The Lotus Eaters: Complete BBC Series 1 [DVD] [1972]

Agios Nikolaos 30 years after "The Lotus Eaters"By Sven Buchholz Agios Nikolaos, Crete. I owe the production of "The Lotus Eaters" my best thanks. I first saw it on "Sky" in the early 90ties. Both my wife and I got a very sympathetic impression of the town Agios Nikolaos. Having seen all the episodes our curiosity made us paying our first visit in April 1993. The first visit was followed by 2 yearly trips until 2004 when we sold our house in Oslo, Norway and moved here permanently, all thanks to "The Lotus Eaters"! I beleive we are not the only one. There is a large Bitish colony in the area, and I know of several who learned about Agios Nikolaos from the series. The way the atmosphere and the life in Agios Nikolaos in the mid 70ties is described is remarkably genuine. The mixing of exterior filming and studio is very well done taking the technical problems before the digital era in regard. Acting and casting is solid BBC work from start to end.I have seen the entire serial many times on my old VHS direct recordings from "SKY". As I noticed the issue on DVD I did not hesitate to order both series. I have thoroughly enjoyed every time I watched "The Lotus Eaters" in my opinion a worthy representative from the "Golden Era" of BBC TV series.

I am enjoying the dvd just half way thru - saw the series first time around - Ian Hendry is good and Wanda easy on the eye - head of the local police is played well too. Various stories all linked around the couples past. Stories remind me of ITV's tales of the unexpected. The spy part which I liked first time around now seems a bit weak and unlikely - BBC production standards cheap - may not suit a 'supposedly' modern sophisticated audience, but most of the stories are good and the endings taking me by surprise.Would recommend that you don't watch all in one go - take a break in-between episodes - like we had to do in the old days!

I had some very vague memories of this series from its first airing in the early 70s; I would have been about 11 or 12 when it went out then. I was quite excited to find it on Amazon, I had marked it down as one of the programmes the BBC wiped; anyway, I ordered the DVD in a Proustian bid to rediscover lost evenings of childhood.Adulthood is full of disappointments, but my initial dismay (about 30 seconds into episode one) soon gave way to delirious, hysterical laughter. 'The Lotus Eaters' is a fabulous confection of badly-judged melodrama, ludicrous plotting, risible dialogue/characterisation/acting, and pitiful production values. It has dreadfulness in depth; 'I Claudius' it isn't. That said, it is - somehow - endearingly terrible and offers a period viewing experience that sheds an interesting light on 'the golden age of TV drama'.(Amazon requires me to give it a star rating; it's utter dreck but has been a deliciously guilty pleasure, so I will give it 5.)

What a brilliant series. Well written and well acted throughout. Obviously Baird was brilliant but also the other writers who contributed to the series. Each episode can be enjoyed singularly. The main actors are brilliant but also the other cast members, I particularly was impressed with Sylvia Coleridge and the tarantulas. My favourite episode was 'The fascinating couple' with the creepy Mervishes plotting to abduct the young couple played brilliantly by Julia Goodman and Martin Howells. They were brilliant playing the innocent and I loved the scene were they forgive the Mervishes. I am too young to have known Ian Hendry but I loved him as Erik, and the way Erik cared about everyone in the bar.I have watched series 2 but much prefer the Series 1 and the cast of Series 1.

An enjoyable series with an excellent cast. I recalled from my youth and wished to re-visit! Was not disappointed. However was slightly thrown by what appeared to be Dutch on the cover and was concerned that it would be sub-titled. However all was well and very watchable. If it had been a gift however I would not have been happy as the online description failed to mention this. What is disappointing is that the second series appears to be unavailable so am now left hanging…

I cannot say how much I love this series. I took a chance on it because I liked (and was haunted by) Michael J Bird's 'The Dark Side of the Sun' when it was first broadcast, and when I watched it more recently. You just have to keep watching this, the stories are so gripping. Obviously given the production values, and technology available at the time, it would very easy to find some effects dated (like the tarantula scene) but the drama just carries it, the acting is pitch perfect, and the relationship between the excellent Ventham and Hendry makes for compelling viewing. Superb.

Michael Bird created Cretan drama mainly carried by the two stars, Ian Hendry and Wanda Ventham as bar owners Erik and Ann Shepherd. Both characters have had a traumatic past and Ann has been to required to marry Erik for reasons which emerge as the running story develops This unlikely scenario acts as a backdrop for the nine episodes featuring ex-pats living on the Greek island due to differing circumstances. The quality of the individual stories is patchy and some develop and conclude in an unpleasant manner. In addition to the rough diamond Erik, well played by Ian Hendry and the sensuous Wanda Ventham, whose presence makes the series watchable. In addition, Maurice Denham makes the most of his role as the eccentric Nestor, while Julia Goodman gives her character an innocent beauty.Well worth seeing, but not comfortable viewing.

One of the best drama's of the 70s.Please look to the C. Fuller's, review which is really top notch. Ian Hendry is at his best here, maybe because the screen character is a alcoholic, and this problem was one he had in real life. A series of vignettes about expats who own a Taverna/bar, and some of the characters that frequent the establishment. For each has their own narrative - or dare I say secret.Please note this series was made in the 70s,and the transfer to DVD may put people off, but saying all that it is a Gem - and well worth the purchase.