Hornblower

I found the DVD box at the local Rekhet a few weeks ago for a measly 6 euro sealed, and today I`ve watched the last of the 8 episodes of this series.

Based on the novels by C.S. Forester, Hornblower takes place during the Napoleonic War era and made in 8 television movies.

It ran from 1998 to 2003, and follows the career of Horatio Hornblower (played by Ioan Gruffud) as he joins the Royal Navy as a Midshipman, until the series ends as he becomes a Post-Captain, married and expecting a child.

Though the series shows her age now with the advent of Black Sails on the matter of naval battles, this is still a very good series.  It has some nice stories, great jokes (The Don`s will come out of their ports to shake the hands of whomever was victorious - about the fact Spain would enter the war).

Some strong names also appear in the series, especially later on in the series, like Jamie Barber (Apollo from the rebooted Battlestar Galactica) and Paul McGann as his right-hand man Lt Bush (from Doctor Who - The Movie fame).

Personally, my favorite of the series was The Duchess and The Devil, though the Mutiny / Retribution duo movie was rather good as well, adding a layer to Horatio not expected from the beginning of the series.  He has apparently a sort of a dark streak underneath.

It was a nice trip down memory lane, and if you come along the box, feel free to pick one up, you won`t regret it!