Mrs. Wilson (2018) User Reviews (80)

A gripping real life story

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 14 December 2018]

This BBC drama is centred on Alison Wilson, a woman who lives happily with her husband and their two sons... until her husband dies and a man comes to the door stating that he is the son of Mr Wilson's wife... who he never divorced despite what he told Alison. Alison is determined to discover the truth and as she investigates she learns more of her late husband's secrets. Intertwined with her investigations we see flashbacks of how she met during the war when both worked for the Intelligence Services... something that explains many of his lies.

This is one of those dramas that would seem somewhat far-fetched if it wasn't based on real events. That reality is emphasised by the fact that the actress portraying Alison Wilson is none other than her actual granddaughter Ruth Wilson. She does a really good job in the role and is ably supported by a quality cast that includes Keeley Hawes, Iain Glen, Fiona Shaw and Ian McElhinney. The story is populated with interesting characters and provides some impressive twists and surprises. Overall I'd definitely recommend this drama; the story may be personal in nature but it feels like a mystery or spy thriller at times.

A fascinating story.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 27 December 2018]

The BBC proved once again that 2018 has really been the year for drama, Mrs Wilson follows the likes of Killing Eve, The Bodyguard, with another exceptional series, Mrs Wilson. A show that must have been incredibly close to home for the lead actress, Ruth Wilson.

The story was fascinating, the way it was told was captivating, how on Earth could someone you love so much, hide so much? Fascinating, it just gets deeper and more complicated with each scene.

The performances all round are excellent, but the problem is, that when Ruth Wilson is on screen, she's just so captivating, that it's hard to focus on anything else, she really is that good.

Superbly acted, fantastic production values, and a captivating story, if I had one criticism, I would say I think it could have been done over two parts.

Excellent. 8/10

Ruth Wilson Kills It

[lollyfizz1 · 8/10 · 14 December 2018]

Worth watching for the amazingly talented and beautiful Ruth Wilson at her very best! This is such an almighty tall tale, when I saw it was a "true story" or "based on real events" I had my doubts! And then just before I watched episode 3 I learnt it was Ruth's actual grandmother she was playing! You see every kind of emotion on her face as her character learns more about the man she loved, and how blurred her reality actually was.

Ruth is AMAZE - she deserves a BAFTA or something! She totally outshines Keeley Hawes -who, it is rumoured, is the favourite, for all of her 8 mins in the Bodyguard. But like, whatever.

Unbelievably Wonderful

[nacblackwell · 10/10 · 26 December 2018]

Usually on here critical of some rubbish I've seen. This though was a wonderful, true story that is quite unbelievable. The acting performances were spot on and the script beautifully delivered. Ruth Wilson who really annoyed me in The Affair I have to say puts on breath taking performance playing the part of her Grand mother. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be blow away by this short series.

Fantastic

[nmcdon17 · 8/10 · 12 December 2018]

Ruth Wilson does an incredible job here portraying her own grandmother. The love, betrayal, loyalty, sadness and hope that Alison Wilson felt was clearly evident throughout. A story so bizarre and shocking it had to be true. A fabulous ending demonstrating that good can come from lies- with all the family meeting. He may have been a serial bigamist but without him, none of these people would exist today. Thorughougly enjoyed this series and the performances by Ruth Wilson and Ian Glen (who seems to be playing deceitful dead husbands a lot these days lol)

Sucker

[saiken-30341 · 7/10 · 14 December 2018]

I'm a sucker for anything Ruth Wilson is in since I first saw her in Luther. Amazing.

She's the centerpiece of "Mrs. Wilson" too. The whole thing was pretty good with good acting by all and good production quality. The fact that it was based on a true story is cool. It felt a little rushed towards the end and might have benefitted from another episode somewhere in the middle. If the concept looks good to you give it a spin.

Amazing

[laurenzojay · 10/10 · 5 December 2018]

Ruth is absolutely incredible!! What an amazing fascinating mindblowing true story. The acting perfect. Hats off.

Intriguing true story plays much better than fiction.

[TxMike · 24 October 2020]

This was a three-part miniseries, each episode about 55 minutes, now available via streaming services.

Back around 1940 a 20-ish young lady began working in London as a typist for a secret wartime surveillance operation. Her work required her to type for a distinguished older gentlemen, Alex Wilson. After her residence was damaged in a bombing raid he took her in, they became lovers, they were married, they eventually had two sons, the younger being Nigel. But that is only the beginning, Alex led a life was filled with secrets.

That young lady was Alison and after she was married became Alison Wilson, the series is partly based on a memoire she wrote in the mid-1960s as a way to tell her sons the truth of their father. Of note the actress Ruth Wilson is the real-life granddaughter of Alison and the younger son Nigel depicted in the series became Ruth's father. At the end of the last episode we see photos of everyone and it is clear that Ruth Wilson inherited her distinctive upper lip from her dad. (Not a criticism, to me Ruth is a real beauty.)

