Skins (U.K.): Series 2, Episode 3 – “Sid” (2008)

 

First off, mea culpa for the late update.  O the times, they get a-way from me.

 

As an episode of Skins, this is a bit of an anomaly.  Yes, Sid’s romantic drama gets some screentime, and yes, there’s a short, chaotic party scene.  However, almost all the important action happens at Sid’s house; the episode is half over before most of the main cast appears.  Furthermore, an adult, Mark, has nearly equal focus in the story.  I don’t think a parent or teacher character has ever received so much attention in a single Skins episode, before or since.

 

Sid and Mark’s relationship has been slowly improving.  They still argue, and goodness knows they still get on each other’s nerves, but they’ve come to a clumsy arrangement where they at least make an effort to get along and help one another.  And I mean clumsy – Mark’s attempts to console Sid over his girl troubles are positively ridiculous.

 

The main plot involves a visit from Mark’s father, brother, and nephews.  Mark’s dad, naturally, has never been impressed with him, and generally makes the Mark of series 1 look like the father of the year.  He’s passive aggressive, he’s a master backhanded-complimenter, and he constantly undermines Mark in front of his family.  Undoubtedly, Sid has seen this dynamic before, but I think this is the first time it really clicks with him, and he sees what exacerbated Mark’s insecurities and made him the man he is today.

 

For PC, this is definitely a performance to write home about.  Mark goes through a myriad of emotions, all of which are plainly written across his face:  humiliation, desperation, longing for approval, scowling resentment, self-loathing.  Sometimes he handles them badly (Mark learned his passive aggression from the best, and there are times when he just can’t stop himself,) and sometimes he handles them well (he gets a great victory at last, and his contentment is palpable.)  Great work all around.

 

Also, Mark has one of the most entertaining battles with a vacuum that I’ve ever seen.  Just FYI.

 

Accent Watch

 

Scottish – I’d noted before that his accent is different from Sid’s, but I hadn’t thought about how it further highlights the difficulties Mark and Sid have connecting.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – I’ll repeat; if you’re okay with explicit content and are interested in a teen show with great characterization and some really genuine material, I think you’d really like Skins.

 

PC-wise – Yeah.  Great role excellently performed – nicely shows off PC’s comedic and dramatic range.  If you’re mainly interested in PC, the “Sid” episodes in both seasons are the must-watch offerings.

 

Warnings

 

A brief scene of violence, and some dark thematic elements.

Skins (U.K.): Series 1, Episode 7 – “Michelle” (2007)

 

As you might possibly have guessed from the title, this episode is about Michelle, the girl Tony is dating and Sid is in love with.  We see her uncomfortable home life – she’s currently on her third stepdad, and this one’s only ten years older than her – and, because this is Skins, we also see her smorgasbord of relationship drama.

 

Dating a Machiavellian psycho like Tony would do anyone’s head in, and Michelle is reaching her limit.  In the episode between “Sid” and this one, Tony has pulled perhaps his most deal-breaking stunt yet.  Michelle decides to take a much-need hiatus from him.  Unfortunately, she has a hard time contextualizing herself outside of the boy she’s dating or sleeping with; in an earlier episode, she describes her chief skillset as looking “shaggable.”  She views that as her only contribution, her only asset.  As such, she doesn’t go about getting over Tony in what you might call a healthy way.

 

Sid is dragged into it, in that super-awkward “I don’t really love you, but I’m angry, and you love me, so you’re cool with this, right?” way.  It’s a bad road for both of them, and the hope is that they realize how badly they’ve miscalculated and start to course-correct.  I won’t go into detail, but sadly, while Sid begins to get his head on straight, Michelle still has a way to go.

 

A very short appearance by Mark today:  one quick scene that’s pretty funny and makes excellent use of PC’s reactive expressions. 

Skins (U.K.): Series 1, Episode 5 – “Sid” (2007)

 

As Sid’s dad, Mark is obviously most relevant in the Sid-centered episodes.  So, today’s entry will allow me to properly introduce you to this character.

 

Plot first:  Sid is basically a chronic screw-up.  He’s on the brink of failing history, and everything rests on his ability to complete an important paper in the next two days.  However, his best friend Tony offers all manner of distraction when he intentionally shakes things up between him and his girlfriend (the one Sid is in love with) and tells Sid that a rebounding Michelle is Tony’s gift to him.

