Review | Michael Wood's Story of England

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Plot: What’s it about?Video: How does it look?Audio: How does it sound?Supplements: What are the extras?

Plot: What’s it about?

As programs about historic topics tend to focus on the well known people and places, the stories of the common man often remain untold. In Michael Wood’s Story of England, that trend is reversed and the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of ordinary people are explored. This series focuses on Kibworth in Leicestershire, a locale in the heart of England which has endured through centuries of historical impacts. Wood tasked the current residents to be archaeologists and anthropologists, using their own backyards as field surveys. As various artifacts are uncovered, Wood then has them analyzed and verified, which allows the rich history of Kibworth to be unveiled. Story of England reveals the ancient conditions of the town, the social evolution, and uncovers bridges between the ages of this Kibworth. A unique and fascinating historical journey, Story of England is certain to delight history buffs and anyone with an interest in social development.

I didn’t know what to expect from Story of England, but Michael Woods has crafted another dynamic program here. The hands on approach taken by the residents adds such a fresh spin on historical research. These are real people helping to uncover the history of their area, an awesome concept. The narrative weaves between time periods, as artifacts are discovered, so you’ll need to pay attention the entire time. If you don’t pause when you top off your drink, you might find yourself a little lost upon your return. But the stories told are engaging and should keep your attention on the screen. I really like how we’re seeing the history of one area, but that is then applied to help understand England as a whole. Story of England does a great job in educating about history, but also doing so in a way that also entertains. I enjoyed my time with Story of England and if you have even a small interest in history, you’ll want to check it out.

Video: How does it look?

Story of England is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This transfer looks good, with solid detail and a clean overall presence. The colors are natural, which makes sense of course, while contrast is even throughout. This program doesn’t have much visual flair, so the transfer isn’t that memorable, but the visuals are fine.

Audio: How does it sound?

The soundtrack serves the material well, but the program doesn’t have many audio bells & whistles. In other words, this is a plain, basic sound design, but that is all the material really needs. The dialogue is always clear and easy to pick up, which is the mai concern in this case. I didn’t hear any kind of defects or errors, which is good news. This release also includes English subtitles.