User Reviews

I must be honest, I was gutted when the original series was cancelled, ITV seem to have a nack at cancelling shows when they're at their peak, or simply showing signs of developing into something good, The Halcyon and Home Fires to name a few. It was therefore hugely welcome news to learn that Omnifilm had decided to bring the show back from extinction, the challenge was always going to be whether or not they could capture the quality and feel of the original. For the most part the answer is yes, Julie Graham and Rachel Stirling survive from the original run, and provide enough presence to make it feel like Bletchley. It's well produced, the stories are good (maybe not Madhouse so much,) and it deals with some very serious issues, notably sexism and racism.

It's a good series, I think it's fair to say it doesn't quite have the quality of the original runs, but I'm glad to see it back, and I enjoyed it. I look forward to the next four episodes. 7/10

Loved the original series and was disappointed when it was canceled after 2 Seasons. Now the code crackers who served covertly in England come to San Francisco to solve the murder of a co-worker who died during the war. The women are dismissed by the all male police departments. Little do they know these are women with brilliant minds who won't rest till they find the killer.

The characters are quite good and this series has potential. I hope they will grow in the next season and that there is a next season more importantly. We are BritBox devotees and this one could well be a keeper.

This certainly has a different feel than the original series. It's a decent crime drama, and it continues to showcase the women's personalities and skills. However, it tries to pack too many social issues into each episode. Of course, the issues are important, as they drive peoples' actions, but it often feels forced, as if they approached each episode as the last and had to make every possible statement they could. Overall, it's enjoyable.

Additional points I make address other reviews. Those who ranted about this being a horrible American series should know it is not American, but rather it is Canadian. It is produced by a UK company and filmed in Canada. Also, I cannot speak for every inconsistency regarding misused vernacular of the time period, but those who commented on the US not being in Vietnam in the 1950s are incorrect. The MAAG went to Vietnam to advise in the 50s.

Not a bad show with some interesting characters and good use of San Francisco. My problem is that we are told that the show is set in 1952. There is talk of someone being shipped off to Vietnam, possible but America did not start shipping troops there until the mid 60's. In one scene people are listening to music that sounds like it comes from the late 60's in an era before rock and roll. They also talk about converting a mono record player to a stereo player six years before stereo records were on general release. Then a character mentions the British invasion, if he is talking about music, he is over a decade ahead of his time. These anomalies take me out of the story. It is somewhat lazy writing, research is easy, it is basically what the show is about.

Not a patch on original series. How some can rate so high is puzzling. The original series averaged 8 on IMDB so 6.5 average is once again accurate enough.

I say, 'give it time to develop'. I thought the sense of period was excellent, with only a couple of 21st century clichés creeping in, but to be honest, the script writers are probably far too young to realise that 'their language' is not what was used over half a century ago. We have to suspend disbelief a little when we watch any TV fiction and this isn't that far off in its portrayal of the 1950's.

I thought the standard of acting was extraordinarily high and feel that this has the potential to develop as well as, say, Endeavour as a series as the cast gradually beds in . . . and who's to say that old cast members won't reappear as the episodes unfold? Sometimes, slow burners turn into the fiercest blazes.

If I'm going to write a review I have to include a warning that if you're wanting to watch The Bletchley Circle Series 3, this isn't it.Tonally it's just different, which to me seems appropriate given the change of setting. It's also functionally different given the skills this new group of ladies brings to the table. The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco is a spin-off series that brings us a quite different post-war perspective. I thought the first couple episodes were middling. They were very conscious of the history but I'm not sure how successful they were in communicating it. It's not that it's inaccurate, it's just that they're trying to shove a lot of background/world-building into a very small space due to time constraints. That meant there were conversations/interactions that came off more stilted than the (apparent) intent. The series might have remained an okay 2.5 star watch, but about halfway through they started to really hit their stride. It's like the writers finally relaxed into it a little. The dynamics between the American and British women started to gel as well. I try to give every series I start at least four episodes to convince me, and in this instance I'm glad I do because otherwise I might have stopped watching after the first. I read that there are more episodes set to air next year. Fingers crossed they maintain their momentum. If they do it's going to be fun.

