Gavin Logan reviews the first episode of Fleming…
The name’s Fleming, Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, author of Casino Royale, wealthy politicians son, Army drop-out…you get the drift.
I want to start off by saying I am in no way a Bond addict. Yes I enjoyed the movies growing up and have had mixed feelings on the recent efforts but the main aspect about this new show that I noticed straight away is that you don’t necessarily have to know your GoldenEyes from your Thunderballs. But there was something intriguing about the clips and trailers for Fleming, starring Dominic Cooper in the titular role, that made me want to watch, to find out exactly what pushed his buttons and how he created the Worlds most infamous secret agent. However if you’ve come to the show to see a straight “making of” type drama, then you might be slightly disappointed. From the first initial impressions, this isn’t about Fleming’s struggle to write a successful spy novel, this is actually better than that. This is the story of the man himself and the very unique and special life he led that would eventually go on to inspire the creation of James Bond and his world that we so fondly know.
From the opening segments we are immediately at home with this character and throughout the entire episode much of what he does and says are all very familiar. Perhaps a little too familiar. It’s evident that the writers of the show want us to know that Fleming was Bond, or at least the man he wishes he was. There’s two distinct scenes near the beginning that correlate specifically to prior Bond movies. A scuba diving scene with his wife, played impeccably by Sherlock’s Lara Pulver and a fast paced skiing scene with his author brother Peter in which he loses control and flies over a log cabin. Who can tell me what Bond movie that’s from? There’s also continued nods to 007 as the episode progresses including a moment at a bar when Fleming orders a Martini, shaken not stirred. All of this is good fun of course because it gives us, the viewers, more of a connection to Fleming through what we associate with Bond.
But was it any good?
The short answer is yes, it was good for an opening episode (1 of 4) and actually was able to pack in a fair amount of plot. The longer answer is, we really don’t know yet because we will only be able to fully appreciate the opener once we see where it leads to. But it is very promising.
We first meet Fleming moments after he has completed his inaugural spy novel Casino Royale and allows his wife to read the first manuscript. We are then transported back just prior to World War II where Fleming is enjoying a unfettered lifestyle of smoking expensive cigarettes, drinking expensive cocktails and making love to, dare I say it, an expensive woman. We touch on a few details from his early years when his mother visits his flat expressing her disdain for his lack of ambition. It doesn’t help when he feels he is constantly compared to his do-no-wrong brother Peter, who at the time is a soldier in the British Army. Things begin to turn around for him when he is approached by Director of Naval Intelligence for the Royal Navy and brought on as his personal assistant. This is when we get our first look-in at what might have inspired Fleming to conceive Bond and his supporting characters M, Miss Moneypenny etc. Although he shows off his rebellious side, his ideas are worth noting and it’s clear he will become a crucial cog in the Navy’s ploy to “flush out the Nazis”.
I’ve never been a big fan of Dominic Cooper (I don’t know why), so I was happy to eat my words while watching. Although I can’t comment on how close a portrayal his is of the real life Ian Fleming (and I’m not sure quite how important that is anyway) I thoroughly enjoyed his witty banter, playful charm and well…Bond-ish mannerisms. He certainly seems like the perfect choice. Macho enough to woo the ladies but too boyish to take life too seriously. I was also very impressed by the overall production. The set pieces, the costumes, the beautiful wide shots of London circa 1940. Lara Pulver also impressed as the apple of his eye and eventual wife Anna. She evoked much of what made her stand out as The Woman Irene Adler; independent, unyielding, seductive.
I know nothing of Fleming’s life so it’s impossible for me to recognise what is actually true and what’s been fabricated but in all honesty it doesn’t really matter. Fleming was enjoyable, spirited and fairly light hearted but provided enough intrigue for me to count down the days until Episode Two.
Gavin Logan – Follow me on Twitter and A-Z Movie Challenge.
Why not head on over to our newly-launched Flickering Myth Forum to discuss this story, or anything else that takes your fancy…
Originally published February 13, 2014. Updated April 11, 2018.
