This Town

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8 / 10

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Overview

An extended family and four young people are drawn into the world of ska and two-tone music, which exploded from the grass roots of Coventry and Birmingham in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, uniting black, white and Asian youths.

Media

Steven Knight and the cast and crew of This Town | BFI Q&A

Cast

Nicholas Pinnock

Michelle Dockery

Creator:

Steven Knight

Fist Air Date:

2024-03-31

Episode Runtime:

58m

Production Companies:

Mercury Studios, Kudos, Stigma Films

Genres:

Keywords:

1980s family saga music ska social unrest two-tone

More Show Details

Vote Average: 6.7/10

Vote Count: 24 Votes

Show Popularity: 1.254

Show Status: Ended

Show Type: Miniseries

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 04 May 2026 at 2:11 pm

8 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10 THE SUMMARY Steven Knight, the brain behind Peaky Blinders, trades 1920s flat caps for 1980s Fred Perrys in this gritty family saga. Set against the backdrop of a rioting Birmingham and Coventry, the story follows four young people from different worlds who find an escape from the bleakness through music. It’s the era of Ska and Two-Tone, where the streets are exploding with racial tension and IRA threats, but a small group of kids are more interested in forming a band. It’s a messy, loud, and incredibly cool look at how a specific subculture was born out of pure urban chaos. THE PROS The show works because it’s deeply atmospheric. The young cast is a proper find, specifically Levi Brown as the fragile poet Dante, who brings a weird, magnetic energy to every scene. It doesn't just use music as a soundtrack; it treats it like a character, with original songs written by Kae Tempest that feel authentic to the time. The production design is spot on, capturing the grey, concrete sprawl of the Midlands without making it look like a miserable caricature. It’s an 8 because it captures a very specific British moment in time with a level of style and swagger that most period dramas can only dream of. THE CONS It misses a higher score because the writing can be a bit self-indulgent. Steven Knight loves a "big" speech, and sometimes the dialogue feels more like poetry than how actual Brummies would talk in a pub. The pacing is a deliberate crawl in the first half, which might test your patience if you were expecting a fast-paced thriller based on the trailers. It settles at an 8 because, while the style is undeniable, the plot can feel a bit "shapeless" at times, wandering between family drama, political thriller, and musical biopic without ever fully committing to one. THE VERDICT An 8/10. It’s a bold, buzzing, and incredibly stylish series that hits all the right notes for fans of British subcultures. It isn't a 9 because of the meandering script, but it’s a genuine must-watch for the soundtrack alone. If you want a drama that feels like a classic vinyl record—rough around the edges but full of soul—this is the one. Anticipated: Season 2 (late 2026). INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Poet's Heart: The lead character, Dante, was partially inspired by Steven Knight’s own youth. Knight originally wanted to be a poet and used his memories of trying to find beauty in the sprawling housing estates of the Midlands to build Dante’s character.• Real Riots: The opening scenes of the series aren't just for drama; they are based on the actual 1981 Handsworth riots. Knight wanted to show that the music wasn't just a hobby—it was a literal "parachute" for kids living in a war zone.• Award Winner: Despite the mixed reviews from critics about its pacing, the show was a hit within the industry, winning Best Limited Series at the 2025 Royal Television Society Awards. THE VIBE Like a scuffed pair of Doc Martens on a rain-soaked pavement. It smells like stale cigarettes, hairspray, and hot tarmac. It’s rebellious, hopeful, and a bit jagged. It makes you want to start a band, learn to skank, and realize that the best art always comes from the loudest chaos.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

6 Episodes

Air Date: 2024-03-31

Birmingham 1981: a city on edge, a music scene set to explode and a fight for your future.

Videos

Steven Knight and the cast and crew of This Town | BFI Q&A

This Town: TRAILER – BBC

Cast

Nicholas Pinnock

Michelle Dockery

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This Town

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This Town

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 4 May 2026 at 3:11 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10
THE SUMMARY
Steven Knight, the brain behind Peaky Blinders, trades 1920s flat caps for 1980s Fred Perrys in this gritty family saga. Set against the backdrop of a rioting Birmingham and Coventry, the story follows four young people from different worlds who find an escape from the bleakness through music. It’s the era of Ska and Two-Tone, where the streets are exploding with racial tension and IRA threats, but a small group of kids are more interested in forming a band. It’s a messy, loud, and incredibly cool look at how a specific subculture was born out of pure urban chaos.
THE PROS
The show works because it’s deeply atmospheric. The young cast is a proper find, specifically Levi Brown as the fragile poet Dante, who brings a weird, magnetic energy to every scene. It doesn’t just use music as a soundtrack; it treats it like a character, with original songs written by Kae Tempest that feel authentic to the time. The production design is spot on, capturing the grey, concrete sprawl of the Midlands without making it look like a miserable caricature. It’s an 8 because it captures a very specific British moment in time with a level of style and swagger that most period dramas can only dream of.
THE CONS
It misses a higher score because the writing can be a bit self-indulgent. Steven Knight loves a “big” speech, and sometimes the dialogue feels more like poetry than how actual Brummies would talk in a pub. The pacing is a deliberate crawl in the first half, which might test your patience if you were expecting a fast-paced thriller based on the trailers. It settles at an 8 because, while the style is undeniable, the plot can feel a bit “shapeless” at times, wandering between family drama, political thriller, and musical biopic without ever fully committing to one.
THE VERDICT
An 8/10. It’s a bold, buzzing, and incredibly stylish series that hits all the right notes for fans of British subcultures. It isn’t a 9 because of the meandering script, but it’s a genuine must-watch for the soundtrack alone. If you want a drama that feels like a classic vinyl record—rough around the edges but full of soul—this is the one. Anticipated: Season 2 (late 2026).
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Poet’s Heart: The lead character, Dante, was partially inspired by Steven Knight’s own youth. Knight originally wanted to be a poet and used his memories of trying to find beauty in the sprawling housing estates of the Midlands to build Dante’s character.
• Real Riots: The opening scenes of the series aren’t just for drama; they are based on the actual 1981 Handsworth riots. Knight wanted to show that the music wasn’t just a hobby—it was a literal “parachute” for kids living in a war zone.
• Award Winner: Despite the mixed reviews from critics about its pacing, the show was a hit within the industry, winning Best Limited Series at the 2025 Royal Television Society Awards.
THE VIBE
Like a scuffed pair of Doc Martens on a rain-soaked pavement. It smells like stale cigarettes, hairspray, and hot tarmac. It’s rebellious, hopeful, and a bit jagged. It makes you want to start a band, learn to skank, and realize that the best art always comes from the loudest chaos.

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