A compelling and utterly addictive historical drama has just secured a new streaming platform.

Enthusiasts of television programmes based on true events now have a fresh series to devour this weekend. Initially launched by Netflix back in 2016, all episodes of Rebellion are now available on Prime Video.

There are two seasons to work through, each comprising five episodes as it chronicles the story of modern Ireland’s birth.

While it draws inspiration from genuine historical events, the series chooses to employ the viewpoint of a collection of fictional characters experiencing the political upheaval of the 1916 Easter Rising.

It was in fact premiered when the centenary of the event was being marked. It remains recognised as a pivotal moment in Irish and British history.

According to its synopsis, Rebellion follows three diverse young women and their families, lovers and friends from Belfast, Dublin and London who play vital and conflicting roles in the narrative of Ireland’s independence.

Some prioritise family loyalties; some are motivated by the noblest of ideals, some by opportunism; others take up arms, prepared to sacrifice everything for the dream of a better society and true independence, reports the Mirror.

The programme was devised by Irish writer Colin Teevan. His earlier work includes penning episodes for crime dramas Silk and Vera as well as the German series Das Boot which was broadcast in the UK on Sky.

Certain critics gave the series a lukewarm reception, raising doubts about the wisdom of prioritising dramatisation over strict historical accuracy. Nevertheless, it proved enormously popular with viewers, securing an impressive 83% fan score on the website Rotten Tomatoes.

Numerous people have shared their endorsements online, with one posting: “Binge worthy. Enjoy learning the history of Ireland during the early 20th century.”

Another chimed in: “This was a fantastic story from the intimate perspective of individuals. How it was actually done. Wow. Could watch again and again.”

A further viewer highlighted the importance of such a programme being produced. They said: “Finally, a TV series about the Easter Rising, one of the most important events in Irish history and an inherently dramatic story worthy of remembrance that was just begging for a movie or TV series.”

They added: “While at times the pacing of this series was a bit slow, and the storyline of the characters sometimes distracted from the actual Rising – which needed more focus in the series – overall, it’s well done.”

One viewer observed that the series, while not depicting real individuals, effectively captures the essence of the matter through its themes. They suggested: “I loved this gripping drama about the Irish rebellion in 1916.

One of the great things about it is the nuance – it’s often hard to tell who is right and who is wrong, and all the characters have good motivations for what they do. It also depicts the moral dilemma faced by the revolutionaries, and the extent to which people’s lives were complicated and loyalties were mixed.

“Some people were idealistic, others couldn’t care less and were simply out to loot. Others felt they had no choice but to fight for the British as their families had no other source of income.”

They further noted that prospective viewers ought to brace themselves for some hard-hitting on-screen violence. They said: “The battles were gritty, brutal and realistic. I could almost feel the bullets lodging inside my body every time someone was hit. It was graphic and bloody and the heroism of those who fought was clear, but so was the terrible cost in lives.

“At first I felt the revolutionaries were heroes, but I was relieved when the fighting was finally over. The death of a child was juxtaposed with a revolutionary speech about ideals, in a brilliant scene which really brought home the suffering of the conflict. I found myself utterly gripped by the characters, the story and the dilemmas each of them faced and ended up watching all five episodes back to back. Heartily recommended!”

Rebellion is streaming on Prime Video.

SOURCE: EXPRESS