ianwylie April 12, 2012 News

White Heat: Final Episode

SOME TV dramas divide opinion more than most.

White Heat appears to have fallen into that category over the last six weeks.

I almost gave up on this BBC2 series after the second episode.

And am now very glad I didn’t.

Tonight’s (Thursday April 12) final hour repays the investment viewers have put in to the previous five.

Bringing to a close the story of seven friends from the 1960s to the present day.

We discover exactly what is inside that safe.

And the identity of the person who has died.

Created by Paula Milne, White Heat was far from perfect.

But is destined to live long in my memory.

In the end, I loved it.

Mainly due to the performances of Sam Claflin (Jack), Claire Foy (Charlotte), David Gyasi (Victor), MyAnna Buring (Lilly), Lee Ingleby (Alan), Reece Ritchie (Jay) and Jessica Gunning (Orla).

The characters played in the present day by Michael Kitchen (Jack), Juliet Stevenson (Charlotte), Hugh Quarshie (Victor), Lindsay Duncan (Lilly), Paul Copley (Alan), Ramon Tikaram (Jay) and Sorcha Cusack (Orla).

With a special mention for Tamsin Greig as Charlotte’s tortured mother Beth.

I’m not sure the obvious comparison with Our Friends In The North did the drama any favours.

Aside from ensuring plenty of publicity ahead of episode one.

Do the mixed reviews for White Heat mean we have lost our appetite for slow burn television drama?

With the story and characters given time to breathe, allowing viewers space to think for themselves?

Or did you just not rate this “epic” drama?

Whether you’re a fan of White Heat or not, I’d like to hear your opinion via the comment box at the bottom of this blog.

But first, let’s celebrate the final episode with a few pics.

White Heat BBC Site

White Heat BFI Q&A

Follow Ian Wylie on Twitter

42Comments

Add yours

1

Jane sharp on April 12, 2012 at 8:34 pm
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I totally agree! I watched first two eps and nearly didn’t bother with the third, I’m so glad I carried on watching. I love all the characters and their imperfections. I never saw our friends in the north so all that hype passed me by. I watched it simply for the fact I watch everything with Lee Ingleby in 🙂 I can’t wait for tonights final ep but I know I’ll feel empty next week when it’s not on. I’ll definitely be ordering the DVD.
2

James Armstrong on April 12, 2012 at 8:47 pm
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Hello: James Armstrong again; I have not seeen this and it will probably take ages before it gets to north america if at all; here is my thinking for what it is worth: do you remember Jonathan Creek? Now there was a n excellent series and I would like to see it made again with Alan davies again in the title role. And what about ressurecting Robin Hood . That too was an excellent series. anybodty remeber one called Covington Cross? I waa watching Emerdale last night April eleventh and came to the conclusion it is so sordid that the only redeeming favtor in its favour is the excellent music theme. Is there something weong with British tv that all that can be produced is rubbish? before I get hung drawn and quartered I shall leave.
3

Justin on April 12, 2012 at 11:22 pm
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I thought this was a truly brilliant drama , very well written and extremely well acted by all of the cast . Very deep at times with a truly compelling thread running throughout , very sad it has now concluded . Let’s hope more like this comes to our screen soon . Well done to all involved , for me this won’t be forgotten soon and we could all learn valuable life lessons from it . To sum up brilliant 10 out of 10 bbc .
4

Kathrine Armstrong on April 13, 2012 at 12:40 am
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I absolutely loved this drama, I was hooked from the beginning. As a Dane this series reminded me of great Danish television dramas. I also give 10 out of 10, Thank you BBC.
5

angela cross on April 13, 2012 at 1:38 am
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White heat was brilliant!thought it was jack who had died all the way through until he turned up in the last episode!such a gr8 story brought a lump to my throat at the end and it was good how it incorporated real news footage as the story progressed through the yrs and even spitting image!loved it!
6

Elaine williamson on April 13, 2012 at 8:53 am
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I loved this series and it is still in my thoughts 12 hours after watching the last powerful episode. Only the bbc could have given us such an intelligent and emotionally literate production. I want to watch it again now!
7

Ross Neilson on April 13, 2012 at 9:46 am
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Overall I thought this was an excellent series. The two criticisms I would make are 1) The way historical references (especially via TV, radio) were rammed in the viewer’s face, and 2) the way each character could be pigeon-holed (the gay guy, the black guy, etc. like the writer was trying to tick all the boxes).

However this is far outweighed by the good stuff, I thought the performances by all seven actors were excellent, and the way the story was structured to keep you guessing as to who had died was nicely done. I really cared about what happened to them all and that’s always the sign of a good programme.

