Mr Bates Vs the Post Office review: ITV delivers a riveting drama about a shocking true story
The four part series airs from 1 to 4 January on ITV1
Mr Bates Vs the Post Office will shock you, not because the story centres on an appalling miscarriage of justice but the fact that it really happened.
The four-part ITV drama, which airs every night from 1 January, explores the events in the early 2000s when several sub-postmasters across the country were blamed when errors with a technical system called Horizon led to financial amounts changing or sudden losses occurring. Many were prosecuted for theft, fraud, and false accounting, with some even facing jail time for it.
Former sub-postmaster Alan Bates helped lead the charge with others against the Post Office in order to seek justice, and the events and the court case that followed are explored in the new series. Toby Jones takes on the titular role and stars alongside actors like Monica Dolan, Will Mellor and Alex Jennings.
Mr Bates Vs the Post Office opens on a strong note, with the drama's first episode laying out the groundwork of the true story. It does so by predominantly following sub-postmasters like Jo (Dolan) and Lee (Mellor) deal with the impact Horizon is having on their lives, with Bates and his partner Suzanne (Julie Hesmondhalgh) remained steadfast in the face of adversity.
Read more: The true story behind Mr Bates Vs the Post Office
From the get-go viewers are drawn into the plight of the sub-postmasters as they struggle with guilt and shame over the losses they appear to be accruing, feeling isolated as they try and fail to prove that something is amiss. Dolan and Mellor are outstanding as Jo and Lee, both deliver nuanced, heartbreaking performances. Dolan depicts her character with candid vulnerability, making it easy to empathise with Jo and the unfair troubles she faces.
Jones, on the other hand, plays Bates impeccably, ensuring he remains unwavering in his declaration of innocence, playing a calm and steady presence even as he stares down the police. Bates will not be intimidated, and he is ready to defend not only his honour but those of other sub-postmasters around the country showing the impressive nature of Jones' real-life counterpart.
As an opening episode, Mr Bates and the Post Office is bound to captivate viewers with its shocking story, which is told at a pace that makes it riveting from start to finish so that audience members will be instantly calling for more. It is hard to believe that the events of the drama really took place not that long ago, and this David versus Goliath story is one that shouldn't be missed.
📺 Where to watch Mr Bates Vs the Post Office: ITV1 at 9pm on Monday 1 January through to Thursday 4 January. The show will also be available to stream on ITVX.
⭐️ Our rating: 5/5
🍿 Watch it if you liked: Showtrial, Quiz, The Long Shadow.
🎭 Who's in it?: Toby Jones, Monica Dolan, Will Mellor, Alex Jennings, Julie Hesmondhalgh.
⏰ How long is it? Four one-hour episodes.
📖 What’s it about? When sub-postmasters begin to be investigated for fraud and other crimes after the introduction of a computer system known as Horizon they decide to stand up and fight to prove their innocence.
Watch the trailer for Mr Bates Vs the Post Office: