By Any Means (2013) User Reviews (20)

predictable, linear, uninspired? still very much enjoyable!

[onkelcuchullain · 7/10 · 11 October 2013]

hello fellow TV show addicts,

please excuse a little explanation at the beginning. this is the first time i feel obligated to write here on IMDb. For quite a while i am overall a little disturbed by the sometimes extreme ratings for shows here on IMDb. As if there were only tens and zeros out there. In my opinion one needs to learn to differentiate a bit in his life. To moan about an overall decline in values, the wasting of taxpayers money and other exaggerated, demagogic ranting just because of a TV-show? Really? Over here in many of central Europe's other countries public service broadcasting is still your granny's TV. Limited to two Channels, broadcasting News, some decent reports and besides that mostly breakfast television, dusty whodunit repetitions and other things with a slightly relicish feel.

All that in mind back to topic:

This TV-show may not be another Luther, Sherlock nor any other high end, ingeniously plotted, exquisitely acted, overall gorgeous, critically acclaimed, kick-ass TV-marvel. but, does it need to be? does it want to?

i stumbled upon this new format by accident whilst looking for new things to watch. I liked the leading actor quite a lot on Luther, so i gave it a try. Thankfully before reading any reviews. A decent meal can leave you quite satisfied after a long day, doesn't it? And like that this show works for me. Yes, you can see right through the webbing of this show. The lead, the geek, the eye candy. Does a twist even deserve to be called a twist if you expected it right on time? rather not. The almost comical black and white views on good and bad.

But still, i liked it. I liked to be right. I liked getting nothing unexpected. I liked the boastful appearance of the characters. I liked the snappy comments and the predictable one-liners.

So if you're looking for something to clear your head, ease your mind or have a smile now and then. I encourage you to try it.

Not every nice evening has to feature a six-course dinner.

greetings from the deep south of Bavaria

Nailing my colours to the wall - I've thoroughly enjoyed this

[luke_rees26 · 8/10 · 10 October 2013]

Briefly, I'd like to say that I agree with lots of the points raised in more negative reviews; By Any Means reflects styles that we've seen before, much of the content is quite lightweight and there have definitely been higher spec productions. However, because I enjoy the program I tend to view those as positives.

I've enjoyed some of the techniques previously seen elsewhere and hopefully if they opt for a second season they will refine them rather than overuse them. I think there is not just space but a continuing need for material that is lighter in tone within the TV schedule, to maintain a full range of options for people. Regarding the production quality, if you enjoy a program you make allowances at the same time as you suspend your disbelief and focus on the story; if I'd been forced to sit through the episode and had found it annoying from the off then every little thing would have compounded the frustration, but happily I enjoyed it.

Less rambling. By Any Means has characterisation that is writ large, the nods to recent events are fairly unsubtle and you can rely on the twist. It is what it is, which is a police procedural with flavours from a number of family friendly programs (most obviously Hustle, I am also put in mind of the sense of adventure fun in the earlier seasons of Primeval and Robin Hood, although that may be influenced by certain actors!) Simplest way to work out if it is of interest would be to watch an episode. If you start feeling the urge to rant about licence fees part way through, or the state of the BBC, how the world was better when you were 12 and so forth, I'd stop part way through and have a cup of tea :)

Where do I get paid to say it was rubbish???

[indru-maiorescu · 7/10 · 7 October 2013]

Yes, honestly, who pays these guys to have them say the show is bad? I want a cut, because otherwise I'm giving it at least 7 stars.

I felt the need to come here and post this review after I saw that literally everybody on this page gave it no more than 2 stars. Come on people, how close-minded can you be???

The show is like a British version of Leverage, and it is great and funny. Charismatic actors, good solid scripts (it ain't Doctor Who, but it does a very good job) and a very nice atmosphere make from this recipe a very entertaining series.

Disregard the people crushing it with their comments. They're just very bored people who probably love to watch soaps and stuff.

Why all the bad reviews? I love this series!

[SpadesVulture · 10/10 · 14 October 2013]

I really like Warren Brown, and I really like spy-style shows, so this one ticks a lot of boxes. I didn't know it was meant to be a comedy, so I guess all the laughs for me were genuine. It's a bit like Jonathan Creek crossed with Spooks, with all the hi-tech undercover save the day spy stuff laced with the light-hearted feel, and the 'how did they do that?' at the end.