This is a very well made and intriguing almost 3-hour series. Ruth Wilson of course is superb and her comments about playing her own grandmother are very interesting and worth looking up on the internet. Search "Ruth Wilson on playing her grandmother."

My wife and I watched it on Amazon streaming via Roku.

O Cursèd Progenitor!!!

[lavatch · 7/10 · 14 October 2020]

Alexander "Alec" Wilson was a dreamer, and he discovered writing as cathartic. A shell-shocked soldier from the Battle of the Somme in World War I, Alec maintained his sanity by escaping to the world of the imagination, especially during the Battle of Britain when he apparently began to write spy novels.

But the world of fiction carried over from the typewriter to reality in the four households he maintained in the postwar years. Four households, and an enormous brood who take a curtain call at the end of this miniseries!

The film was slow-paced, especially in Episode 2, where a careful balance between the flashbacks and the scenes in the present was not achieved. There was also a surprisingly cruel side to Alison in the way she confronted Dorothy about lying to her son about his wayward dad. Alison then proceeds to lie to her two boys in the same way.

In the final episode, the mood shifts between high drama and low comedy, culminating in poor Alison Wilson entering a nunnery! Perhaps the final straw was when a little street urchin named Douglas showed up on her doorstep, providing Alison with a glimpse into Alec's FOURTH family.

As relentless in pursuit of the truth about her lyin' husband as Javert was about Jean Valjean, Elizabeth finally comes to terms with her husband as a pathological liar. But the film never conclusively demonstrates whether Alec was a bona fide spy for the British government or merely a pathological liar and bigamist. Apparently, he was a combination of the three.

O cursèd progenitor!!!

Riveting English Drama

[amar_lfc · 8/10 · 21 December 2018]

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. I thought it was well paced and very interesting. Three episodes to tell this true story was just right or would have dragged on. Ruth Wilson was superb . Must've been so tough playing her fathers mum lol . Incredible story . The closing scene was so emotional and score was amazing . Very moving .Well worth a watch .

Based on a true story

[gallagherkellie · 6/10 · 18 October 2021]

I enjoyed this. It was only three episodes which is perfect. Ruth Wilson did amazing with the acting. Such a bizarre and messed up story that makes me glad I'm single! The only unbelievable thing was the age - the only thing they did to make her look 20 years older was put her hair up?

Very Interesting

[nancyldraper · 8/10 · 15 December 2018]

This is a very interesting limited TV series inspired by the life of lead actor/producer, Ruth Wilson's grandmother. Well told and well performed with intricate twists and turns, all the more fascinating as you are always aware that it must have been bizarre for Ruth Wilson to walk in her grandmother's shoes. Fantastic cast. I give this series an 8.5 (captivating) out of 10. {BioPic Mystery}

A tawdry story of a serial bigamist and fantasist

[martimusross · 6/10 · 5 January 2019]

This was a quite brilliantly portrayed drama by the BBC. Everything was in play from the claustrophobic morality of post war Britain, the ultimate consequence of war on individual lives and the life choices made by circumstance that had ramifications on an entire family.

The acting was nuanced showing the conflicted emotions, just how would someone react to discovering they had been the third victim of a serial bigamist. The script was tight and well structured and tried desperately to arrive at a moral standpoint.

The problem with this drama lies with its ultimate truths, there were three women who had been lied to for decades, there were no less that six illegitimate children who were inadequately provided for, and three tawdry affairs undertaken without a care for the devastation this would leave when the truth came out.

There could be no redemptive conclusion to this sorry tale and suggesting that some good may come out of such personal tragedy by way of gaining an extended family doesn't cut it.

This distasteful story was very memorable and moving but just could not rise above its subject matter.

Pathetic heroine

[dibeyendu · 4/10 · 9 July 2019]

It's hard to really enjoy a series where the main protagonist is so pathetic. In one scene, she cries before God in an empty church, "O help me, I am so weak." Weak she certainly is, constantly crying and throwing up every time she learns something unappealing about her departed husband, who, it turns out, had several wives and sons by all of them. Ruth Wilson plays her part as a vapid woman who ultimately chooses to lead a cloistered life after the trauma of learning about her husband's other families. Truth be told, the other wives come out as much stronger and more interesting than this particular Mrs Wilson.

Great

[hermione_p · 10/10 · 30 November 2018]

Amazing new british biography-drama. Look forward for new episodes. Great cast, great story!

Another Masterpiece Gem

[bshaef · 9/10 · 7 April 2019]

Ruth Wilson can do no wrong. She is a superb actress. The characteristic I like about her best is that she's never Ruth Wilson, she's always the character she plays. Didn't explain that very well but I know what I mean.

The story is unbelievable and the physical meetings between the various members of the various families are so tense you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Great acting all the way around and the director should get some credit.

Also great WWII and late 40's English scenery.

Ruth Wilson at her best; an amazing tale in three tight episodes, based on true life.

[guauen · 15 February 2019]

Ruth Wilson is a great actor. Here she is at her best.

