Kenneth Branagh Playing Boris Johnson? Why This Drama Doesn't Get My Vote
By Glen Humphries
February 12 2026 - 12:00pm
Kenneth Branagh's portrayal of Boris Johnson in the 2022 series This England, now airing on the ABC and ABC iView, presents a significant challenge for contemporary viewers. The passage of time has not been kind to this drama, which focuses intently on the United Kingdom's initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series depicts the former prime minister in a remarkably sympathetic light, a creative choice that has become increasingly problematic. This is primarily because the production was completed before the explosive Partygate scandal came to public attention. That scandal revealed government ministers, including Johnson, socialising and holding gatherings while the nation endured strict lockdown protocols.
With this knowledge now widespread, it becomes exceptionally difficult for audiences to accept Johnson as the heroic central figure this narrative attempts to present. The series struggles under the weight of subsequent real-world events that have drastically altered public perception of its main subject.
Narrative Flaws and Character Disconnect
Beyond its problematic central figure, This England suffers from significant narrative issues. The plot jumps erratically between numerous events and characters with such frequency that it prevents viewers from forming any meaningful connection. When a drama fails to establish this essential bond between the audience and its characters, the inevitable result is a profound lack of emotional investment. Simply put, if you do not care about the characters, you do not care about their story.
Operation Dark Phone: A Riveting True Crime Story
In stark contrast, Operation Dark Phone: Murder By Text airing on Seven at 9pm Thursday delivers masterful storytelling. This series delves into the incredible true story of law enforcement's infiltration of the EncroChat encrypted messaging service.
Criminals worldwide believed they were operating with complete impunity, using these black market phones to coordinate drug deals, kidnappings, and even murders. Unbeknownst to them, international law enforcement agencies had not only gained control of the service but were reading every single message. In some remarkable instances, authorities had even supplied the devices themselves.
Rather than immediately shutting down the network, investigators made the strategic decision to let it continue operating, recognising it as an unparalleled intelligence treasure trove. The series expertly builds tension around a critical operational constraint: a 24-hour delay in receiving the intercepted messages. This forced law enforcement to act swiftly to prevent crimes without revealing their unprecedented access.
The production achieves something remarkable by transforming what is essentially a story about reading text messages into a completely riveting television experience. Through clever use of graphics and dramatisation, it delivers a compelling narrative that this extraordinary true story thoroughly deserves.
A Spy Among Friends: Guy Pearce's Compelling Performance
Shifting to the world of espionage, A Spy Among Friends available on SBS On Demand from 12am Thursday features Australian actor Guy Pearce in a leading role. Pearce's involvement serves as a near-guarantee of quality, given his consistent excellence across diverse projects.
He possesses that rare transformative ability where the actor disappears entirely into the character. When you watch Pearce on screen, you do not see Guy Pearce the celebrity; you see only the character he is portraying. In this six-part series, he embodies Kim Philby, the notorious British intelligence officer who secretly spied for the Soviet Union before defecting in 1963.
The narrative focuses intensely on Philby's long and complex friendship with fellow MI6 agent Nicholas Elliott. Elliott, portrayed with depth and nuance, initially staunchly defended his friend's innocence, only to experience profound betrayal upon discovering the truth. A pivotal moment involves Elliott's desperate attempt to secure a confession from Philby, an effort the double agent ultimately evaded by escaping.
The series structure is clever, framed around intelligence service interrogations of Elliott about his relationship with Philby, with the story unfolding through a series of revealing flashbacks. While espionage dramas are not typically my preferred genre, this particular series proves thoroughly worthwhile viewing, largely due to the magnetic and skilled performance delivered by Guy Pearce.
Glen Humphries is an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury, boasting over two decades of experience in newspapers. His coverage spans local councils, state and federal politics, and television criticism.