 

(In case you haven’t noticed, Tony is kind of a psychopath.  He’s constantly manipulating the people in his life, playing head games with them for his own amusement.  I know that teenagers are basically walking ids and thus sorely lacking in empathy, but you don’t usually see teen characters portrayed like this – puppet-mastering people’s lives for no apparent purpose.  While he’s no Joffrey, Tony is definitely someone I wouldn’t want to know.)

 

If Tony is trying to pull Sid from his coursework, Mark’s aggressive, overbearing manner helps to push him from it.  He probably spends 7/8^th’s of his screentime cursing and screaming at Sid, making all sorts of vague threats about what’s in store for Sid if he doesn’t get in gear.  With a dad like that, it’s no wonder Sid wound up with a best friend who regularly tells him how stupid and useless he is.  Poor Sid.

 

But Skins is at its best when it shows you an archetype and then flips it.  For all of Mark’s shouting, he isn’t exactly a success story himself.  He talks a big game, but in truth, his marriage is on the rocks, his job is nothing to write home about, and even his screw-up son seems to undermine him at every turn.

 

It seems to me that Mark is a mass of insecurities masked by a lot of angry words.  He sees a lot of himself in Sid and loses his temper with him because 1) he projects his own failings onto Sid and 2) he knows he’s not doing well with the whole “dad” thing, and he can’t admit it to Sid or himself.  He really loves Sid but doesn’t know how to express it or how to help his son instead of push him.

 

PC is great in this episode, excellent mix of drama and comedy in his performance.  In particular, there’s an eyes-glued-to-the-screen conversation between them at the end, with topnotch acting all around.

Skins (U.K.): Series 1, Episode 1 – “Tony” (2007)

 

I got into Skins a few years ago and have really enjoyed it for what it is.  I think that, on the whole, the quality is less consistent with each generation, and every season has its share of over-the-top Drama! and ludicrous plots, but when it’s on, it’s on.  So many messily endearing characters have come out of this series, and they’ve had some masterful lightning-in-a-bottle moments where they’ve truly captured that sense of adolescence.  It’s a crazed, compelling show, and now that it’s over, I miss it a little.

 

The pilot of Skins launches itself with a whirlwind introduction to its First Generation cast, the likeable, disparate group of Bristol mates who get up to all sorts of mischief while avoiding their sixth-form coursework.  Though the Eddie Haskell-esque Tony takes the ostensible center stage here, it’s evident that Sid, his unimpressive mess of a best friend, has the story to keep an eye on.  This episode shows us the imbalanced power dynamic between Sid and Tony, Sid’s sadly-unconquerable crush on Tony’s girlfriend Michelle, and Sid’s first steps toward romance with the flighty, fragile Cassie.

 

PC plays Mark Jenkins, Sid’s father.  We don’t even get a glimpse of him yet; his role in the pilot is just a vocal cameo, first over the phone and then berating Sid from off-camera.  Since I’ve seen this series multiple times, I know plenty about Mark, but all we really learn here is that Mark shares Malcolm Tucker’s vocabulary if not his twistedly inventive way with words.

 

Along with a handful of other well-regarded British actors, PC cropped up periodically in Generation One’s two seasons.  Four episodes in all, which is more than most of the other parents (although to be fair, that includes this one.)

 

I’ll mention, Tony’s parents are played by Harry Enfield and Morwenna Banks.  And among the younger cast, we have Nicholas Hoult (from About a Boy, all growed up,) Hannah Murray (Gilly on Game of Thrones,) Joseph Dempsie (Gendry on Game of Thrones, and he appeared on Who in “The Doctor’s Daughter,”) and Dev Patel (who went on to star in Slumdog Millionaire.)

 

Accent Watch

 

Unmistakably Scottish, unlike his definitely West-Country-sounding son.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – I know it’s not for everyone, but Skins can be great at times.  If you’re looking for a different sort of teen show, I’d give this one a try.

 

PC-wise – Well, not yet, but just hang on…

 

Warnings

 

Like The Thick of It, don’t watch Skins unless you’re okay with the content.  There’s a lot of swearing, drug use, and sexual content, all involving teenagers. 

C.A.T.S. Eye: Series 2, Episode 2 – “Powerline” (1986)

 

Another early role.  C.A.T.S. Eye, from what I can tell, is about a trio of capable women working as investigators for a secret government operation – and really, it’s not nearly as Charlie’s Angels as it sounds.  For starters, these ladies are clothed appropriately for December weather in Britain.  Maggie is the dogged, demanding boss, and Tessa and Fred are the agents in the field.

