Go gently
An interesting trend that I have noticed in two programmes that I watched over the Bank Holiday weekend: gentle telly. The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency was a big BBC/Miramax co-production and a pilot for a commissioned series based on the hugely popular books by Alexander McCall Smith, which I have always assumed to be aimed at old ladies. Maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, adapted by Richard Curtis and directed by Anthony Minghella, it was a large plank in the Easter schedules, an hour and three quarters devoted to setting up the titular agency in Botswana, which, according to this depiction, is an antidote to all those other war-torn and poverty-stricken African countries which Bob Geldof wants to save by forcing privatised utilities and free market economics on them in return for waived debt. In the happy, innocent, colourful world of Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott), she can set up shop without a phone and thrive as the new Miss Marple, albeit without the murders. The fact that it's shot and government-funded in Botswana makes it a tourist board advert at heart, but let's be honest, it's a treat to look at, and there is something relaxing about watching a drama on television that isn't about forensic evidence or serial killers. A boy is kidnapped, there's some bad juju afoot, and an old man is fraudulently pretending to be a young woman's long-lost father, but mostly the sun shines, everybody's really helpful and the occasional giraffe walks past. It's pretty much completely sexless, outside of one philanderer, but again, where's the harm? The critics didn't like it, but I had no problem with it. If all telly was made this way, it would be like eating marshmallows as a staple diet, but it isn't. I smiled throughout. Does that mean I'm patronising Africa? I sincerely hope not.
Neither are all sitcoms Gavin And Stacey, which is back for its second series after winning, let me see, ah yes, every award in the world. I didn't like the look of it the first time around (although, to be fair, I didn't watch an entire episode), but I was determined to catch up. And again, it's really gentle. Yes, one of the subplots is about a pregnancy based on a one-night stand, and there was something about a threesome in the first episode, but it's ultimately really nice. And that's not a criticism. Gavin seems decent, Stacey seems harmless, Smithy seems decent, Nessa seems at least capable of niceness, Uncle Bryn seems like possibly the nicest, least cynical man not just in Wales, but in the whole world (and Rob Brydon is doing his best work, as this is not an easy character to bring life to). I could do without Alison Steadman's latest recycling of Beverley, but all in all, it's neat and tidy and smartly scripted and you care. When was the last time you said that about something on BBC3?
Two gentle programmes. Hardly a movement, and it probably doesn't say anything profound about us as a nation, but I'm glad I can kick off my cynical shoes once in a while and allow myself to be massaged by the telly. It can't all be Messiah and Nighty Night.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 11:55 AM
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Pssst!
The Apprentice is back tonight!
See the trailer?
'I'm the best salesperson in... probably Europe'
Fantastic.
Just started season 1 of The Wire. Half an hour in - officially hooked.
I'll be there.
Surprised you don't mention the one truly notable feature of The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, to wit: the appearance of Idris Elba (or, as we know him, Stringer Bell) as... uh... a criminal in a sharp suit. But an African one.
Is that Jill Scott as in Philadelphia based queen of nu soul Jill Scott?
I loved the first series of Gavin and Stacey (which I watched late when it came to BBC2 as I could actually believe that BBC3 would make a programme I might want to spend time watching).
The very same Jill Scott - a capable actress, it turns out.
Yes, it was great to see Idris Elba in No.1 Ladies, albeit in a cameo role. He was so evil, he ruined that lady's cake!
I liked the detective agency thing. It was a bit Sunday-lite TV but it was being shown on a Sunday so that's to be expected.
I loved the The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency! So what that it didn't have anyone being buried alive in a coffin? I think the gentle tone was very good, and a nice antidote to all the nastiness we're usually fed.
I didn't like the look of Gavin and Stacey when it first appeared, but I watched the whole lot in one go on BBC3 one Saturday night and loved it. I genuinely missed the characters when it was finished - I haven't cared that much about a bunch of sitcom characters since Spaced. I do my fair share of cynical, but G&S is just so normal. It makes a nice change.
Unfortunately the publicity given to the Ladies DA seems to have buried any recognition of He Kills Coppers. Jake Arnott's second novel in the trilogy, the first of which the BBC filmed (The Long Firm), is a rivetting mix of real events (cop killer Harry Roberts) mingled with a fictional narrative concerned with Arnott's fascination with the 60's, corruption, crime and the gay subculture. It looks fantastic, and is a powerful antidote to all those dreadful 90's 'gangster' films. If you ever wondered if the UK could do a Sopranos or Wire, here you can see the seeds of one: had one company taken on the whole trilogy and even expanded it, we could have had something similar. Some great performances, Kelly Reilly in particular, and inspired use of Dusty Springfield - the way 'If I Go Away' accompanies the final scene in part 1 is genius. It is available to watch at itv.com, and is on for another 2 episodes, I think. Essential viewing.
Very good point about Alison Steadman. Which is why I made it on this very blog back in December when you were discussing the comedy awards:
"Gavin & Stacey is just okay. There is nothing special going on there at all. ‘Just Good Friends’ territory. Which is fine but there’s some serious emperors new clothes hype going on surrounding it. And Alison Steadman. Why are we duty bound to praise her everything she does when she’s not done nothing to compete with Candice Marie or that Abigail character for decades? Her and Brenda Blethyn play the same character in every bleeding thing they do."
Your welcome.
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