All the critiques expressed by others here are valid. This is a very frustrating mini-series. The producers work hard to keep a complex story coherent and flowing, but they do fail from time to time. There are a few challenges to credibility and quite a few plot holes. But the story is based on a family's real secrets and their real experience over almost a century after WWI, so who should be surprised.

The cruel harms of the great capitalist disaster that was WWI resonate through the lives of so many millions of families throughout the world.

The story is carried forward brilliantly by the main character Alison Wilson (Ruth Wilson), in silent partnership with the almost unseen protagonist, Alex Wilson (Iain Glen). They are supported by an excellent production team, cast and crew.

At the end of part 3 we learn that Her Majesty's UK Government still refuses to release the files they hold on Alex Wilson. He remains a mystery. We know he served the King in France in WWI, in India in the 1930's and in Egypt during WWII, but despite this, was cashiered out of the Civil Service in 1942 for 'theft'. We never really learn why. But we do learn about the collateral damage to three fine women and their four sons, who loved him.

I was distracted by plot holes as the series rolled along. Alex published 23 popular books but had no income? Did Alex really bludge off Alison for 22 years? Why wasn't Alison curious that, after decades of civil service, Alex had no pension? Why was there no effort to publish Alex's final book? Seems Alex published books after his break up with Dorothy so why was their son not aware?

But all is forgiven. A great yarn well told. All credit to Ruth Wilson. And then Susan Jameson shows up as Matron to seal the deal - wow! I'm hooked.

Grateful thanks to Masterpiece & BBC one. I was privileged to watch this on free to air TV. Please distribute widely. It's a jem.

Solid and apparently realistic, but a bit arid and over-sophisticated

[BeneCumb · 7/10 · 20 June 2021]

Well, based-on-real-events provides some additional value, plus there are interesting performances, but questions remain open and use of same actors-actresses within the time gap of 20 years but limited make-up diminished their convincingness somehow. Besides, it astonished me, even in the pre-mobile and pre-Internet era, how a man could keep secret so many marriages and families within one country when a specific address was given by Mr. Wilson...

But still, as mentioned, Mrs. Wilson is a solid series with fine performances.

A must see

[Ed-Shullivan · 8/10 · 10 March 2020]

Another great performance by the mesmerizing actress Ruth Wilson who plays the naive third of four wives, Alison Wilson, of the real life bigamist Alexander Wilson, real or imagined, slight of hand is how this cheating husband lived at least four separate lives. Alexander Wilson was an English writer, spy and MI6 officer. Alexander Wilson the author fooled his four wives by writing under the names Alexander Wilson, Geoffrey Spencer, Gregory Wilson, and Michael Chesney. The story line is based on real events of Ruth Wilson's own family tree so who better to play Mrs. Alison Wilson but one of her own grandchildren, Ruth Wilson.

This is a dramatic reenactment of how the lives of the bigamist Alexander Wilson's wives and many children from his four concurrent (and illegal) marriages and parenthood suffered at the hands of a man who although very loving and family orientated, abandoned them all while serving a six (6) month term of hard labor in prison.

Mrs. Wilson is not only well written, but exceptionally acted by all who participated in this 3 episode TV mini-series. Mrs. Shullivan and I both thought that the third and closing episode was superb and allowed the audience to understand and appreciate the pain and suffering that bigamist Alexander Wilson left behind by suddenly dying of a heart attack for his four (4) wives to deal with upon his sudden death.

Ultimately unsatisfactory but well acted

[Vindelander · 6/10 · 11 December 2018]

Ruth Wilson is a wonderful actress and made this watchable but in the end I found it disappointing. But it's a true story so not really fair to criticise. Not the most exciting of dramas.

Mezmerizing

[bpayne-79570 · 8/10 · 1 April 2019]

Nicely woven tale that slowly draws the viewer in then smacks you in the face. Immpecable acting by all involved. Its made even more intriguing knowing that it is a true story, being portrayed by the main character's descendant. Kudos!

Strong woman becomes a puddle

[deebo60611 · 6/10 · 3 April 2019]

Ruth Wilson is depicted as a strong woman who pursues the truth but folds in the end. Any man who "wed" 4 women and brings 6 children into world is a criminal. Even in the time period of the story. Rage at her husband should have been Mrs. Wilson's response.

Loved It.

[mariapirelli · 10/10 · 5 December 2018]

Thoroughly enjoyed it, Ruth Wilson was excellent and it bought back the feel of the 60's. Looking forward to the next episodes.

Ruth Wilson great

[ronaldhayden-34256 · 6/10 · 20 July 2020]

But how can you make a hero out of a man like alec wilson. The story was entertaining but didn't really portray the man in a way to make us understand his motivations.Still don't know who he was and why he did what he did.

Was he wasn't he

[Headturner1 · 5/10 · 12 April 2020]

I've been wanting to see this for a while. Unfortunately I found it boring and lacking. For a man with many ( supposed lives) it just lacked intrigue. The acting was fine but I'm not a fan of wilson anyways but since this is her grandmothers story I just thought she would have brought more to it? I don't know. I think perhaps it was the script-direction but it fell flat for me.