Troubles, is set between 1918 and 1921 and brilliantly captures a period in Irish history which witnessed the rapid and violent rise of the IRA, culminating in the overthrow of the British administration and total destruction of the once privileged, Anglo- Irish Ascendancy class (Protestants with English ancestry). The main characters are an English officer, Major Archer (Ian Charleston), Anglo-Irish landowner,Sir Edward Spencer (Ian Richardson) and local Catholic girl, Sarah (Emer Gillespie). The series begins with Archer paying a visit to his fiancé Angela, who resides in a decaying Irish Hotel with her eccentric family, the Spencer's. The head of the family Sir Edward Spencer, is a good natured, but fiercely loyalist aristocratic. A widower, he has 3 other children, Ripon, a wastrel (and draft dodger), and teenage twins, Charity & Faith. The hotel also includes an assortment of long term residents (senile English ladies), Sir Edward's blind mother, the twin's creepy teacher, Ryan, and a lazy and untrustworthy butler, Murphy.
Archer has not seen Angela since they had met in Brighton during the war, during which, he was wounded. However her reassuring correspondence during the conflict helped to keep him sane.
His stay at the hotel and Angela's distant behaviour confuse the battle weary soldier, but he does meet Angela's friend, Sarah, who he finds a breath of fresh air in the eccentric surroundings. Archer decides to break off the engagement with Angela, only to find out she has died the next morning. After the funeral Archer decides to leave, but Sir Edward and the twins insist he returns, this he agrees to, mainly because of his interest in Sarah. By the time of Archers second visit, the political situation in Ireland has deteriorated so much, that British Auxiliaries (an army of ex- officers recruited to fight the IRA) have been billeted at the hotel. This act further alienates Sir Edward within the community, although he is ignorant to the changing situation. Archer becomes besotted with the alluring but mysterious, Sarah. She explains to Archer, the troubles from an Irish Catholic point of view, but for his part he can't quite understand the madness that is taking a hold both locally and throughout Ireland. Archer meets Sarah again in Dublin and they talk of the Spencer family, with whom she is good friends. Archer returns to the hotel and and helps Sir Edward in his quest to restore the building to its former glory, which includes destroying the cats who have overrun the place. During this time Archer gets to know Major Bolton (Sean Bean), who is commander of the Auxiliaries. He dislikes Bolton's attitude, which is extremely prejudiced against the local population, but as an neutral onlooker to the turmoil in Ireland, Archer understands the point of view of all sides, making him seem the most informed. The Auxiliaries leave the hotel to take up a more defencive position in town, a move which exposes the building to encroaching Republican activities. Sir Edward's harvest is destroyed in an arson attack, and even though Archer persuades him to hand over one of his fields to the peasants, the Republican movement has now become too entrenched in the local mindset. Sir Edward's once paternal presence over his tenants is now increasingly viewed as an unwelcome and alien oppression. His eccentric loyalist activities in the district, once tolerated and quietly ridiculed are now seen as the acts of a collaborator and enemy agent. Anonymous notes start arriving, bearing threats, and the twin's pet rabbit is killed and left as a warning. A grand ball is arranged at the hotel to which, the Auxiliaries are invited. On the night of the ball, the Auxilleries become an immediate nuisance, firing off their guns and abusing the waitresses. A drunk Ryan is told to leave the party by Archer, Sarah dances with Bolton much to the annoyance of Archer, and the twins are almost raped by 2 Auxilleries. Early the following morning, the twins seek sanctuary in Archers bed after hearing a commotion downstairs. Archer investigates thinking it may be the IRA, but finds Sir Edward alone and bruised. He explains he has been fighting with Sarah and Bolton, and this had occurred as a result of jealously. Sir Edward also admits to Archer that Sarah has been his mistress. This is a total shock to Archer who had no idea about the clandestine affair. Events further deteriorate, when Sir Edward and Archer find that Ryan has slaughtered Sir Edward's favourite pigs before running away. The staff are forced to leave the hotel by the IRA, and Sir Edward takes on a siege mentality, which results in a young IRA volunteer being fatally shot in the grounds. Finally all the residents are forced to leave for their own safety. Sir Edward leaves with the twins, while Archer remains to guard the empty hotel with a young Auxiliary, who informs Archer that Sarah had eloped to Dublin with Bolton. The IRA sneak into the hotel and abduct both the Auxiliary and Archer. Archer regains consciousness and finds himself on the beach buried to the neck in sand. The tide almost drowns him, but a party of former residents rescue him at the last minute. Archer leaves Ireland with the others. The hotel is burnt to the ground by Murphy who is consumed by the flames. The final scene is set shortly after the end of the Troubles, with Archer visiting the hotel ruins and reminiscing about Sarah.
