Yes, televised wargaming. Yes, it's about as exciting as it sounds.
Now, I'm partial to a little bit of wargaming (only a little bit mind, I don't wear an anorak or anything) and this show sort of misses the point. When my mates and I play, it's a bit of a laugh, lording over people (or in my case being lorded over) and mocking people as their forces terribly die (or in my case being mocked, you get the idea). However, it's all in a sense of fun, it doesn't ruin your life or anything. Actually, I'm terrible myself but at least you can always blame the dice, great!
Anyway, the show is based around two generals refighting a famous battle over the tabletop. They are in different rooms and can only act on what they would know if they were in that position in real life (eg You are fighting up a hill. You don't know how big the forces up the hill are because you wouldn't be able to see them, however, the other side would know how many of you there are because they can see you). Each of the generals has a couple of advisors. One of the umpires will go to each battle room individually and take the orders which would then be shown on the main battle table in the studio.
Every outcome that uses an element of chance is decided on the rolling of two dice. Now, they don't tell us what would happen if certain numbers are rolled, just the outcome after the dice were rolled. The armys were shown by plastic models on the tabletop and they would be moved or taken off as whatever happened.
This week, the Russians had to break the Allies supply lines (This was the battle of Balaklava rather hilariously). They had a certain number of goes to do it and they outnumbered the allies.
Angela Rippon tried her hardest to try and make it seem exciting but the truth of it was that it was actually pretty dull, but at the same time it wasn't terribly poor. It's horribly unsatisfying but it isn't a monstrosity of Turner Around the World.
This review was written just after the first episode. After watching the other two, I finally worked out how they fought and whatever and it improved the show slightly, however.
VERDICT- 4.5/10 - Unfortunately dull. 3 months prison.
Bang!
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