Don't see why people should just flat out pan the show. If the actors had a laugh whilst doing it, good for them - can't do the serious roles all the time after all. It's light hearted, but that doesn't make it a waste of licence fee - I can think of a whole lot of other dross that wins that award hands down.

If it's not for you then fair enough, but that doesn't devalue the show for other watchers who are enjoying it.

I personally am hoping for another series or two.

relax !!

[ckootstra · 7/10 · 1 November 2013]

As other reviewers here I've never written a review for any series. But what I read here made me get behind the keyboard. Clearly all the low voters have never had to endure public or commercial TV in other European countries. This show is part of Britain's BBC heaven. En indeed not every show is entitled to occupy center stage in the programming, but it definitely has the right to get shown. It's different, funny and generally fast paced. The young actors must have had a good time making it, and I certainly have a good time watching it. Yes indeed, sometimes it is somewhat taxing on your intelligence, and I would hope that the writers are less easily satisfied at a next occasion. For instance that fact that in one episode our dream team apparently has never heard of mobile telephone triangulation, only to apply it themselves in the next episode as if they've never done anything else. Please writers, don't do this to us. It puts us off from a show that is otherwise a pleasure to watch when we got nothing better to do, and, as said, many shades better than the skin cringing stuff we see elsewhere on TV screens.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

[wheresirenssleep49 · 9/10 · 30 October 2013]

I love By Any Means!! Not sure what happened with the first episode.. it seemed a bit all over the place and the script wasn't very good, but all the other episodes were great and kept getting better!!! I better see a second season and Charlie better be back or there will be hell to pay!!

I think a lot could be explored on this show in the script to do with the lines between "good" and "evil", justice, the abuse of power and authority, and so many other things. I think it could get really interesting! Would love to see them go off in a Breaking Bad direction and just get crazy with it. Somehow I can imagine this show could go in a really edgy direction if they wanted to take it there. Way edgier than it is now.

I'm in love with all the main characters, they're wonderful. Lots of talent there!!! Though I'd like for the script to allow for more depth of character development.

It's a lot better than the American show Leverage, which is similar, and I rather like that show!

There is A LOT of potential here. So like I said, I better get to see a lot more than a mere pitiful six episodes, or there will be hell to pay. I will come after whoever is responsible, and you will not have your BAM team to save you. ;-)

Now that it's been cancelled, don't say I didn't warn you!

A bit rubbish but still entertaining

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 2 November 2013]

Helen Barlow is a senior police officer and she has set up a clandestine unit, led by Jack Quinn, to go after the criminals the police can't touch; using methods that aren't strictly legal. This means breaking into properties and illegally bugging them, threatening associates into giving up their bosses and using unauthorised electronic surveillance. The unit is small; consisting of Quinn; Jessica Jones; computer expert TomTom and new recruit Charlie and because of the way they operate they have no real backup and no legal protection should things go wrong.

After watching the opening episode it came as no surprise to learn that this comes from the mind of Tony Jordan; the creator of Hustle… unfortunately this is lacking something that made Hustle as good as it was; rather than being sharp and original this felt rather cliché. There is also the moral problem of having law enforcers who routinely break the law; at one point they dangle somebody from the top of a tower block to extract information which surely counts as torture! The actors do a decent enough job with the material. All that said it still managed to be entertaining enough to keep me watching till the end of the series. There were some decent laughs to be had and even some shockingly dark moments that came as a real surprise. The ending left things open for a second series but whether it will get one is anybody's guess. Overall I'd say that it is all a bit silly but passes the time well enough on a Sunday night if you don't have something better to do.

Second season ? Er ... Yes please.

[Debbie-Newall-5 · 8/10 · 24 April 2014]

I have trawled the internet to see if a second season has been commissioned - but no answers found. After his very untimely demise in Luther, I was looking forward to Warren Browne in this, what seemed to be, black - ops - of - the - police - world drama. Browne was a much more sexy, controlling and formidable character than that of Sgt Ripley along side Idris Elba. He had a gun, slept around and killed people! Cool. I did think at times corny, but almost embraced it as the characters seemed to excel at playing corny anyway. I love the concepts: are they police/aren't they police ... the grey area ... shadowy characters that don't need to live by rules... criminals that were too far up the food chain (and there own arses) to think they were ever going to be caught. I think this series deserves another run to see if it can mature and grow on the critics. There is a place for this type of genre as there really isn't anything else like it from UK at the moment. Give it a chance - I think it has the potential!

How could they?

[pawebster · 3/10 · 23 September 2013]

If you thought the BBC had been wrecking its own reputation enough recently, with its scandals at the top, it has now decided to have a go at its good name as a provider of Sunday night dramas. This series is dross - so bad it's almost good. Almost. With a few tweaks (removing the references to sex) it might be all right for Saturday early evening, when Dr Who is off the air, because children often like comics.

The premise is trashy and the details are clichéd. In the opening episode, Keith Allen reprises his old OTT Sheriff of Nottingham role, the comic baddie. If only he'd had moustaches, he would have been able to twirl them.

The BBC still has the wrong bosses. Give another tranche the customary payoff.

Uncharismatic Actors in a same-o same-o series.

[Dr_Sagan · 29 September 2013]

This was the starting week for many series in USA and UK. Not any real diamond among them. Most of them are bad to mediocre but so far "By Any Means" is the worst.

There are many problem with this TV-series.

First and most important all the actors and actresses lack charisma. I don't know what they have done before B.A.M. but they are totally forgettable, performance wise, even their faces. The team of 3, have the usual snob/hype attitude, common in many series, but just doesn't suits them. No charisma at all.

Second and equally important the plot. Is about a "special team" and blah-blah, blah-blah, one of them is a hacker (!), the girl is the ...locks expert, the last one is the street smart and blah-blah, blah-blah, *YAWN*. And they will catch the bad guy in a mildly smart way.

Third the pace, editing, transitions between shots, photography, music and (obviously) directing are simply annoying. (If you now a things or two about editing there is something called "light spills" that is overused here.). To put it in 2 words: Poor execution.

There is an arrest (in the pilot) that introduces (kind of) to the team stolen directly from an Al Pacino movie were the criminals think they are going to participate in some sort of Sports event. I saw it and keep asking my self: Are these people the Special team? That's how uncharismatic they are.

Anyway this has nothing to do with other BBC series like "Sherlock" in terms of fun or intelligence and you can do perfectly well without it.

Overall: Better to avoid it. (Or you will lose 57' of your life)

EXCELLENT The Mission Impossible of the 21st Century, lighter and more humorous.

[ACA13 · 10/10 · 30 June 2023]

EXCELLENT The Mission Impossible of the 21st Century, lighter and more humorous..

Very enjoyable, too bad only one season.

All the characters are likable.

It reminded me of Mission Impossible: same seemingly impossible missions and secret agency.

Fast pace, good music, fun dialogue s.

Well acted.

It is a 8 IMHO , I am rating a 10 so the average get bumped up as it deserves to be known and seen.

I highly recommend to anyone who liked Mission Impossible and Now You See Me movies.

It also reminded me of the movies, Now You See Me. Off beat, fun and entertaining.

Don't miss and you will want more!

Formulaeic comedy drama

[andy-leslie · 1/10 · 23 September 2013]

By Any Means Episode 1 Review: BBC TV Sunday, 9pm commencing 22 Sept Although initially publicised as an "edgy drama", "By Any Means" is actually a comedy drama relying upon reveals in the last few minutes to show "how it was done". This closely follows in the mould of "Hustle" and is produced by the same company, Red Planet Pictures, who also give us "Death In Paradise" which similarly relies upon comedy and late reveals to give body to the stories.

The basic premise is that someone in the Police has set up a clandestine unit, existing in a grey area, dedicated to acting as vigilantes to "get" criminals otherwise untouchable by the Police and instructed in this by a mysterious female of middle years who seems to be a cross between M and an all-powerful Sandra Pullman (from New Tricks).

The first episode of six was shown yesterday. One of the first suggestions on how to deal with the criminal mastermind is to shoot him. Since a) this is illegal and b) would make for a short programme, this option is discarded. Instead a convoluted plot line commences. Then, a quick con of a psychiatrist later, is followed by the heroes annoying the villain, singing to him and threatening his bodyguards with a gun.

The denouement involves stealing evidence from another crime and then throwing it (it's £20 notes, lots of them) at the villain, who is then "caught" by a plethora of Coppers who turn up at the scene and ask no questions, accompanied by a number of reveals to show how it was done. In case you couldn't guess.