I love this series. Its a spin off of The Bletchley Circle that originally aired on PBS in the US. A diverse group of four women band together to use code breaking skills they developed while in the service during WWII to solve various mysteries they encounter. The four leading actresses provide flawless performances and the actors in supporting roles are also excellent.

Set in post-war San Francico the plots touch on issues of the time - sexism, police corruption, homophobia, racial inequities, drug gang, anti-communist fervor. Sadly, most of those issues are still very relateable. The seriousness of the subject matter is counter-balanced by the pleasure of watching the women develop their relationship to the world and each other. All four of the exceptionally intelligent women push against the constraints that bind them in order to express their individual talents and passions.

The script writing is weak, especially in comparison to season 1 of the original Bletchley Circle but it seems to have been produced as a broadcast tv series rather than a PBS or BBC production and the high quality acting more than compensates for the poor writing.

A well-acted historical series with four female leading characters is a rarity that shouldn't be dismissed because it isn't perfect. I look forward to watching this weekly in part because its entertaining but it doesn't require total brain death to be enjoyed.

It isn't as good as the first two British seasons.But they tried. The problem is the American need to cover social and political change over the puzzle solving..The two american women tried hard but they unfortunately were placed in the position of being a colour and a sexual orientation.And also being written alittle bland.

So it didn't have the S.Holmes like punch of the first two seasons.But as the episodes moved on it got alot better.But not a patch on the first two UK ones.

This is a great and diverse series that I was delighted to find since I enjoyed the first series (set in England). Yet these women make stunningly dumb decisions for the brilliant sleuths they're supposed to be. They're war time vets (civilian code breakers and spy masters), yet they act as though they're clueless that people lie. All of the women blunder into dangerous situations and then looks dumbfounded that the villains have guns or that they've ended up bound and gagged! They blab everything they know to people they just met, missing such obvious signs that this is a bad idea that it's laughable. Those wide-eyed looks of shock and gasps of dismay are comical. C'mon, writers and show runners. Do better!

This show is vastly different from it's parent show, and that is by no means a bad thing. Focusing on issues still relevant today without seeming preachy or like the "episode of the week", Bletchley Circle: San Francisco manages to introduce characters and story lines that encourage viewers to contemplate their own stance on various issues. Episodes are entertaining and thought provoking, and the characters are nuanced and well-developed. The character development is realistic, and I would say more believable and enjoyable than its predecessor. I am very happy that it was renewed for a second season!

Often ridiculous writing, poor research, plain sloppy story lines and congruency, not to mention unrealistic sets that make the creators look lazy of their depictions of actual topography and San Francisco scenery in 1958 move this presentation of smart, strong women into the toilet of poor filmmaking.

Could have been great, but as a result of the above, it's not even a near miss. Better luck next time or better yet, not at all. Why set the story in San Francisco at all? Filming in SF is expensive indeed, but a few scenes would have gone a long way towards believability, otherwise call it "Bletchley Circle: Vancouver." Fine acting performances.

I enjoyed the uk series of the Bletchley Circle but this is dreadful. the shooting, the script, the acting. I wont single people out for being bad as it could be the script that didn't help.....they are all missing what made the original story arc good. I really wanted to like this.

I'm 2 episodes in and am enjoying it so far... I like the fact that its filmed in CANADA... - Ridge Studios, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...

I love how people see and American city and think that the show is filmed in the U.S. A LOT of "American" shows / movies are filmed in CANADA....

In 1942 London, Claire Hopkins is a driven British code breaker not happy with the lack of cooperation from the Americans. Her supervisor Jean McBrian demotes her for disobeying an order. With conjolling from colleague Millie Harcourt, she attends a party for the newly arrived American GIs and gets murdered in a specific way. 14 years later, Millie finds a hauntingly similar murder in a San Francisco newspaper. Jean is unmarried and finds herself stuck under a glass ceiling. The two decide to track down an American counterpart whom they've never met to help solve the case. They're surprised to find the American turns out to be Iris Bearden, a negro woman. Another woman is murdered and Iris agrees to help. Iris recruits youngster Hailey Yarner and her son Dennis is an activist fighting against politician George Mason working to gentrify their Fillmore neighborhood as the local negro population moves out to Oakland. Olivia Mori is an assistant secretary in the homicide police division. She's a Japanese American forced to cooperate by Iris during the war.

