0.0.0.152.1075.0j9.9.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.KAYqu4pYgLg) ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/15 "2013-05-12T13:29:03Z")
> [@LVBoPeep](#): > > I’ve watched the first two episodes and liked it very much. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have accomplished what they had and then go back to such a mundane existence. It’s almost made worse in the case of Susan’s husband, who seems like a good man in general, but I wouldn’t blame her if she hit him over the head with a frying pan the next time he suggested buying her a book of puzzles. I was surprised at how respectful the police treated Susan throughout the entire process; even when they were dismissive of her. Good show. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bletchley-circle-bbc-thriller-featuring-ex-ww2-women-code-breakers/657085/16 "2013-05-12T14:00:44Z")
Enjoyed it but found the end way too Stoopid thriller. I loved the women’s crime solving; to leave it to an “I’ve got you tied to the railroad tracks!” sort of ending was only meh.