Bonekickers

The complete first series of the BBC archaeological drama set at the fictional Wessex University. The series follows archaeologists Gillian Magwilde (Julie Graham), Ben Akomfrah (Adrian Lester), Professor ‘Dolly’ Parton (Hugh Bonneville) and Viv Davis (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) as they use state-of-the-art technology to investigate a series of ancient mysteries. Episodes comprise: ‘Army of God’, ‘Warriors’, ‘The Eternal Fire’, ‘The Cradle of Civilisation’, ‘The Lines of War’ and ‘Follow the Gleam’.
Daft, summer-schedule-filling fun from the BBC, Bonekickers is a muddled drama series that brings a team of people together to try and solve some ancient mysteries with a bit of modern know-how. Naturally, the team have their conflicts along the way, and naturally there are twists and turns as they go about their work. But not much that you won?t see coming.
For it doesn?t take long before Bonekickers starts hitting problems. It?s hard to know where to point the figure, although the early dismissal of any plausibility will do. We?re used to archaeology on the telly being presented as painstaking and intricate. Not here. Instead, it?s in with the diggers, there?s no time to waste. Throw in some clunky dialogue for good measure, and the predictability of much of what?s going on, and you?d think there?d be little reason to pick Bonekickers up.
But here?s the thing: it?s all a bit of a hoot. Because, warts and all, Bonekickers does work on an entertainment level. Oh sure, its mantelpiece will never need to make space for any awards of any note, but it?s still hard not to enjoy it. And while it?s doubtful if there?s enough in this first series to justify a second, you?re in for some fun if you do decide to take the plunge.