Since this criminal mastermind has already gotten off at criminal trials three times, we are told, I have no doubt his Barrister will have him out in less than the time it takes to ask exactly what the case is, against him. That'd be a laff.

Now, yes, it is funny. Although the lead Copper telling of his infidelity with his sister-in-law isn't as funny as the writers appear to believe. And I did laugh, a few times. But this formula is old and needs more to refresh it than this hodgepodge of poor writing, intermingled with actors hamming it up and having a wonderful time.

Since all 6 episodes are in the can, I expect this to run its course and hopefully disappear without a trace.

By any means, not popular enough

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 9 January 2014]

From the makers of Hustle which may have inspired Leverage a few years later in America.

Now this is a combination of Leverage and Hustle (with many of the same visual tricks used.)

Warren Brown plays a kind of a cop whose team takes down criminals and other assorted bad guys in ways the normal law enforcement agencies cannot.

Each week a mysterious Gina McKee would hand over an Ipad containing a dossier of the latest target for the gang. Each week Warren Brown would take the Ipad and fail to return it!

The series will not be returning to the BBC because of low ratings. Where Hustle was sharp, entertaining and had a good team that gelled.

This was bland, a bit boring and Warren Brown is no Adrian Lester. The rest of the team were no match for the Hustle gang.

Maybe, this series should had waited for a few years while our memories of Hustle faded. The format needed more work.

As it is this was average with little promise, hence no renewal.

Please BBC, refund my licence fee!

[russell-mcginn1 · 1/10 · 24 September 2013]

I won't describe the basic story lone as they have been outlined in the other reviews, but honestly, what a lot of rubbish. One tough guy, one sassy chick and a hi tech nerd. Between the three they can lock up the baddest of baddies with a grin and a wink to each other, all while driving the shiniest of cool vehicles, and hacking into accounts in the blink of an eye.

They are not Police, it is a grey area, as they keep saying.

I haven't watch such corn in a while.

Won't be watching any more!

Oh, BBC what have you done?

Tries to be clever but doesn't succeed

[benjamin_ashworth · 2/10 · 6 December 2013]

By Any Means tries to be clever using what the writers think are twist endings in each episode, but they fail to understand how twist endings actually work. Instead of planning ahead and weaving clues into the storyline, they have each episode meander around until the last five minutes where they suddenly show you a load of storyline that was previously missed out. An ending you stood no chance of seeing coming is then pulled out of a hat to a great fanfare of victory for the heroes. It's the laziest style of writing since the, "It was all a dream," ending.

Whilst the idea of a police force that can set criminals up and give them a good hiding without worrying about the due process of collecting evidence or about human rights might seem like a good idea briefly, it's an insult to all that's just and decent. I can forgive it to some extent on the grounds that it's obviously just fantasy but it is set in the real world. It's not a mysterious future or a sci-fi reality or anything like that. It should, therefore, be believable and realistic.

The characters also aren't likable. They betray those vulnerable people they are supposed to protect and, in some cases, get them killed in acts of violence that are shocking for the sake of it and, instead of just showing how bad the bad guys are, show how weak the good guys are.

The BBC has invested in far better written dramas in the past and can still show some good stuff now. There are writers out there who can put together a genuinely well thought out plot. It needs to take a long hard look at what it's spending its money on and provide something that gives people's minds a workout instead of "brain out" television that people who don't want to think about what they're watching believe is clever because they don't quite get it.

A terrible, lazy waste of time

[kateliffeyfaherty · 1/10 · 11 October 2013]

I've never written a review before but I just found myself getting so annoyed as I watched the pilot episode of this show. I was willing to forgive it being an over-done, here-we-go-again crime show that edged between seriousness and humor as I figured it would be a bit of light viewing, not too taxing on the brain but with enough action to pass some time in a mildly entertaining way. What instantly began to grate on me were the obnoxious, unlikeable and (despite what I am assuming were their 'best' efforts) completely unfunny characters. This was not helped by the script which only served to re-hash ancient stereotypes and solidify my opinion that the characters involved were unworthy of my interest let alone my empathy. For example, the ONLY main female in the show has a 'witty' back and forth with the main 'loose cannon' character about the existence of PMS. Also, the 'psychopath' crime boss as it turns out is a simpleton, despite the fact that he has gotten away with murder and other various crimes, all it takes is a mild annoyance to bring him down, much to the smug satisfaction of the 3 main characters who at this point I would just like to smack. The story in general involves a jumble of stolen ideas, from other TV shows, movies and even real life. In an attempt to be clever a series of twists in a very Ocean's 11 style is presented at the end with the intent for the audience to go Ah-Ha at the brilliance of it all. What actually happened for me was confusion as the several twists involved relied on one another in order to make any kind of muddled sense, when a twist cannot be in any way predicted and adds nothing to a show's climax then in my mind it should not be included. My annoyance at this half-baked show which from concept to completion lacks any real redeeming features is only highlighted by the quality of TV programming which we have been treated to over the last few years, this pointless program doesn't even have the decency to make fun of itself.

