HORATIO HORNBLOWER:

THE EVEN CHANCE

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: violence, language, thematic elements

Rated:

The award-winning miniseries Horatio Hornblower abounds with political intrigue, bloody battles, vengeance, honor, valor, courage, and even a little touch of romance. It's an adventurous series of naval episodes in which our young, amiable hero is pitted against adversity and always comes out triumphant. The story opens in 1793, with young Midshipman Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) as he boards the military vessel Justinian. Taken almost immediately with a bout of seasickness, he finds most of his comrades reasonably understanding once he penetrates their harsh exterior. The single exception is Simpson (Dorian Healy), a vicious adversary and crew bully determined to bring him to heel. The torment is short lasting. Having endured one beating, Horatio is prepared to put his foot down. The other midshipmen, including Archie Kennedy (Jamie Bamber) and Clayton (Duncan Bell) warn him against drastic steps.

Horatio's opportunity for possible triumph comes when Simpson offhandedly accuses him of cheating at cards. Demanding that the shipman take it back or fight a duel, Horatio isn't surprised when Simpson accepts the challenge wholeheartedly. Clayton, despite his own feelings of cowardice, cannot stand to see Horatio suffer at the hands of a notoriously excellent shot.  He overpowers his friend, taking his place in the duel. But their natural rivalry is far from over. Horatio is transferred to The Indefatigable, a war frigate under the hand of Captain Pellew (Robert Lindsay), while Simpson remains with the Justinian. Since Clayton's death, Horatio's desire to stand up to Simpson has become stronger, but his captain forbids him from accepting or issuing another challenge while under his command.

After proving his courage and cleverness in battle, Horatio is given a new assignment... to deliver a captured ship and its cargo safely into England. But treachery lies in the defiant eyes of the Frenchmen and the sea is not warm to newcomers. Quarrels set momentarily aside, Horatio is about to face a new challenge unlike that which he has ever attempted... and will either loose his life in this venture or find the honor and future that awaits him as an officer of the British Navy. Horatio is the strongest individual in the leading cast but even his goodness cannot overshadow Captain Pellew, who has become a viewer favorite if merely for his fatherly affections toward the midshipman. The series is well known for its villains, and Simpson sets a pace for the tales to follow.

The Even Chance is an explosive first installment, offering a familiar and now beloved cast of faces, as well as an uncanny and inexplicable warmness. While the violence is brutal and the language sometimes rough, the characters become likable in a very short time, and you begin to respect and admire the leading men. The film reveals the brutality of war, and the necessity to stand up for yourself. Cowardice is seen in everyone but Horatio. The other midshipmen are unwilling to stand up to a bully when if they would merely work together, Simpson would never be a problem. His cruelty leads Archie into epileptic fits. Several times he threatens and/or harms members of the cast, once beating Horatio nearly senseless. This is the least of the violence. Explosions, knives, bayonets, pistol fire, and hand-to-hand combat abound in the two hours spent in breathless anticipation. There's quite a bit of blood, mainly from wounds, and a few graphic glimpses of bloody stumps. 

Two duels are fought, with gory results. A man spills blood from his lips after being fatally wounded; another clasps his hand over a similar wound. One man finds excitement in killing the ship rats with his teeth. Language is also apparent, consisting mainly of low-key profanities, the most notable being one GD. Simpson inquires if Horatio has any dirty secrets such as fancying other boys or having a mother who makes her living on her back (as a prostitute). Women are also on board ship when Horatio first arrives and in the background there seems to be some kind of an escapade going on, but we never find out what. Overall the series is not for the faint of heart. It can be brutally violent and sometimes the language is rather rough, but it also gives us a truly noble hero to root for, a satisfactory ending, and a cast of characters you'll come to love throughout the series.