I've worked with a lot of Brits. When they take a vacation they say they're 'on holiday'. And that's just what Bettany Hughes is 'on' in this light and lively to look at series. If you're looking for a deep dive into Mycenean culture, it's not here. Just an engaging hostess with a zest for travel and camera crew that knows what its doing. Ms. Hughes has done admirable work in the past (The Spartans, comes to mind) but this is different. And it's fun. It's fun because she's clearly enjoying the heck out of it. You will too.
10 Reviews
Hangover from filming her River Nile series
karmiskon19 August 2020
Bettany demonstrates again her great enthusiasm for the ancient Greek world. However like all Anglo Saxon culturally restrained is ill at ease with mixing with the modern extroaverted Greeks and which is betrayed with her constant nervous laughter. She does mention in the second episode that she had just finished another Nile episode which through fatigue may have caused slight problem with her nervousness.
Otherwise beautiful scenery and cant wait to return to Greece once the COVID 19 travel restrictions have been lifted.
Bettany shares a few a new discoveries and relatively little known sites such as those in Ikaria,Samos and Chios.
In general a very good series demonstrating the legacy of Greece both historically, culturally and the pure physical beauty of the islands.
travelogue and history class
SnoopyStyle25 October 2021
The host is TV historian Bettany Hughes. She talks a lot and seems to really enjoy her Greek history. It's a six-part British series. It's part-travelogue and part classical Greek history class. It can feel random at times. It's hard to place these stories in any order other than all jumbled together. It's more like one story after another and it's also one place after another. I don't mind it. It's a Greek holiday roulette. The only misstep is not eating any meat after the boar hunt. I'm not saying that she should force herself to eat the meat. Maybe step back and just film the people enjoying their food. It's awkward to have the vegetarian excuse. Nobody wants to hear it. Just cut it out of the show. One should relax and let the sun-soaked Greek locations wash over you as she drones on about the endless Greek stories.
"Bettany giggles her away across the Aegean Sea"
markfranh13 July 2020
That would have been a more accurate description of what we have here.
If you are expecting a quality archaeological program from a presenter who has done good work in the past, you are going to be seriously disappointed with this poor effort.
This is simply Bettany on holiday. Nothing more or less. She sails from one Greek Island to the next, throws in the odd obscure reference to Odysseus so that we can call it a "Greek Odyssey", laughs a lot, stomps grapes to make wine, rides a scooter with an old friend, and on rare occasions visits a historic site or two.
Other than that, this is "cringeworthy" television.
We gave up half way through episode two as it was just too painful to watch.
If you are expecting a quality archaeological program from a presenter who has done good work in the past, you are going to be seriously disappointed with this poor effort.
This is simply Bettany on holiday. Nothing more or less. She sails from one Greek Island to the next, throws in the odd obscure reference to Odysseus so that we can call it a "Greek Odyssey", laughs a lot, stomps grapes to make wine, rides a scooter with an old friend, and on rare occasions visits a historic site or two.
Other than that, this is "cringeworthy" television.
We gave up half way through episode two as it was just too painful to watch.
Paid holiday
reesiji1 June 2021
Annoying. The host acts as if she's on holiday, which she probably is. I think I can see her pitching this series thinking what a great way to get an all expense paid holiday. What I don't understand is why anyone buys this series.
Insufferable
Mixalidis23 March 2021
Gosh, this was made in 2020? From her looks, clothes, camera angles, shots etc, it seems like it's 1998. This woman, apparently a historian, gives very bland historical lessons, occasionally inaccurate, often trying to connect history and present just to make the whole thing seem deep.
Who is the target audience? Bored housewives? Anyway, the biggest problem is that this woman is in EVERY scene, she is unbearable. It's like a long self promo. I can't believe how bad this is. And I actually watched her on some history/documentary channels, especially from Egypt. She was bearable there, but not here.
SKIP.
Who is the target audience? Bored housewives? Anyway, the biggest problem is that this woman is in EVERY scene, she is unbearable. It's like a long self promo. I can't believe how bad this is. And I actually watched her on some history/documentary channels, especially from Egypt. She was bearable there, but not here.
SKIP.
Completely inaccurate
dolcarb18 July 2020
Lucy Ricardo's British Cousin, Stompin' Grapes In Greece?
coe-066719 January 2021
Excellent way to lose one's mind after a long days'worth of listening to Professor this and that drone on about the numismatic history of Etruria; I must say that having her lecture me about anything whilst cruising the idyllic islands of the Aegean might perhaps prove...fulfilling? On a more serious note, I happened to watch her version of 'Boudica'. I won't be unkind to her in my VERY brief mention of it, except to say that a FAR FAR better understanding of her, as well as the Roman forces which smashed her evil rampages, can be found in Stephen Dando-Collins' 'Nero's Killing Machine', a book about General Paulinus and his 14th GMV Legion that gives the story without modern feminist biases in a perfectly fascinating way. I wish there was someone out there who would craft that masterwork into movie format.
Greece Ruined by Obnoxious Blabbermouth
leftbanker-14 November 2020
Wow, she is impossible for me to take. Too much, way too much Bettany Hughes, whoever she is. I love Greece and lived there many years ago for three years. I devour everything I can on the country, but I couldn't even get through the trailer for this.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
