BBC Drama 'Life After Life' Declared a 'Masterpiece'
The BBC period drama Life After Life has achieved the remarkable distinction of a perfect 100% score on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences alike hailing it as a 'masterpiece'. Originally airing in 2022, the miniseries is currently captivating a new wave of viewers through its availability on BBC iPlayer.
A Compelling Story of Rebirth
This acclaimed production is an adaptation of Kate Atkinson's celebrated 2013 novel of the same name. Helmed by director John Crowley and written for television by Bash Doran, the series presents a unique narrative. The story follows Ursula Todd, a woman living through the first half of the 20th century who finds herself trapped in an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
The protagonist's journey begins tragically when she dies on the night of her birth in 1910. Miraculously, she is reborn that same night and survives. Throughout the series, Ursula lives and dies repeatedly under different circumstances, each time being reborn into new and alternative lives. The plot navigates her through these varied existences across a critical historical era spanning two world wars.
Audience and Critical Acclaim
The show has proven immensely popular, with fans flocking to platforms like Rotten Tomatoes to express their admiration. One reviewer penned, 'It’s such a fully realised world, beautifully written and directed... that Life After Life’s lack of traditional storytelling is, despite so much suffering and death, rather life-affirming.'
Another enthusiastic viewer declared it the 'Best Show I've ever seen!', applauding its exploration of life's different paths. The sentiment was echoed on IMDb, where reviews remained extremely positive. One detailed review praised the 'intriguing premise' and highlighted the drama's high production values, beautiful direction and cinematography, and the fine classical score by Volker Bertelmann. The script by Bash Doran was commended for its well-crafted, crisp dialogue and well-paced structure, with the cast receiving accolades for their strength across all roles.
This surge of praise for a BBC period drama comes shortly after viewers were similarly raving about the historical serial War and Peace. That adaptation, which first broadcast on BBC One in 2016, was based on Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel and written by Andrew Davies. Stylist magazine praised it as one of the BBC's best, noting its easily digestible and chic presentation backed by a stellar cast of British talent, including Lily James, Paul Dano, and James Norton. The Telegraph went further, calling it 'the greatest TV costume drama of the past decade'. It holds a solid 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Life After Life is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.
