Wings: The Complete Series 1 And 2 [DVD]

A great series from the late 1970’s about the formation of the Royal Flying Corps during Worl War 1. Not over sentimental but full of Boy Own encounters and dogfights with ‘The dreaded Hun’. The main character Captain Triggers is every bit the gung-ho action Officer in the manner of Biggles. Enjoyed it! 😊

1915. As H.G. Wells had predicted, war takes to the air (a forecast thought fanciful until then). In France the newly established Royal Flying Corps uses fragile ill-equipped aircraft for reconnaissance - revolver and rifle no match for superior German planes with machine guns.Joining up at the same time are Sussex blacksmith's son Alan Farmer and posh Charlie Gaylion. Twenty five episodes follow their progress - danger ever present, experiments vital to make aircraft more worthy. What chance of survival - average life span for pilots six weeks, two months if lucky?A hit when first shown, this 1977-8 series still has much to offer. Admittedly in some ways time has not been kind. Several outdoor sequences are colour-drained (but aerial shots still highly impressive), scripts sometimes too wordy and stilted, acting variable. (Whilst some cast know well of subtleties picked up with cameras and microphones so close, others hold forth as though on a stage, determined to be heard by those at the back.)Such reservations are trivial when considering the series' assets. For younger viewers in particulat there may be much to surprise. Were aircraft really so vulnerable, it such a struggle to convince manufacturers to make them fit for purpose? (They needed far more practical test flights - planes then less likely to experience problems with the rapid twists, turns, climbs and plunges in combat.) Were pilots truly so resented, army convinced toffs in the air had opted for an easy war option?Yes, most revealing is this recreation of the times - including when prices are quoted. (A basketful of groceries comes to three shillings, two and a half pence. "Oh dear!" says Alan's mum.)Arguably Nicholas Jones as instructor Captain Triggers most consistently impresses.Tim Woodward as Alan and Michael Cochrane as Charles well symbolize the gulf between the classes. How hard to rise through the ranks and become an officer - though never to be fully accepted as a "gentleman" by colleagues qualifying because of inherited privilege!Yes, there is much here to provoke thought.At the end of it all, viewers surely emerge with greater awareness and respect.

I remember it was a big ratings winner in the late 70's when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I took a gamble I bought the series as I only had sketchy memories of a few scenes and characters from thirty years ago. I thought that for the price you couldn't go wrong for 25 episodes.It was well worth it. It is far superior to anything shown over the Christmas period or all year for that matter. A drama following the fortunes of early British pilots in the first world war at the very dawn of air power.My parents and I have really enjoyed it. It's a period drama so has not really aged at all. The stories are well told and the characters are distinct and well performed. These days I feel writers are lazy and they hide silly plot holes with a manic pace ( I'm looking at you Spooks writers ). No modern soap-opera sensationalized rows and tedious `relationship' merry-go-round disputes between semi-clown characters. These stories are credible and are really rich in depth and texture. I particularly liked Michael Cochrane who did a superb job of showing a man under extreme strain.The joy of watching real aircraft over cartoon ones cannot be under-valued either.I watched a few minutes of the historically dubious Red Baron film at around the same time and found the computer generated aircraft silly in both speed, movement and believability in comparison to the solid forms of the rickety and sluggish planes of Wings.It's strange Wings has never been repeated on any of the many channels that show old BBC dramas ( Colditz, Secret Army, House of Elliot, Onedin Line etc ). In my opinion Wings is superior to all of them except Secret Army. Wings was a series that filled the peak time BBC1 slot on Sunday evening at around 7pm. This is when there were only three channels to watch!It's also incredible to me that the three lead actors have vanished into virtual obscurity to only appear in occasional character parts rather than to become house hold names. Tim Woodward probably had the largest scope to appear in more dramas. He has completely vanished from our screens as a leading man. Michael Cochrane and Nicholas Jones have real presence as upper class officers; both in very different and memorable ways. I suspect they may have been type cast in upper class roles ever since. To a modern audience I think Nicholas Jones as Captain Triggers is probably a bit too full throttle. He never seems to relax. He at times reminds me of Lord Flashart from Black Adder Goes Forth - which of course came many years later.All three leads are however superb and it was with real regret that I watched the last part. It really did feel as if I'd lost old friends when I watched the last part. It was good enough for another series. The series had still plenty of bite in it. There was no dropping off in quality over time. It would be great if the BBC could re-unite the leads for a one-off drama set thirty years later just after the second world war.I suspect in the post Star Wars mania era of the late 1970's, the BBC changed to dramas like Blakes 7. It's a shame because even though I'm a Blakes 7 fan, Wings is a much better drama and should be appreciated far more than Blakes 7.