Despite the necessary interesting ideas, The Gallows Pole falls short in many areas I felt like I was embarking on some kind of eighteenth-century version of Peaky Blinders when I decided to turn on The Gallows Pole. After three episodes of about an hour I was disappointed. While it seems to borrow many successful elements of historical crime series, The Gallows Pole can't even stand in the shadows of similar series just yet.
And I think that's a shame, because the idea sounds very interesting. Supposed dead soldier David Hartley (Michael Socha, Once Upon a Time) returns to his family in Yorkshire in 1760. When he learns that his father has died, he becomes the head of the family. However, there are many financial problems in the community, and David convinces his family and friends to get involved in counterfeiting.
The Gallows Pole lacks urgency
Everything just doesn't seem to hit the right spot. There are plenty of good ideas, but none of them come to fruition. I expect to see urgency and desperation, a harsh world where people have to fight for the last crumb of bread. And this is what the makers try to show, but it just doesn't get across. David certainly has a reason to go into crime, but the writing completely underplays that urgency as far as I'm concerned.
The way in which The Gallows Pole tries to create an atmospheric world also feels like a poor imitation of series like Taboo or Peaky Blinders. Like Peaky Blinders, this series uses modern music in a historical setting, but it almost doesn't work in this case. Due to the lack of urgency, the music is largely out of tune. The way in which this series wants to show that David struggles with his conscience is also a missed opportunity. The makers have used clever visual means, but it doesn't come across.
Despite a short playing time, The Gallows Pole is incredibly slow. Normally I'm fine with a series taking the time to build a solid foundation, to show a world full of believable characters. But since the series only has three episodes, this buildup feels like wasted time. Even the moments that should seem exciting, such as a major money robbery, are slow and calm. Because of this, it also doesn't feel like a victory once the loot is in.
The actors and decoration are small bright spots
Fortunately, I can still name the necessary positive things about The Gallows Pole. Although the atmosphere doesn't always come across, it does look really good visually. The costumes and sets are lavishly decorated to bring a typical eighteenth-century village to life. The actors are also doing well. Michael Socha is always a fun actor to watch, and Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey), who plays David's wife Grace, is also a joy to watch in this series.
The Gallows Pole is a disappointment. The series has a lot of interesting ideas, but only a few of them are actually executed well. Unfortunately, the small bright spots don't outweigh everything that's missing.
