not as good as all the hype

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Meet the Durells: Mother is man crazed, daughter is boy crazed. (Women are doing lovely so far.) Son #1 is seen exclusively in his robe and underwear, carrying a bottle of alcohol, while talking about sex, and how his mother needs to have sex to calm down. Son #2 likes to shoot stuff. Son #3 is supposed to be the more loveable one, the misunderstood intelligent one. Ok, but could we stop ignoring that he keeps capturing wild animals and putting them in cages? It is plain cruel and sad. According to the rest of the reviewers who've read the books, this is not an accurate portrayal of the family and they were not supposed to be appalling.Beyond the family, this show is historically and culturally ignorant, and straight up racist. It seems that accuracy and sensitivity were of no concern, and not just regarding the Greek culture, but the British one as well. You don't have to be a historian to know things were off, a few Google searches and having watched some good British TV shows would be enough. I am no expert, but this cannot be even remotely accurate of how English people in the 30s would speak. Also, would unmarried women in the 30s run around kissing men in broad daylight? The civilized Mrs Durrells warns her daughter that Greece in the 30s is not so open minded. Because public display of affection was totally cool in England in the 30s. Right? The characters even say things like "I know this is Greece but you are going to have to speak English". How is this line in any way okay? There was also the cute "get me a Greek orthodox priest" (newsflash, that would be called "a priest" in Corfu in the 30s). But more to the basics: according to this show, the Greeks shout and smash things, they kill puppies, they will falsely accuse you and throw you in jail, they are convicts, they like to humiliate you and trick you. But not to worry, there is a civilized British lady on the island to chat with, and a handsome Swede to flirt with. So at least you are not left with just the savages.Here is one star for the scenery and the photography, which were lovely. But I am afraid looking at photographs of Corfu will be more entertaining and definitely less offensive.

This seies get better with each new season. I love the crazy characters and the scenery! I have laughed out loud so many times, I can't wait to see every new episode. I hope there are many more seasons to come! What a gem, bravo! Or as the greeks say "siharitiria".

Another win by Masterpiece theater. I didn't expect great theater but it was a very entertaining hour every week. I liked all the characters and the stories and the scenery. Masterpiece has created some very good series which I have enjoyed watching. I would put most of them against anything on US network TV.

I usually look forward to my Sunday nights watching Masterpiece, but the "Durrells" is the worst show they have ever aired. There is no purpose for the story line. The cast is boring. The mother has no simpatico with the "children". And that nasty little boy always has a dirty face. Please pull it out of rotation.