Mr Bates vs The Post Office

Whether it’s The Ring, Pulse or Poltergeist, technology has been shown in media to be dangerous and frightening for decades. However, no portrayal has been as scary as watching a subpostmaster’s shortfall double in front of their eyes with the press of a button. There’s no ghost girl crawling out the computer screen, but the consequences of a single button press is far more terrifying. This bug cost thousands of subpostmasters their livelihoods and reputations. Others even lost their lives in a scandal that’s been dubbed the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Their story has now been turned into the riveting ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Starring a flawless Toby Jones as the eponymous Alan Bates, the series follows his 20-year-long fight to get justice for those who fell prey to the incredibly expensive and faulty Horizon computer system that was installed in Post Offices in the early 2000s. It’s a David vs Goliath tale in which the accused are constantly told that they’ll never have the resources to take down an institution as big and powerful as the Post Office, especially when they continuously play dirty. The proceeding investigation is full of twists and bombshell revelations to keep viewers invested in the drama. However, it’s the script’s focus on the frequently devastating human impact behind the legal battles where this show shines the brightest.

Wholly moving and deeply sentimental, while never becoming sappy or melodramatic, the grounded and tender storytelling draws strong parallels to the works of Ken Loach. As huge as the main narrative is, it’s the smaller character moments that have the biggest emotional payoffs, whether they be the deteriorating mental health of one of the accused, or the blossoming friendships between those fighting side by side. The show is likewise unafraid to display some more shocking moments onscreen without ever going far enough for them to become explosive.

The series is only made better by the collection of unanimously outstanding performances from its star-studded cast. Alongside Jones, Monica Dolan as kind-hearted Jo and Will Mellor’s determined Lee standout as notable inclusions, adding only more value to the outstanding drama.

Quite easily one of the best pieces of television in a long time, Mr Bates vs The Post Office is a Loachian rallying cry for the downtrodden and nothing short of remarkable.

Andrew Murray

Mr Bates vs The Post Office is released on 1^st January 2024.

Watch the trailer for Mr Bates vs The Post Office here: