It was a tightly kept secret to the last, despite the fact that almost 10,000 non professional volunteers took part and there were two dress rehearsals, each in front of audiences of thousands more. Now we've seen it and the reaction around the world has been...well, bemused
Most British people loved it. Raved about it in fact. Elsewhere words like bonkers, chaotic, enthusiastic and Whaaa??? have been making the rounds. So what did you make of it? Love it? Hate it? Left you scratching your head? Let us know by taking the poll. And if you are wondering what some part or another was about, add your comments below and we'll try our best to explain.
Photo Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
I loved it!
I watched it twice. During the first evening broadcast it left me confused and a little bit bored. I decided to watch it again during a late night re-broadcast (with fewer distractions around me too) and I liked it much better that time. But, I think what helped A LOT was the commentary that went along with the re-broadcast. If they hadn’t been explaining what was happening and why I probably would still be scratching my head over some segments. I did love the Queen & 007 bit both times though and the “forging of the ring” followed by the floating Olympic rings and the cauldron lighting part were both cool too.
I was at times confused more by the commentary — or annoyed. But I liked most of it. The scary parts of the children’s stories I thought were weird and didn’t seem to fit into an Olympics theme. Some of the musical journey through the years annoyed me, but that’s because music I liked was given seconds and music I didn’t like so much got much more time. But I loved the history, and the honoring of the doctors and nurses of the NHS. I loved the JK Rowling overcame her reluctance to do public speaking and read something. I was bewildered by Sir Paul’s choice of music, other than that everyone could sing it over and over. I really enjoyed the “forging” of the ring — and wondered if that was also a sly reference to Tolkien, another native storyteller. And I LOVED the Queen’s cooperation with the skit to have her “jump,” recording her voice and revealing her dress choice (I understand that bookies were still taking bets on the color that morning). Mostly, I loved that it was both bonkers and brilliant. I think Roger Ebert’s column today was right: it bordered on satire of an Olympics opening and trying to get everything in.
I’m not sure it fits quite with this blog post but I’m not sure where to say it. I really enjoyed the camera work this morning watching NBC Live covering the men’s cycling road race through countryside, small towns, and finally London. (I missed the start.) I got a really good sense of what the place looked like, and a real taste to visit!
Interesting comment about the Tolkien reference in the rings. I didn’t pick that up and I’m not really sure that was intended because the literary references came later. I’m pretty sure, since that segment was about the industrial revolution and the country built on the sweat and toil of the common man (yes , there were those Labour oriented messages throughout) that the forging of the ring was about three of the major British accomplishments that forged the modern world. The making of iron with coke instead of charcoal made cheap mass production of iron possible. Then the pioneering of the Bessemer process and the invention of stainless steel in Sheffield made mass production of steel possible. As far as the children’s literature and the hospital beds being Olympic-themed, I don’t think that was the aim. The show was calling out all the things that would make the home audience proud and would show the world what constitutes Britishness. Nothing makes Brit’s prouder than their National Health Service. And it was just a natural segue from one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals (G.O.S.H)- supported for years from the rights to of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, into all those icons of children’s literature created here. So long answer but I hope it goes some way to explaining why the home audience liked the show so much.
Even with annoying American commentary, most of that came through! Even that the smoke from “making” the ring included a sulfur odor for authenticity. And yes, I realize that the primary reference was to the Industrial Revolution and the way that it’s such an important part of history.I do wish the feed here (NBC) had not cut out the reflective piece, thinking Americans wouldn’t appreciate it. Overall, the theme of “Isles of Wonder” worked well to knit together everything — and I still have just a sneaking suspicion that at times it went “over the top” on purpose as a kind of satire on expectations for such ceremonies.
I have to say that I really loved it. It was sophisticated, not too much in your face and it had written UK all over it!
I am Dutch and I think it was rather easy to follow and understand…but others who watched it also had no clue sometimes what it was about.
As I spent many holidays in the UK since 1974 I read about the history and I became to love the people and the country so that might have helped me a bit.
It was different in a good way…thanks for a great evening to all who participated!
I really enjoyed it. Thought the concept was very clever and the whole store flowed beautifully. There are so many creative minds at work to give us a wonderful spectacle. As an Aussie, I have to say, just falls slightly below Sydney’s Olympics – nevertheless, great to watch.