The Hour is a six-part miniseries from BBC America that works as an engrossing spy thriller, a behind-the-scenes portrait of TV news, and a drama about sexual politics and class distinctions. Created and written by Abi Morgan, you couldn't ask for a more thought-provoking series. It is set in London in 1956, the year of the Suez Canal crisis and a time when Great Britain was deeply involved in the Cold War with secret agents everywhere.

At the hub of the story is Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw), a stubborn, rebellious, and intensely creative journalist who is madly in love with Bel Rowley (Romola Garai), who has just been made producer of a new topical news show. She is a talented young woman destined for great things but still feels like an outsider in her new job. He entertains her and everyone else with his witty asides: "Martial law may have been imposed in Poland, and we have footage of Prince Rainier on honeymoon with his showgirl."

Freddie's close relationship with his boss is put in jeopardy when Hector Madden (Dominic West) arrives on the scene and because of his family connections is chosen to be the anchor of "The Hour." He is a handsome hunk of a man who is married but has a habit of carrying on relationships with other women. Freddie has no respect for his journalistic abilities and must constantly feed him questions for his interviews. He is quite taken aback when Bel begins an affair with Hector. Lix Storm (Anna Chancellor), a former war correspondent in charge of foreign news, makes a handy drinking partner for Freddie.

When a young and frightened woman who was Freddie's childhood friend is murdered, he begins his own private investigation which gets him in deep trouble with British intelligence. As the Suez Canal crisis unfolds and England and France invade Egypt, Bel and Freddie want to have The Hour lead the way covering the government's handling of the war, including the protests against it. However, their efforts are hindered by Angus McCain (Julian Rhind-Tutt), the prime-minister's press secretary who wants to stifle all government criticism. Whenever he walks into the studio the temperature sinks to below freezing.

The subtext for all of this jostling of ideas, ideals, and political clout is voiced by a seasoned political veteran who says: "The real question is, do we live in a democracy or under the illusion of one?" A soul-stretching question for a very good miniseries — and one that we are still asking in our times.