Reviewed by George Ivanoff

Grange Hill is a well-known, much-loved British kids’ series that ran for 31-seasons. Set in a public school, it follows the lives and adventures of numerous students and staff. Over the years, I’ve heard a lot about it; until now I have never seen it. Judging by these first two seasons, I can see why is has lasted for so long. It’s well-written, well-acted and even though somewhat dated, it is still an entertaining watch. It also has a wide scope, following the adventures of many different characters.

This boxed set contains the first two seasons of the series from 1978 and 1979. Watching them now, in the twenty-first century, is like taking a step back in time—back to an era of more introspective, un-hurried television. By today’s standards, the pacing of these episodes is slow, and likely to quickly lose the interest of modern kids. The episodes take their time to introduce the characters, set up the relationships, and let the stories unfold, which really is quite a refreshing change from the fast-paced, high-impact kids’ shows of today. Many of the episodes take a slice-of-life approach, rather than being highly plot-driven. There is a lack of any incidental music during the episodes, which takes a bit of getting used to, but the opening theme is very memorable.

The eight-episode first season introduces us to the main characters. We are given an eclectic group of kids with a variety of personalities ranging from annoying to likeable. We have the bully, the rich kid, the larrikin, the disadvantaged kid, and so on. Yes, the show ticks all the stereotypical boxes, but it works. We also come to know some of the teachers—including the sharp, stickler-for-the-rules, sports master and the sympathetic, level-headed form master—as well as the grumpy janitor. This first season spans only the first term of the school year.

Season 2 picks up with the second term, and appears to have been made quickly after the first season, as the kids haven’t aged much. This season also seems to have had a larger budget, with ten more episodes and introduces a range of new characters, including a new headmaster, Mr Llewellyn, who stirs things up a bit by stamping his own brand on the school. The pacing in this season also increases a little. But still no incidental music.

All up, Grange Hill is a well-written, well-acted series with an interesting range of both child and adult characters. If more of the thirty-one seasons seasons are released on DVD, it will be interesting to see the changes over the years.

Grange Hill Seasons 1 & 2

Available through  Madman Entertainment.