Watch Restless
- 2012
- 1 Season
-
7.1 (3,686)
Restless is a gripping two-part mini-series produced by BBC One in 2012. The show is a mystery, drama thriller and is set in both the past and present, exploring themes such as espionage, betrayal, secrets, and love. The story is based on a novel by William Boyd, who also wrote the script for the mini-series.
The show opens with a young woman, Ruth Gilmartin (Michelle Dockery), who is leading an ordinary life as a busy single mother and a Ph.D. student living in Oxford. She has always known her mother, Sally Gilmartin (Charlotte Rampling), to be a quiet and somewhat private person. However, her mother’s behavior becomes increasingly strange as she gets older and starts to behave in a way that doesn’t fit with Ruth’s understanding of her mother. When Sally tells Ruth that she was once a spy during World War II, Ruth is shocked and skeptical at first, but soon realizes that there is much more to her mother’s story than she ever imagined.
Against Ruth’s better judgment, Sally decides to reveal her past to her daughter in the hope of enlisting her help. Sally had been working in the British intelligence agency called the Special Operations Executive, or SOE, during WWII. Her job was to carry out covert operations and sabotage missions behind enemy lines in France. These missions were risky and dangerous, and Sally had to act fast and intelligently to complete them. She was, as her daughter realizes, a fearless woman who was willing to do whatever it took to help defeat the Nazis.
As Ruth and Sally travel around the UK, they gather information about their pasts, and Sally reveals more of her story to Ruth. We also learn about Sally’s past love affair, where she fell in love with a man named Lucas Romer (Michael Gambon) who was also a spy for the Allied forces. Lucas is portrayed in the show as a charming, intelligent man who loves Sally deeply, and the two of them work together on multiple missions. Although their love is passionate, it is also complicated by the nature of their work and the secrets that must be kept in the world of espionage.
Back in Oxford, Ruth finds herself drawn into the shadowy world of spies and espionage, as she becomes involved with a journalist named Tim (Rufus Sewell). Tim is researching a book about WWII, and as Ruth soon discovers, he has a connection to her mother’s past. Together with Tim, Ruth begins to dig deeper into her mother’s past, while at the same time putting herself and her daughter in danger.
The show is skillfully directed and beautifully shot, with a strong and talented cast that brings the characters to life in a way that makes the viewer feel invested in their lives and the stories that unfold throughout the series. Charlotte Rampling and Michelle Dockery both give powerful performances that make this series unmissable.
One of the strengths of Restless is its ability to keep the audience on edge throughout the series. Characters are never quite what they seem, and plots twist and turn in unexpected ways, leaving the viewer perpetually unsure of what is going to happen next. The show is full of action sequences, from the clandestine operations carried out by Sally and Lucas to the modern-day chase scenes that keep Ruth and her daughter on the run. The action is well choreographed and contributes to the tense, suspenseful atmosphere of the story.
Restless is a beautifully crafted, suspenseful, and emotional series that explores the power of secrets and the complexity of relationships, both romantic and familial. The show offers insights into the world of espionage during WWII, while also exploring more universal themes such as love, loss, and betrayal. The score, costumes, sets, and cinematography all contribute to the high production value of the show, making it a visually and audibly stunning viewing experience.
In conclusion, Restless is a multi-layered, well-crafted, and thought-provoking series that keeps the viewer hooked from beginning to end. The writing is clever and engaging, the performances are powerful, and the visuals are stunning. This mini-series shows that even after all these years, the story of World War II espionage and the people involved in it can still capture our imaginations and leave us wanting more.
Restless is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between December 27, 2012 and on BBC One