About Gold

Post 1871:

I try to read as many stories as I can, but I’m always looking for a good show. There’s something about actors acting out good material that’s very different than something playing in one’s head. It engages the brain on different levels, and though arguably it requires less to watch than to read, I still think some of the most valuable stories of this century have come via TV.

Mostly though, it’s crap. There’s ninety subscriptions for thousands of programs—you gotta seek to find the goods. I wouldn’t recommend recommendations, because usually they’re just bots or paid liars or people with bad taste.

But not me. I have good taste. I recommend you totally listen to the following recommendation. Gold is a British show that came and went a couple years ago. It never popped up on my radar. That’s okay. I miss stuff. But if you want competent cops chasing clever capable villains, this is the deal. It’s grounded and adult and takes a wild true story and gives it real grounding and character.

It’s based on the biggest heist in history. That’s right. It happened in 1983 and I’d never heard of it, but there it is. Brinks-Mat was the name of the thing. Some guys took some gold. Lots of freaking gold. A bunch of working class dudes get the keys to the kingdom—how do they get away with it, how do they break all the rules of society without drawing attention. How do the cops get them, etc. These elements could be handled poorly or professionally, and I’m happy to say that here we have some real treasure.

This is not a rip-roaring rollicking good time. If you want something that doesn’t treat you like an idiot and looks at a very unique situation from various interesting points of view, this is one to see. It’s six episodes, done and dusted. Great actors, great script. It’s not El Dorado, but you’ll find yourself in a place of substantial value. Cheers and see you after.