PC is
such a boss, seriously. I can’t deny
that he was fortunate to receive a role like Malcolm – very well and
consistently written, just sublimely funny – but the man can act.
There’s an absolutely no-holds-barred tremendous scene in the finale
where Malcom breaks things down for Ollie and explains just what it takes to be
Malcolm Tucker. Perfect combination of
script and performance. Love it.
This
episode did a rather strange thing: it
showed me a parallel between Malcolm Tucker and Torchwood’s John Frobisher.
When I reviewed Torchwood, I
mentioned that Frobisher is a man of similar age and wardrobe working in London
politics. What makes that amusing,
however, was how un-Malcolm
Frobisher is. Frobisher doesn’t want a
lot of power and authority. He doesn’t
thrive on crisis. He’s not commanding or
intimidating. He just wants to meekly do
as he’s told and receive the occasional pat on the back from the PM for a job
well done. (Oh my gosh, now I’m
picturing Malcolm leading the diplomatic sessions with the 4-5-6. Epic.)
But
here, I could see the thread that connects them. Both are men whose morals are an extremely
dark gray, willing to put a few stains on their soul for the sake of their
party. They are almost entirely devoted
to furthering their party’s cause, and both have given up fathoms on its
behalf. And for both men, in the end,
that party really doesn’t care about them.
I won’t say what happens to Malcolm in the finale, but in this episode,
he realizes how lightly his consuming loyalty is regarded.
What’s
that? Other stuff happens in this
episode as well? Well, I suppose. Some of it is highly entertaining. There are a couple of impressive office
meltdowns, a truly DoSAC-worthy screw-up, and of course, choice insults. Amid panic, outrage, and a lot of swearing, The Thick of It makes its final
farewells.
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