The last few scenes were handled brilliantly, rather than going over the top and having a tearful Charlie and Eve making up, or Victor and Charlie getting back together, they just hinted at it in a subtle manner.

My wife was actually moved to tears by the end, I think it speaks to all of us who have enduring friendships as our fortunes in life wax and wane over the years.
8

caroline on April 13, 2012 at 10:21 am
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I loved this drama from the word go. I think Paula Milne created a story with layers and meaning and I think that it seems some audiences don’t have the patience to wait for such layers and meaning to unravel and reveal. This to me was the joy of the programme and the skill in which Ms Milne grew and nurtured her characters, changed them and allowed us to watch and learn about them step by step was fantastic. The ending was wonderful, Juliet Stephenson’s final line and the meaning behind it was so emotionally satisfying. I know people found flaws but I just thoroughly enjoyed a truly well told story about human beings, you can’t beat such a thing.
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  Lynda on April 13, 2012 at 2:34 pm
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  I couldn’t understand what she said after Victor asked her to meet up for coffee in two weeks time – I couldnt make out the words. could you help me?
  - 10
    
    Izzy on April 14, 2012 at 10:21 am
    
    She said ‘My cup runneth over’
  - 11
    
    Lynda on April 14, 2012 at 1:51 pm
    
    Thx izzy what do you think she meant by that?
  - 12
    
    Ross Neilson on April 14, 2012 at 8:30 pm
    
    Lynda, “my cup runneth over” is what Victor said to Charlie in an earlier episode when they first got together”. When Charlie said it to Victor at the end of last episode she was telling him that she would be open to them getting back together.
  - 13
    
    Lynda on April 14, 2012 at 10:05 pm
    
    Thanks for your help – Lynda
14

cel on April 13, 2012 at 2:29 pm
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I Loved this too!Had a tear in my eye in the end!I didnt quite catch the end thou when Victor asked Charlie out for linch?what was her reply?and what do you think it meant?
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  Ross Neilson on April 13, 2012 at 2:33 pm
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  cel, Charlie said “my cup runneth over” which is what Victor said to her in an earlier episode when they first got together.
  
  It was a nice touch and hinted at a reconciliation which I think most of us watching were hoping would happen 🙂
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  Lynda on April 13, 2012 at 2:36 pm
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  Yes – I need help with this too – I couldnt quite make out the words.
17

Julie on April 13, 2012 at 3:30 pm
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It was truly the best UK drama I’ve seen for years, so wonderful that it didn’t dumb down for those viewers with a short attention span and allowed the story to unfurl over the weeks just like a good novel. I agree that some of the characters at first seemed to tick the sterotypes box but that was all forgotten by episode 3 when I more interested in the story than the analysis of political correctness. I had a huge lump in my throat by the end of the final episode, as the characters were so well drawn. I am so pleased that we are still able to make such wonderful intelligent drama without all the gimmicks and car chases, it relied totally on the story and the actors. A triumph, thank you BBC
18

Alison Leonard on April 13, 2012 at 7:14 pm
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I loved it. At times it was clunky, yes, and why did the tv always have to show the crucial bits of news – but hey, that’s how we get the news. The characters were complex, the plotting deft and the build-up to that final climax was the most skilled I have ever – yes, ever – seen. There was so much silence, did you notice? That’s because, when the multiple crunches came, the meaning for every character was just there, it didn’t need to be spelt out. And you could sympathtise with every single one of the cast. When Charlotte said to Jay, ‘You can’t go on living a lie’, and Lily said to Charlotte, ‘That’s rich, coming from you,’ I agonised for what was about to fall on Charlotte’s head – but I also knew exactly why Lily said it – however vile it was – and I knew that in her circumstances I would have said it too.

Congratulations to Paula Milne for a wonderful script with deep sub-text. Don’t get depressed by the early reviews. It was terrific, and I hope you’re already busy with the next.
19

Geoff on April 13, 2012 at 10:58 pm
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I agree totally with many comments here.I felt the last episode elevated the story considerably and I could not help but re evaluate the whole series. I had felt it was just a drama about a group of friends , enthralling but full of cliches, but the final twists, showed it to be about much more universal themes of loss, of mistakes made ,of consequences of regret about times lost and the value of long friendships . A very sad ending but perhaps that it is because it touched so many chords……
20

pasteisdenata557 on April 14, 2012 at 1:16 am
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Good enough to keep watching for 6 episodes, regardless of imperfections such as the way news was inserted, anything but seamlessly. I found it difficult to suspend disbelief at some of the older versions of actors who weren’t really a convincing match for their younger selves. Some thought
moments.
I thought the musical score – not the archive pop/rock music- was very good indeed; Andrew Johnston, composer, I found out – the piano piece was very evocative.

