--- title: "Parade's End: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/parades-end/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/parades-end" critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Parade's End (2012): what the critics said Critics' score 73 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics welcome Parade’s End as an intelligent, demanding period drama, with praise clustering around its performances and refusal to make its characters easy company. Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall receive particular attention, with Hall’s sharp-witted Sylvia standing out even in less favourable reviews. Susanna White’s direction earns praise for visual flair, while the writing is admired for its irony, strong dialogue and complex characterisation. Admirers find the drama intellectually rewarding without sacrificing emotional weight. The spread is wide, however, and the chief disagreement concerns pace and clarity. The Hollywood Reporter admires the acting and direction but finds the storytelling confusing and insular. The two negative reviews still credit the cast: The AV Club finds the adaptation flat despite some effective editing, while Variety calls its slow-moving romance unengaging. What most critics value as a demand for close attention, the dissenters experience as a struggle to stay involved. ## The Guardian — Sam Wollaston Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 August 2012. The critic calls it thoughtful, thought-provoking, intelligent drama far superior to Downton Abbey. He singles out the strong performances, especially Rebecca Hall as Sylvia and Benedict Cumberbatch as Tietjens, along with Susanna White's direction. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/aug/25/parades-end-review) ## The Independent — Grace Dent Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2012. Parade's End is one of the finest things the BBC has ever made, a cerebral period drama with a massive brain that is Downton Abbey's smarter sibling. It excels in its portrayal of complex characters like the razor-witted Sylvia and its non-macho approach to the era's end. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/grace-dent-on-television-parade-s-end-bbc2-8113316.html) ## The Telegraph — James Walton Rating 4.5/5. 24 August 2012. The opening episode demanded and rewarded full attention as a thoughtful, ambitious adaptation that avoided easy concessions to the audience. It was immaculately acted with visual flair from director Susanna White and praised for its originality and irony. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9498260/Parades-End-BBC-Two-review.html) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 August 2012. The series is a triumph thanks to its stellar cast, high-class sauce and intelligent direction that feels original rather than cosy. Stoppard's script delivers entertainment that is also intellectually satisfying. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/suffragettes-tea-sets-and-plenty-of-sauce-parades-end-is-a-triumph-g583lg3zv2c) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Tim Goodman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 February 2013. The critic praises the stellar acting from Cumberbatch and Hall, lush direction by White, and high-art qualities, but notes it is confusing, less structured than Downton Abbey, and insular with an odd rhythm that may limit appeal. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/parades-end-tv-review-423406/) ## The AV Club — Brandon Nowalk Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 2013. The miniseries moves like a still-life, rendered smooth and flat on screen despite the source material's storm-like energy, resulting in a drizzly viewing experience one must endure. It singles out the strong central performances, particularly Rebecca Hall's witty and singular Sylvia, alongside some effective modernist editing moments from director Susanna White. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/parades-end-1798175932) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 19 February 2013. The critic finds it a weaker tea than Downton Abbey, a muddy slog through war-tinged romance despite a splendid cast led by Cumberbatch and Hall. Praises the acting but criticizes the slow pace and lack of engagement. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/tv/reviews/parade-s-end-1200506885/) ## Collider — Allison Keene Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 2013. The miniseries delivers the deeper, more dramatic World War I storytelling that Downton Abbey's second season lacked, centering the conflict emotionally and thematically. It is a tragic work with complex character exploration, strong dialogue and performances, offering rewarding glimmers of hope amid chaos. [Read the review](https://collider.com/parades-end-review-hbo/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/parades-end.md