Five reasons why Utopia is a brilliant piece of British Television

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/utopia/pictures/

Utopia (C4)

Channel 4's new thriller has really impressed me. It's been a long time since a British TV show has grabbed my attention this seriously and it's refused to relent so far.

(For the record, the last British show was probably Being Human, purely because of Hal).

So, without further ado, let's start off;

5 reasons why Utopia is a brilliant piece of British Television

1. The Premise

I love a conspiracy as much as the next man, as long as he isn't Robbie Williams. The Utopia conspiracy the show focuses on is far-fetched, but just about in the realms of believability. The set-up, with the online forum discussion is juxtaposed with the very real danger the protagonists eventually find themselves in.

The very first scene oozes cool, I won't spoil anything, just watch it and give it a chance if you haven't already.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/utopia/pictures/

2. Interesting Characters

Characters can make or break a show, but Utopia's main characters are all interesting, from the aloof Jessica Hyde to the skittish (and hilariously named) Wilson Wilson. 

I enjoyed Nathan Stewart-Jarrett's portrayal of Curtis in Misfits, and he is strong again in Utopia playing Ian. Switching roles from 'the tank' to 'the brain' in the respective shows has highlighted his versatility and I was pleasantly suprised with the character.

(Also, Arby and Lee were a brilliant partnership while it lasted, and they stole every scene they were in).

3. Leaves you wanting more 

I watch a fair amount of television and after a while it's hard not to become cynical. This is one of the few new shows I've watched which has actually had me thinking about it in my spare time, discussing it with friends and family and just being excited about it in general.

4. Shot Beautifully 

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/utopia/pictures/

After I did a quick filming course, I picked up the annoying habit of constantly judging shots and camera angles.

I really couldn't complain about Utopia, look at the pictures or the website and you have to agree that stylistically it's very strong.

5. Good Side Plots

Poor side-plots can ruin a good series. Who else remembers President Palmer having problems with his son 'Keef' in 24. No-one cared. Just get back to Bauer and his urgent appointments. British dramas that come in six-parters such as Utopia don't suffer from this thankfully as there is no time for filler, just character development.

Seriously, Utopia is quality and at the very least is worth a try, and I can confidently say its the best programme of 2013 so far.