Check my BLOG for a piece of evocative music:

http://itswhatitdoestoyou557.wordpress.com/

Peter
21

ginny spring on April 14, 2012 at 6:24 pm
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thelmagfaghag
Loved the series and always looked forward to the next episode to see how their lives were developing and their relationships with each other. Appreciated the thought provoking way that the series was made- left you time to draw your own conclusions before the next stage of the characters’ story(s) unravelled.
Knew by the fifth episode who had died by elimination and the fact that she was the real tortured soul out of all of them-and for it to have been Jack would of been too obvious.
Showed that through adversity, time, love, and heartbreak, true friendships never die. In some ways those friendships are always there to haunt us throughout out lives.
22

Sarie Cross on April 17, 2012 at 10:27 pm
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loved it ….. thought it was well thought out, well written,well acted and well produced. Loved watching the decades unfolding and plotting their stories and the political history against my own life events. Compelling – wish there was more …
23

The Don of Croy on April 19, 2012 at 2:39 pm
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Yes, it reminded of ‘Our Friends’ more than anything else…but still enjoyable. But, that bathroom mirror – we’d have killed for that in 1973, but I doubt any student dive would have had such up to date luxury back then.

Also, when Lillie wanted to borrow the £3K Alan was driving a Merc – back then if you had a Merc you would almost certainly have had access to £3k without putting your house up as collateral.

Pedant corner has now moved…
24

Reeya on April 19, 2012 at 10:23 pm
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I loved White Heat and always looked forward catching up on it online (as I was a week behind). I’m a bit disappointed its finished, but all good things come to an end! I liked the depth of the story, the characters, their development, their interlinking relationships and the references to important social and political events as the series went on. There aren’t many series’ that have the same depth of character, intelligence and social awareness as White Heat; I enjoyed the ferocity and passion of the characters, especially Jack and Victor. I also thought it was Jack who had died throughout the series, as Ginny said it was Orla who had more going on than she would ever let on and the sacrifices she made for friendship are admirable. This reminded me of the strong bonds I had with my university housemates and the fun we used to have, can’t say I’ve ever had the same type of bond with friends since and it makes me want to see everyone for a reunion too! More dramas like this please BBC, you did good 🙂
25

Jeanette on April 20, 2012 at 10:15 am
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White Heat is the best thing I’ve seen on TV for a long time. The way the story revealed, the acting, the music – everything. We were allowed to understand the characters and see the ramifications of their decisions over the course of their lives. I loved the ending too. I hoped somehow older and wiser Jack would end up back with Claire but understood why she wanted Victor and was glad for him it looked like he’d get her back. Thought provoking and brilliant!
26

Claire on April 20, 2012 at 6:00 pm
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Could someone please tell me how it ended? I watched all episodes up to mid way through episode 6 on iplayer. Having tried to watch the end tonight it is no longer on there! Just want to know how it all came together! Thanks!
27

Jin on April 20, 2012 at 7:12 pm
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I had been watching the series on Iplayer. Missed the last episode and just foumd out it has now been removed from Iplayer. Really disappointed – I’d been really enjoying the series.
28

Pat Palmer on April 21, 2012 at 1:09 pm
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Alas … I also missed the last episode and am searching to try to find a way to view it – or find out how it ended. I only became aware of White Heat two weeks ago when I came across a review, and have been playing catch-up ever since. I absolutely loved it, and being of similar age to the characters, and from the same part of UK it really resonated with me. Having watched all the early episodes well after they were screened, I didn’t appreciated that the last episode would suddenly disappear from the iplayer schedule. Is there any way of getting access to this episode now, or do I just have to write it off?
29

ianwylie on April 21, 2012 at 1:38 pm
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There always the DVD option: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007BBN1XE
- 30
  
  Pat Palmer on April 21, 2012 at 2:33 pm
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  Thanks … Its on its way to me as I speak 😉
31

Mandi Avis on April 21, 2012 at 6:28 pm
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I thought this was an incredibly moving and well-acted series. I fell in love with all of the characters and cared about them and their relationships. It was well-portrayed how actions that seem small and insignificant at the time can have such profound impacts on people. I was surprised that it was intended to be a secret until the end as to who had died – throughout every episode there were references to “she died in this room” and “it was 2 weeks before anyone found her”. As soon as the older versions of both Charlie and Lily had arrived it was clear that the only remaining female was Orla and that she had died. But I think this made it better as a series as you wonder why they had all lost contact with each other.
32

