We’re rapidly closing in on the end of 2024. It was a year full of big swings on the big and small screen. As the year comes to a close, I’m looking back on series that worked for me that you can now check out. Today, it’s a story of fighting against government corruption.
Series: Mr. Bates vs The Post Office
Where to Find It: In America, all four episodes streamed on PBS as part of the Masterpiece collection.
What’s It About: In entertainment, we never seem to tire of stories of the little guy fighting against the powers-that-be. In this case, it’s a group of small-town postmasters that have to carry on a years-long fight with the British government.
The series is based on true events. At the heart is Alan Bates (Toby Jones). He’s living a modest retirement with his wife after they lost their business when the government accused him of accounting errors with his postal franchise. Bates is convinced he did nothing wrong and remains committed to uncovering the truth.
Soon, he connects with other rural postmasters who suffered a similar fate and similarly didn’t believe they did anything wrong. As they come together, they begin to suspect a new software supplied by the government is flawed. They set out to prove it and clear their names with a government that bankrupted and, in some cases, imprisoned them.
Why It Makes the List
I love a good David vs Goliath story. I also enjoy a good process story. This has both as a group of ordinary citizens try to reclaim their lives and seek justice against the government that let them down. The fact this is only four episodes, each about an hour, and based on a true story was of interest to me. While it was big news in the United Kingdom, this is a story few have heard anything about here in the United States.
That was the case with me. I came into the show cold but intrigued. What I got was overly compelling with a great cast and storytelling. In fact, I watched all four episodes in a single evening because I had to see how the story ended. I loved Jones in the lead role and the way he anchors the show.
This is a fascinating story as this group of people fought to restore their names and some dignity to their lives. It doesn’t have a happy ending, exactly, but it’s a fascinating journey and one worth seeking out.