The television adaptation of James Graham's hit play Dear England has arrived, bringing with it a strong cast and impressive football scenes. However, Joseph Fiennes's portrayal of Gareth Southgate has been criticised as a caricature, described as a cross between Harold Steptoe and Captain Darling from Blackadder Goes Forth.
The four-part series picks up 20 years after Southgate's infamous penalty miss in 1996, following his unexpected appointment as England manager. It charts his quiet revolution, aided by psychologist Pippa Grange (Jodie Whittaker), which transforms the team into a unified group and leads to a thrilling semi-final run at the 2018 World Cup. The narrative also covers subsequent tournament exits on penalties and the backlash against the team's inclusivity efforts.
The transfer from stage to screen is handled smoothly, using archive footage for match scenes and a black backdrop for staged moments. The young ensemble cast delivers strong performances, with Will Antenbring's Harry Kane standing out as a smart empath. However, Fiennes's Southgate is burdened with excessive tics, including a bobbing head and a south London drawl, which undermine the subtlety of the real man.
While the play's emotional core remains intact, the series glosses over Southgate's conservative tactical instincts and fails to capture the nuances of his character. The result is a drama that entertains but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to portray the complexity of its subject.