Jayne on April 24, 2012 at 2:49 pm
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I absolutely loved the series. Sadly, my husband deleted the last episode! Looks like I will have to go for the dvd option mentioned above!!!
33

Steve on April 25, 2012 at 7:36 am
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I really enjoyed the series, weill written, well produced and excellent acting especially from Sam Claflin and Claire Foy. There really wasn’t a bad performance.
I have seen some comments on lack of research for such things as songs not being released at the time the events were set. To those few folk please get a life. It wasn’t a documentary for goodness sake.
Well done Paula Milne, well done BBC.
34

Alison Leonard on April 27, 2012 at 4:36 pm
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Hi – here’s Alison Leonard again with some wider reflections.
It seems to me that TV critics don’t fundamentally expect TV drama characters to be politically engaged, or even to be affected by ongoing political events. Here’s Bernadette McNulty in the Telegraph, for instance, scathingly saying: “Two years on and still, in part two, no conversation or human interaction was left untouched by historical significance… Changes to the abortion law can’t come quick enough for Lily…”
I worked in London in the mid-1960s with four children left bereaved by their mother’s death from a botched back-street abortion. Should her story attempt to be ‘untouched by historical significance’? Would it have lessened her drama to avoid the terrible irony that, if she’d only waited a couple of years,she could have had a fully legal abortion and her children would have kept their mother?
I’m writing a novel about 3 politically-engaged women, taking their stories from Greenham Common up to the Iraq war. I can imagine reviewers taking the same line: “This writer is so politically obsessed that she can’t let her characters speak without dragging politics into the frame.” But politics lives in the frame, in all our frames. Ask Alan Hollinghurst (Thatcher), ask Jeremy Deller (Orgreave).
The beauty of Paula Milne’s achievement is that she sustained that vision over six huge episodes; she persuaded the BBC to stay with it (fund it, too); she inspired a whole production team not to lose faith – even in these politically dillusioned times.
35

brenda ward on April 28, 2012 at 3:27 pm
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I just loved all of it – there is nothing that I would change right up to the end when everyone thought it was Jack that had died but it was Orla! Lovely stuff. Will watch again if given chance.
36

Paul Woodhead on May 1, 2012 at 9:26 pm
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BBC at its best. Theme music as well was brilliant. A truly well crafted production.
37

Debbie gordon on May 8, 2012 at 8:29 pm
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Can someone please tell me did Charlotte leave with Victor in the last scene of the last episode. My taping stopped just as they were all working back to their cars, and I cannot find out what happened and desperately want to know. The series was fantastic and that would just make my day if they did.
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  ianwylie on May 8, 2012 at 8:46 pm
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  Hi Debbie – it looked like the moment had been lost as they were about to get into their cars. Then Victor called over to Charlotte and explained that he was going away for a few weeks and asked her to have lunch with him when he got back. She replied: “My cup runneth over” – an echo from earlier in the series and the very last line in the script. Charlotte smiled, Victor smiled…and so did Jack.
  - 39
    
    Debbie gordon on May 9, 2012 at 7:55 am
    
    Fantastic I knew it couldn’t end with them all just going their separate ways. Wel done BBC foe such a fabulous drama and I do hope Paula Milne has another gem up her sleeve.
40

Linda on May 13, 2012 at 9:14 pm
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Masterpiece, I loved it, well done Milner! 😉 xxx
41

Denise Bowe on June 14, 2012 at 4:50 pm
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Since I am in North America, I just saw the final episode last night. The only word for the entire series is WONDERFUL! Loved that the story took its time to tell each of the character’s stories which gave the viewer the opportunity to fell as if they really knew them and cared for each of them, even the mistakes that they made in their lives. The scene with Orla at her retirement party and her speech brougt tears to my eyes. Wonderful ending. Bittersweet. Ony from the BBC. I wish American TV would watch and learn! Thank you.
42

Angela on October 14, 2012 at 10:23 am
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Have just watched the final episode here in New Zealand. Came across the series one Sunday night on a little known free view station here. I’m not sure if I picked it up on the second or third episode, but became hooked immediately. I don’t recall seeing any previews, so suspect a lot of people in New Zealand didn’t even know it was on. A great shame, as I think it’s the best drama series I’ve seen for years. Absolutely gripping. Loved the characters, but especially loved the historical events brought to life. Episode 5 saw Princess Diana bringing Prince William out of the maternity home – really brought back memories.
Well done BBC. More please!