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Should You Try It: Mr Bates vs. The Post Office on PBS

A new PBS series tells the true story of a real scandal in the United Kingdom

By Matthew Fox

MASTERPIECE Mr Bates vs The Post Office Premiering April 7, 2024; 9-10pm ET on PBS Following one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history, Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office was created with direct input from the innocent – and indomitable – people caught up in it. When money started to seemingly disappear from its local branches, the government-owned Post Office wrongly blamed their own managers for its apparent loss. For more than a decade, hundreds were accused of theft
MASTERPIECE Mr Bates vs The Post Office Premiering April 7, 2024; 9-10pm ET on PBS Following one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history, Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office was created with direct input from the innocent – and indomitable – people caught up in it. When money started to seemingly disappear from its local branches, the government-owned Post Office wrongly blamed their own managers for its apparent loss. For more than a decade, hundreds were accused of theft /
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We’re making our way through the first part of April with plenty of new shows on the landscape. But which of these shows are worth your time and investment? Let this series, which gives you all the information you need about new shows, be your guide. Today, it’s a U.K. series making its domestic debut via PBS.

Series: Mr Bates vs. The Post Office

Where to Find It: The pilot debuted Sunday on PBS, with the rest of the series airing weekly. All four episodes are available now on PBS Passport.

What’s It About: This new series is based on a true story about one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history. It follows a group of sub-postmasters who find themselves short thousands of dollars. They're quickly accused of theft, of fraud, and asked to repay sums so large it would bankrupt them and their families. But did they do it?

One of the first to suffer these losses, Alan Bates (Toby Jones), is convinced it’s an error in the software system used by the Post Office. He tries to fight back and get a public inquiry, but he’s dismissed. He and his wife soon retire to a quiet location, having lost their business and savings. But it turns out, Bates isn’t alone.

When other sub-postmasters around the country begin facing the same problem—leading to bankruptcies, incarceration, and worse—Bates decides to dig deeper. He brings these victims together as they fight for years against the government agency that has seemingly left them hung out to dry.

You Should Try It If: You’re a fan of British drama, like a good show based on a true story, enjoy the Masterpiece format on PBS, or just enjoy a well-made story.

One Man’s Opinion of Mr Bates vs. The Post Office

This series previously aired in the United Kingdom where it became a sensation. It’s easy to see the appeal. This is a big news story and a big case of the underdog fighting the system. In this case, a group of hard-working men and women who had their lives and reputations ruined by false accusations. Now, even more than 20 years after Bates lost his business, most have received precious little compensation.

Thanks to PBS Passport, I had access to the whole series. From the moment I screened the pilot, I knew I’d be grateful I had it all. I watched all four episodes in a night, completely taken with the story, the beautiful strength of these victims, and this fight for justice. In that sense, the ending is bittersweet because the real-life events remain somewhat unresolved.

Still, this is a great watch. Often, I’m a bit diplomatic in this section of the review, but today I’m telling you I loved this series and I’d encourage you to check it out. It’s well made, completely engaging, and deeply emotional.

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