I've never seen the original series. That may be the biggest difference between me and everyone else. Everybody seems to be complaining about sullying the original. I have no such baggage. I like these characters. I like the settings. I like the mystery solving. I like most of this show. It's not breaking out of any limitations. It's a good show. It's canceled after only one short season.

Well......this was a brilliant series of episodes including murder, espionage n who dunnits. It was very well written with little twists n turns n suspense n tension.

The cast did a stellar job in bringing the characters to life with heaps of charisma.

Each episode had a different ending n they were all great with some unexpected endings.

I highly recommend this series especially if you like murder mysteries n who dunnits.

This is an excellent period piece bravely tackling the subject matter of sexism and racism in the storyline of a crime drama featuring strong female characters. The side plot of the challenges the women face being taken seriously during those times adds an extra layer of complexity to the plot line. They use their skills as code breakers that brought them together during the war to find clues about the murderer. Many serial killers have patterns and rituals so this is not a stretch. There are a couple of reviews that talk about "pushing agendas" and being overly "PC", but I couldn't disagree more; sounds like mansplaining to me.. I've seen the first 4 episodes and I'm waiting for episode 5. I believe there are supposed to be 8 episodes in Season 1, altogether.

I was expecting so much more from the latest series, having enjoyed the previous two. This time, only Millie (Rachael Stirling) and Jean (Julie Graham) from the original cast appear, which is a shame in itself. Now they zoom off to the US on the track of a killer who they believe struck back in the 40's. How they afford to do this is a mystery in itself! Meeting a wartime American colleague (Iris - Crystal Balint) and her friend Hailey (Chanelle Peloso) - who must have been all of 15 during the War - they track down the locations of the next murders and body drops by some means not explained - apparently, they just look at a map and point.... This story line is very weak, glossing over the solving of the riddle and leaving the viewer mystified. At the end, Jean says she'll return to the UK, but Millie is staying in California, so that will leave only the one Bletchley woman for the remainder of the series. I doubt that it will improve, but I live in hope!

It's well acted, interesting, plausible and make a you want more. Highly recommend!

I felt that this follow-up series missed an opportunity to follow though with a more engaging plot by setting itself in post war Germany rather than the US. I felt the production and acting was great but the story line was poor, weak and repetitive with little of the atmosphere of the first series. Something could have been developed by following through potential stories in Europe from the first series linked to their description work. What a shame for a great cast.

A wonderful series that takes place in the mid to early 50's. Well written, acted and directed. We found this series thoroughly enjoyable and disappointed there is only one season. I cannot understand why people gave poor reviews. Glad we gave it a try.

I loved Episode 3 Charolotte's Web and Episode 4, Madhouse in Bletchley Circle San Francisco. Just as there is a depiction of overt racism and disdain for aggressive women that is beautifully depicted for this period piece these attitudes are still in existence and subtly control our society today. How hard it must have been for women in the 1950s who were intelligent but shut down by their fathers, brothers, husbands and at times even their mothers. I was really disappointed by the first critique I read of the series. It had to be written by someone who has not been exposed to or felt the pains of racism and sexism. Women and people of color have come a long way since the 50s but we still have a long way to go.

What was an excellent series grounded on the setting and script has now become pedestrian mundane and tiresome after only 2 episodes. How to ruin a potentially good series in one foul swoop. The setting looks fake even for SF in post WW2 period the storyline in episode 2 backtracks and is laboured. It's lost its edginess and the chemistry is not there between characters.

This is a great show!! I loved the characters and the plots!!! I sure hope someone sees that new episodes need to be made!! I loved it!!