A new low for the BBC

[rupertlovibond · 1/10 · 29 October 2013]

May contain spoilers.

Holy cow. This was truly shocking. So poor was this programme, so self-righteous, pretentious, so, so, oh words don't serve. The worst part is surely the 'bad guy' portrayals. If he is snobby, he is the most snobby man ever born, arrogant, the most arrogant man ever... well you get the picture, the silly stereotypes are quite childish in their invention. The main characters are excruciatingly smug, so much so you just want to smack 'em, so much so, you are hoping the 'evil man' in each episode will get away with it and come back for some revenge. This means you can feel nothing for them, you care not for the outcome, which takes all involvement right out. I found myself uncontrollably laughing at some points, such was the disbelief at was I seeing. Any moment on screen is accompanied with filler music and unexplained slow mos. The worst thing I have seen from the BBC.

Crikey,it's the Famous Five!...............

[ianlouisiana · 3/10 · 21 October 2013]

Headed by a warm maternal Miss G.Mckee(there's a sentence I never thought I'd write)a group of plucky schoolchildren straight from CBBC drama dept.bring "justice" to those previously denied it. Take stuffy repressed Middle -England as portrayed by Enid Blyton and give it an "Edgy,urban,gritty"spin,take away the posh accents and the "horribly white"environment and you have what 2013 looks like in the imaginations of the Highate Mafia. As a change from helping old ladies to cross the road,our little boy and girl scouts bring down those nasty men the silly bumbling constable can't catch.Those of you old enough can imagine Mr George Woodbridge huffing and puffing along a leafy Surrey lane wiping his brow as Wiliam Brown and the Outlaws run off having broken the vicarage window with a catapult. Add another ten minutes to the show so how these clever - clever smug youngsters managed to snare their prey which has been obvious all along and indulge in some creaky camera angles that have been a cliché since "The cabinet of Dr Caligari" and lo and behold,"By any means" appears on our screen. As the show is not meant to be serious there's no point in debating the moral issues of due legal process,privacy laws,phone hacking etc. Just say "News International" would bite its own hand off to employ the lot of them.

Wish it was as good as it thinks it is.

[Emloulou · 5/10 · 17 November 2013]

I think what's frustrating about this series isn't that it's rubbish, it's that it's almost good. And yet really, really isn't. It's a good premise, excellent titles and decent actors. The plot though, oh my giddy aunt, the plot. In every episode there's a moment where I'm thinking, 'Please don't say that line/do that twist', but they always do. They seem to go for the easy option in every episode and have yet to surprise me. It's such a shame. It feels like they use up all their creativity on the problem and then just stick a standard solution on the end, one we've all seen too many times before. The big reveal and the flashbacks that in programmes like 'Hustle' are detailed and intelligent are here predictable and underwhelming. Could still be a good show but it's got a lot of problems to fix. And as for the last line...

Waste Of Time

[mboyd1986 · 1/10 · 4 February 2014]

I wasted only 36 minutes before I stopped watching. I did waste a lot of ratio downloading the whole series as it was recommended by a friend. I wish I hadn't.

I really don't understand how people can give it a 7 or even a 10. I mean to say, what other series do you watch? They must be absolute rubbish if you think this stuff is worth a 7 or 10.

The script is pathetic, the jokes not funny, the "clever" stuff they do isn't, and the plots are silly. OK, I've watched only 35 minutes of the first episode, but you'd think the producer would put all his best stuff in the first program to get you interested. Clearly he didn't.

If you went to watch something that is similar, except it is much better, try "Person Of Interest". Now that series does this sort of stuff but infinitely better.

Someone else said that it is not the actors, it is the script that makes this so bad. I beg to differ. It is both.