Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

The Bletchley Circle: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

First, check actor schedules, then film season.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 12, 2014

Most television programs take a few years before they begin messing with a good thing. “The Bletchley Circle” boldly shakes up the formula in its second season. The changes are a gamble, some of it perhaps contractually required, and it doesn’t represent a positive new direction for the series. The first season of “The Bletchley Circle” was a surprising nail-biter, with a stellar cast and a consistent pulse of suspense that carried from the first episode to the last. The second go-around for the codebreakers and their itchy position in 1950’s society has been sliced in two, which ruins any extended run of tension while awkwardly inserting a new cast member into a dynamic that hasn’t had time to gel. The show remains intermittently impressive, always boasting top-tier acting, but there’s a lack of dramatic consistency as the production tackles two major plots that deserve their own season-long explorations.

The new face is Alice (Hattie Morahan), who joins “The Bletchley Circle” a broken woman, identified as a former codebreaker who’s as lost in the post-war world as the rest of the characters, making her an easy fit for the squad of highly intelligent sleuths. The addition comes at a price, with star Anna Maxwell Martin written out of the series at the midway point, leaving a gap in the line-up. Morahan is a fine performer, but Martin’s Susan is the heart of the series -- a woman who’s sucked into the thrill of the hunt despite her best domestic interests, grappling with her inability to process the violent price of detective work. Those battle scars are the most inviting development of season two, studying Susan’s reluctance to return to duty after experiencing severe trauma, still rattled a year after solving the last crime. It’s a shame this intriguing subplot isn’t spread out over four episodes, but Martin was previously booked, leaving the production with few options but to carry on without their finest asset. Encouragingly, with the leap-happy time structure of the show, there’s room for Susan to return.

The series is eventually turned over to Alice, establishing her concerns that range from a murder charge to employment woes. Actually, Rachael Stirling’s Millie is the star of the second half of “The Bletchley Circle,” which casually abandons the group dynamic to focus on a series of side adventures for each of the cast members. Personalities and behavioral tics remain in full effect, but the spunky sense of mischief and refreshed empowerment that informed the first season is missing, focused on a drab plot that somehow makes murder and human trafficking seem dull.

Episodes:

“Part 1” (45:19)

A year after solving their first case, the women of the Bletchley Circle have reunited when Jean (Julie Graham) discovers that one of her WWII codebreakers, Alice (Hattie Morahan), has turned up in prison, awaiting trial for the murder of her former lover. Refusing to believe she committed the crime, Jean turns to Millie (Rachael Stirling), Scotland Yard secretary Lucy (Sophie Rundle), and Susan (Anna Maxwell Martin) to aid in an investigation, utilizing their talents as they collect evidence to help free Alice. Trouble is, Alice wants to take the fall for the murder, desperately hoping to cover for young Lizzie (Faye Marsay), who’s caught up the scheme, with shadowy forces out to assassinate her. On the domestic front, Susan, still reeling from the violence she encountered during the last mission, is hesitant to join the cause, with her attention pulled to husband Timothy (Mark Dexter), who’s on the cusp of a job promotion that could uproot his family, taking them elsewhere for two years.

“Part 2” (44:30)

Inching closer to understanding what part the victim played in an overall scheme of government deception tied to the testing of chemical weapons, the team turns to intense research to find connections. Of course, such investigation has triggered trouble at the workplace, with Millie losing her job because of her participation, while the rest feel the pressure of paranoia as they recognize signs of phone monitoring. Giving up on the whole case, Susan is asked to complete one final task. Infiltrating a government hospital, the frightened codebreaker is confronted with a terrifying reality, forced to finally confide in Timothy, severing her position in the Bletchley Circle.

“Part 3” (45:11)

With Susan off tending to her family, life begins again for the team, with Alice finding it impossible to secure employment due to her notoriety. For Millie, desperation for cash points her toward black market sales of feminine goods, where she builds an impressive reputation for sales, aided by her middleman, Jasper (Rob Jarvis). When Millie is kidnapped by the Eastern European mafia, she learns the bitter truth about Jasper’s gambling habits and untrustworthiness, locked in a room while boss Marta (Brana Bajic) waits for a repayment of debts. Securing the attention of another prisoner, Millie discovers a human trafficking ring, fueling her quest to escape and bring Marta to justice.

“Part 4” (43:13)

Discovering Jasper’s corpse, Millie devotes every waking minute to breaking up Marta’s exploitative activities, using her friends to mount an investigation into possible evidence that could aid in her quest. For Lucy, time using Scotland Yard investigator Ben (Nick Blood) leads to a revival of long dormant romantic feelings, complicating her participation in the scheme. Visiting the old Bletchley Park grounds for inspiration and equipment, the women struggle to figure out a way to catch Marta in the act of transporting girls out of the country.

The Bletchley Circle: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't provide a crisp, bright read of the production's creative and mysterious efforts. The image is dark and muddy, with significant black crush that solidifies screen detail, hurting appreciation of set design achievements and clothing. Minor ghosting is also detected, along with some banding. Sharpness is adequate, but only of use during exteriors, where the fully illuminated frame is allowed life, capturing facial and costuming textures as they're meant to be seen. Skintones lose vibrancy in the uneven viewing experience, but porcelain features remain. Colors also have difficulty finding an accurate representation, though bright red lips and blue coats make their intended impression, adding to the period feel.

The Bletchley Circle: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM sound mix provides a basic assembly of disparate elements, creating an evocative track that's satisfying, but limited in overall impact. Of utmost importance here are the dialogue exchanges, which retain their dramatic snap and clarity, managing different accents and emotional surges with ease, sounding full and natural. Scoring isn't memorable, but the music isn't intrusive, supporting as instructed, with a few careful swells to help emphasize powerful moments. Atmospherics are welcome, good with creating an outdoor presence and preserving interior ambiance.

The Bletchley Circle: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interviews (27:41, HD) is a satisfying overview of the second season, with cast and crew conversations attempting to explore this next stage of characterization, tracking the progression of the women as they're faced with a new set of challenges. Technical credits are discussed, with emphasis on costuming and period transformation. Also adding to the viewing experience is a historical perspective, with an actual Bletchley Park codebreaker sharing her memories of post-war life, while select cast members also talk of their ties to the organization.

The Bletchley Circle: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While the series is engaging due to the intensity of the cast, the writing just isn't as strong for "The Bletchley Circle" this time around. Instead of stroking suspense, the show starts and stops in fits, never finding a thrilling stride that unites the mysteries and deepens characterizations. Let's hope that Anna isn't on a permanent vacation.