The Thick of It: Series 4, Episode 2 (2012)

 

Why yes, we’ve in fact skipped the first episode of series 4.  The first half of The Thick of It’s final season splits its time evenly between Team Nicola and Team Peter, and as a result, Malcolm isn’t in episode 1 (or episode 3 for that matter.)  The Tucker-less episodes are still funny, to be sure – I always enjoy Stewart – but they don’t feel the same without the old gang.  Especially without Malcom; even though the series is really an ensemble, it just doesn’t feel like The Thick of It without Malcolm.

 

In the interest of avoiding spoilers, I’ll try not to reveal which party won the election between series 3 and 4.  Suffice to say, one party is managing DoSAC while the other is attending the “shadow cabinet” as the opposition. 

 

What can I say about this episode?  Well, you’ve got a really-not-all-that-heated-but-way-more-heated-than-you’d-think argument about equine terminology, the immortal words “quiet batpeople,” and Malcolm up to more than his usual Malchiavellian tricks.  We’re talking scheming up the wazoo, complete with secret meetings held in cupboards.  Also, there is possibly the greatest description of Star Wars ever given by a fictional character – good stuff.

 

Dan Miller is a minister I’ve not mentioned before.  He first appeared way back in the first season, but I haven’t gotten to him until now because the show just has that many recurring characters.  Anyway, Dan is a minister in Malcolm’s party, the quintessential picture of what people want in a politician.  He’s good-looking and blandly inoffensive, and he doesn’t seem to cause trouble the way that Hugh and Nicola do; no wonder he’s gradually risen to prominence.  Within the walls of the party, however, he’s more than a little smarmy, and you never seem to see him actually doing any sort of political work.  Hugh probably said it best when he called Dan a “brushed aluminium cyber prick.”  Fine words, Hugh.