News of Jimmy McGovernโs Time starring the iconic Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) and the ever-intriguing Stephen Graham (Snatch, Line of Duty) hitting BBC last year flew under the radar. At least here in this part of the world. In the wake of its premiere, Time โ which is now hitting domestic streaming service Binge โ has firmly solidified its place as the next drama series youโll find difficult to ignore, and likely a key talking point in the cultural landscape for the coming months.
The visceral and unflinching portrayal of the British corrections system sees Sean Bean portray Mark Cobden โ a teacher, father, and husband consumed by guilt after accidentally killing an innocent man on the road. Taking his four-year sentence on the chin and forced to quickly learn how to survive / his place in a hostile environment, Mark soon encounters Stephen Grahamโs Eric McNally โ a prison officer who has managed to preserve his humanity across over two decades of service; and actively endeavours to protect those in his charge.
The stakes are raised considerably when one of the prisonโs most dangerous inmates identifies Ericโs weakness: the latterโs son is currently serving a short sentence at another prison, and given who his father is, coming into direct contact with serious harm is now on the cards thanks to the inmateโs associatesโฆ unless Eric starts working for the inmate. Grappling with morality and principles ensue. This is a story of guilt and forgiveness, punishment and penitence, with both Eric and Mark โtrapped by their pasts and unsure of their futures.โ
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BBCโs Time has already won the hearts of critics and audiences alike in the span of a single episode. A strong start certainly bodes well for the showโs overall trajectory, given how this affair is currently limited to just three parts. Expect strong performances from both Bean and Graham โ as per the usual โ in addition to the supporting players, bolstered by subtle, introspective, and well-considered writing that deserves nothing less than a standing ovation (also to be expected, given McGovernโs the same talent behind Hillsborough and Accused).
โThe BBC have given me a brilliant young director and two of the greatest actors on the planet โ I am overjoyed,โ Jimmy McGovern stated back in 2020.
โGetting to be involved in a Jimmy McGovern drama again is a real privilege and it will be great to be reunited with [Stephen Graham],โ says Sean Bean.
โMark Cobden is another of Jimmyโs complex and superbly written characters and I am looking forward to bringing him to life on screen.โ
How to watch BBCโs Time (TV Show) in Australia
On the international front, you can catch all three episodes of Time on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Of course, the latter is also available to Aussies through the use of a VPN set to a UK location.
For a more hassle-free viewing experience, you can stream episodes of BBCโs Time week by week in Australia via the Streamotion platform โ Binge (along with other premium content from HBO and beyond).