The tone of the series is one of claustrophobia, there are disturbing warnings of events taking place outside the hotel, and although they seem distant and irrelevant at first, they are creeping ever closer, and will inevitably consume the Spencers'.
Ian Charleston, gives a near perfect performance, and Emer Gillespie, smolders as the stunningly beautiful Sarah. Also noteworthy are, Sean Bean as Bolton, the prejudiced but realistic officer, and The twins who add a nonchalant humour to what is quite a dark story.
Archer has not seen Angela since they had met in Brighton during the war, during which, he was wounded. However her reassuring correspondence during the conflict helped to keep him sane.
His stay at the hotel and Angela's distant behaviour confuse the battle weary soldier, but he does meet Angela's friend, Sarah, who he finds a breath of fresh air in the eccentric surroundings. Archer decides to break off the engagement with Angela, only to find out she has died the next morning. After the funeral Archer decides to leave, but Sir Edward and the twins insist he returns, this he agrees to, mainly because of his interest in Sarah. By the time of Archers second visit, the political situation in Ireland has deteriorated so much, that British Auxiliaries (an army of ex- officers recruited to fight the IRA) have been billeted at the hotel. This act further alienates Sir Edward within the community, although he is ignorant to the changing situation. Archer becomes besotted with the alluring but mysterious, Sarah. She explains to Archer, the troubles from an Irish Catholic point of view, but for his part he can't quite understand the madness that is taking a hold both locally and throughout Ireland. Archer meets Sarah again in Dublin and they talk of the Spencer family, with whom she is good friends. Archer returns to the hotel and and helps Sir Edward in his quest to restore the building to its former glory, which includes destroying the cats who have overrun the place. During this time Archer gets to know Major Bolton (Sean Bean), who is commander of the Auxiliaries. He dislikes Bolton's attitude, which is extremely prejudiced against the local population, but as an neutral onlooker to the turmoil in Ireland, Archer understands the point of view of all sides, making him seem the most informed. The Auxiliaries leave the hotel to take up a more defencive position in town, a move which exposes the building to encroaching Republican activities. Sir Edward's harvest is destroyed in an arson attack, and even though Archer persuades him to hand over one of his fields to the peasants, the Republican movement has now become too entrenched in the local mindset. Sir Edward's once paternal presence over his tenants is now increasingly viewed as an unwelcome and alien oppression. His eccentric loyalist activities in the district, once tolerated and quietly ridiculed are now seen as the acts of a collaborator and enemy agent. Anonymous notes start arriving, bearing threats, and the twin's pet rabbit is killed and left as a warning. A grand ball is arranged at the hotel to which, the Auxiliaries are invited. On the night of the ball, the Auxilleries become an immediate nuisance, firing off their guns and abusing the waitresses. A drunk Ryan is told to leave the party by Archer, Sarah dances with Bolton much to the annoyance of Archer, and the twins are almost raped by 2 Auxilleries. Early the following morning, the twins seek sanctuary in Archers bed after hearing a commotion downstairs. Archer investigates thinking it may be the IRA, but finds Sir Edward alone and bruised. He explains he has been fighting with Sarah and Bolton, and this had occurred as a result of jealously. Sir Edward also admits to Archer that Sarah has been his mistress. This is a total shock to Archer who had no idea about the clandestine affair. Events further deteriorate, when Sir Edward and Archer find that Ryan has slaughtered Sir Edward's favourite pigs before running away. The staff are forced to leave the hotel by the IRA, and Sir Edward takes on a siege mentality, which results in a young IRA volunteer being fatally shot in the grounds. Finally all the residents are forced to leave for their own safety. Sir Edward leaves with the twins, while Archer remains to guard the empty hotel with a young Auxiliary, who informs Archer that Sarah had eloped to Dublin with Bolton. The IRA sneak into the hotel and abduct both the Auxiliary and Archer. Archer regains consciousness and finds himself on the beach buried to the neck in sand. The tide almost drowns him, but a party of former residents rescue him at the last minute. Archer leaves Ireland with the others. The hotel is burnt to the ground by Murphy who is consumed by the flames. The final scene is set shortly after the end of the Troubles, with Archer visiting the hotel ruins and reminiscing about Sarah.
The tone of the series is one of claustrophobia, there are disturbing warnings of events taking place outside the hotel, and although they seem distant and irrelevant at first, they are creeping ever closer, and will inevitably consume the Spencers'.
Ian Charleston, gives a near perfect performance, and Emer Gillespie, smolders as the stunningly beautiful Sarah. Also noteworthy are, Sean Bean as Bolton, the prejudiced but realistic officer, and The twins who add a nonchalant humour to what is quite a dark story.