Rules of the Game (TV series) explained

Genre:Drama
Thriller
Creator:Ruth Fowler
Director:Jennifer Sheridan
Composer:Edmund Butt
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Episodes:4
Producer:Simon Meyers
Cinematography:Milos Moore
Runtime:60 mins.
Company:The Forge
Last Aired:[1]
Num Series:1
Channel:BBC One

Rules of the Game is a four-part British television drama series, written by Ruth Fowler. It stars Maxine Peake as a sportswear executive who deals with the fallout of an employee's shocking death in her company's office building. It aired on BBC One from 11 to 19 January 2022.[2]

Synopsis

Sam (Peake) is the chief operating officer at a family-run sportswear business in Northern England. When an employee turns up dead in the foyer, seemingly by suicide, Sam is forced to reflect on the company's problematic culture and events stretching back an entire decade, and another death.

Cast

Production

Fowler was inspired to write the series by the Harvey Weinstein scandals. The series was filmed in Manchester, the north west of England and also in Frodsham.[3]

Reception

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian awarded the first episode four stars out of five, praising the writing and its weaving together of commentary and mystery elements, and dubbed Peake's work 'another barnstorming performance'.[4] Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph also gave it four out of five stars, calling the show 'high on entertainment value'.[5] Ed Cumming from The Independent gave the first episode two out of five stars, claiming 'the script and performances have all the subtlety of a boss’ hand up a skirt at the Christmas do.'.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BBC One - Rules of the Game, Series 1, Episode 4. BBC. 9 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Rules of the Game release date: cast, plot and trailer for BBC thriller. Radio Times. 9 July 2023.
  3. Web site: 2022-01-12 . Rules of the Game filming locations: Where is the BBC drama set? . 2023-08-22 . HELLO! . en.
  4. News: Rules of the Game review – Maxine Peake is barnstorming in a rich, meaty murder mystery. Lucy. Mangan. 11 January 2022. 9 July 2023. The Guardian.
  5. News: Singh . Anita . 2022-01-11 . Rules of the Game, review: plenty of fun – and a furiously vaping Maxine Peake – in this mad MeToo thriller . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2023-08-22 . 0307-1235.
  6. Web site: Maxine Peake abusive workplace drama Rules of the Game lacks nuance – review. 11 January 2022. The Independent. 9 July 2023.