The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2018

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

WWII codebreakers solve San Francisco murders, but critics say this spin-off stretches both skills and credulity—adults only.

6.8/10

31%

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The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco

show

TV-14, 2018

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

WWII codebreakers solve San Francisco murders, but critics say this spin-off stretches both skills and credulity—adults only.

6.8

31%

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6.8/10

31%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: brilliant women using math to catch killers in 1950s San Francisco should be a slam dunk. But critics savaged this spin-off, and they're not wrong—it stretches believability while piling on disturbing content including sexual violence and abuse.

The original Bletchley Circle had its fans, but this San Francisco iteration feels like it's trying too hard. The 31% critic score tells you what you need to know: the execution doesn't deliver on the premise. Audiences were kinder (60%), but that's still lukewarm.

If you're looking for smart women solving puzzles, there are better options. If you're a die-hard fan of the original series, go in with lowered expectations and know you're signing up for some genuinely dark content.

Age Fit

This is strictly adult viewing (17+) due to sexual violence, disturbing content, and mature themes. The poor critical reception also means even adults might want to skip it unless they're completists of the original Bletchley Circle series.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Period crime drama with strong female leads working together to solve murders. Models intelligence and teamwork, but includes disturbing content like near-rape scenes, domestic abuse, and murder investigations that push beyond wholesome territory. The cooperative dynamic between the codebreakers is positive, but the dark subject matter and violence keep this in mixed territory.

Imaginative

The premise of WWII codebreakers applying cryptography skills to solve murders in 1950s San Francisco has creative potential, but critics panned it with only 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting the execution falls flat. The Guardian review noted it 'stretches credulity,' implying the imaginative elements don't land. It's a derivative spin-off of the original Bletchley Circle rather than genuinely original storytelling.

Safe

Multiple significant safety concerns for younger viewers. Common Sense Media flags disturbing near-rape scenes involving main characters, visible nudity in vintage pornography shots, domestic abuse, frequent smoking and drinking, and murder content. While actual violence often occurs offscreen, the themes are mature and could be triggering. This is clearly adult content that would be inappropriate for children to stumble upon.

Enriching

Historical setting in post-WWII San Francisco and focus on women in STEM/cryptography offers some educational value about codebreaking and the era. Strong female protagonists solving complex problems could inspire interest in logic and mathematics. However, the poor critical reception (31% RT) suggests weak storytelling that limits meaningful engagement. The murder-mystery format provides some puzzle-solving appeal but doesn't elevate beyond standard procedural fare.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Female mathematicians and codebreakers as leads—representation in STEM fields that's still rare on screen
Period setting in 1950s San Francisco offers historical context about post-war America
Cryptography and puzzle-solving elements could spark interest in logic and pattern recognition
Explores how women who served their country in wartime were pushed aside afterward

⚠

What to Watch For

Disturbing sexual violence including near-rape scenes—this is not background content
Domestic abuse and murder investigations with mature, dark themes throughout
Nudity in vintage pornography shots, frequent smoking and drinking
Critics weren't kind (31% on Rotten Tomatoes)—the execution doesn't match the premise's potential

Conversation Starters

"What do you think it was like for women who did important work during WWII to be expected to just go back to 'normal life' afterward?"
"How would codebreaking skills actually help solve crimes? What's the connection between patterns in codes and patterns in criminal behavior?"
"Why do you think society in the 1950s had such different expectations for women than we do now?"

Deep Dive

The "Americanization" problem

The original UK run of The Bletchley Circle worked because it felt like a claustrophobic, high-stakes secret. It was about women who had been the smartest people in the room during WWII trying to survive the crushing boredom and sexism of 1950s London. When the show moves to San Francisco, it loses that tight focus. It trades the gritty, fog-drenched atmosphere of post-war Britain for a sunnier, "lush" California aesthetic that critics found superficial.

The plot moves from methodical codebreaking into "far-fetched" territory. While the premise of British and American cryptographers teaming up sounds like a win for fans of historical logic puzzles, the execution leans more toward a standard police procedural. If you were hoping for a deep dive into the mechanics of 1950s computing or advanced mathematics, you might find the actual "solving" of the crimes a bit corny.

A jarring shift in tone

There is a specific kind of friction in this show that catches people off guard. It looks like a "cozy" mystery—the kind of thing you’d watch with a cup of tea while admiring the vintage hats and wallpaper. However, the actual content is significantly darker than the marketing suggests.

We aren't just talking about a body in a library. The show touches on necrophilia, domestic abuse, and includes a "disturbing" near-rape scene. There is also a moment involving vintage pornography that feels out of step with the show's otherwise polished, period-drama vibe. This is the primary reason for the 17+ age recommendation. It isn't just "mature themes" in a general sense; it’s a specific, gritty intensity that clashes with the 1950s San Francisco backdrop.

If you're chasing the STEM angle

For parents looking for media that highlights women in STEM, the Bletchley brand is usually a top recommendation. Seeing women use pattern recognition and logic to navigate a world that underestimates them is genuinely empowering.

However, this spin-off is a tough sell for that specific goal. Because the logic is often "stretched" to fit the drama, the intellectual payoff isn't as satisfying as the original series or a film like Hidden Figures. If your teen is interested in the history of cryptography, they might enjoy the concept of these women working in the Presidio, but the actual mystery-solving often feels like it relies on luck or convenient coincidences rather than genuine brilliance.

The completionist's dilemma

With a 31% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, this isn't a "must-watch" for the average viewer. It sits in that awkward middle ground where it’s too dark for a casual family watch but too "mid" for a serious prestige drama marathon.

The 60% audience score suggests that if you already love these specific characters from the British original, you might find enough charm in the 1950s costumes and the San Francisco setting to keep you watching. Just go in knowing that the sharp, intellectual edge of the first two seasons has been sanded down in favor of more generic TV tropes. If you aren't already invested in the Bletchley universe, there are better ways to spend your BritBox subscription.

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