 

In “Powerline,” Tessa and Fred are looking into the mysterious death of another agent.  It seems to have something to do with a nearby military base, and unfortunately for the two women, the most convenient cover is to temporarily join a group of separatists living in the woods.  They ease uncomfortably into outdoor communal living and try to gather intel.

 

One potential source is Capt. Harry Caldicott, played by PC.    A posh lad stationed at the base, Harry has easily-loosened lips and a weakness for beautiful women.  He’s not nearly as smooth as he thinks is, and Tessa makes short work of him.

 

Not a whole lot to report.  Harry is earnest, nearly charming, and sadly inept.  Tessa, for her part, is observant, rock-solid, and unflappably professional.  He doesn’t stand a chance.

 

Major points for lots of strong, smart female characters.  If this show was available on DVD, I’d consider checking out more episodes.

 

Accent Watch

 

Well… I think he might be trying for RP – pretty clipped syllables, and a posher air overall – but the vowels go in and out, and some of the ‘R’s sound very Scottish.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Maybe, if you don’t mind the production values.  Decent story and likable characters.

 

PC-wise – Not necessarily – not much there.  Still, it’s an amusing little turn.

 

Warnings

 

Sexual content and discussion, brief violence, a little drinking, and a few drug references.

Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life (1995)

 

Another PC writer/director double-whammy.  Like with Strictly Sinatra, he’s not in it, and like with Soft Top Hard Shoulder, it’s kind of bonkers and wonderful.  But that’s not the important part.  Did you know that PC is the first Academy Award winner to play the Doctor?  This quirky brainchild earned PC the Oscar for best live-action short in 1995.

 

Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life is a simple tale in its own, crazed way.  Everyone’s favorite lonely German from Prague is holed up in his spartan flat, laboring over the first sentence of Metamorphosis.  Gregor Samsa finds himself transformed into a gigantic something, but Kafka doesn’t know what, and he entertains possibilities between the constant interruptions that eventually lead him to his cockroachian eureka.

 

As far as writing goes, this short is more blatantly absurdist than the previous PC-penned films I’ve seen.  It has a dream-like detachment to it, a madcap careen from odd interlude to odd interlude.  Not as many out-and-out jokes as Soft Top Hard Shoulder, but the writing is still sharp and quick-witted, more in the plotting than the dialogue.

 

The film is directed with a disorienting mix of melancholy and frenzy that fits the story’s atmosphere.  Rapid-fire fantasy sequences sprint through the narrative without fanfare, knocking you off-kilter in that unique way we call Kafkaesque.  Additionally, the production design is nicely constructed; everything has a handmade look to it that puts you in mind of a spookish Michel Gondry.

 

For performances, we have several people who’ve appeared in other projects PC’s written/directed.  Richard E. Grant, our Kafka, cameoed in Strictly Sinatra; he was also Dr. Simeon on Who last season, but personally, I remember him best as Jack Seward in the Gary Oldman version of Dracula.  PC’s wife Elaine Collins, last seen starring in Soft Top Hard Shoulder, appears again, as does Phyllis Logan (side note, since the new series of Downton Abbey just started on Masterpiece – Mrs. Hughes will always rock.)

 

Recommend?

 

In General – I think so.  It’s a little like early Jeunet stuff, and I like the highly-stylized premise of the author trying to begin his most famous work.

 

PC-wise – Definitely.  Good display of PC’s writing and directing talents, and come on – the guy has an Oscar!  Shouldn’t pass this one up.

 

Warnings

 

A hint of menace, and a scene of insect carnage.

Minder: Series 6, Episode 2 – “Life in the Fast Food Lane” (1985)

 

Before Capaldi Winter, I’d seen some British television from the 80s and 90s (classic Who stuff, various series with Fry & Laurie, the odd miniseries here and there,) but nothing like the large cross-section I’ve had lately.  Accustomed as I am to BBC heavyweights like Sherlock, State of Play, and the expanded Whoniverse, it’s interesting to take a peek at all these old series.

 

Minder, evidently, was quite the property in its day, running for 10 seasons between ’79 and ’94.  It starred Dennis Waterman (who showed up previously on the blog as the lead in Stay Lucky) as Terry, an affable hired hand doing jobs for the small-time crook-of-all-trades Arthur.  “Life in the Fast Food Lane” finds Arthur beginning a new venture:  selling car phones that may or may not be of questionable origin and quality. 

 

Arthur’s acquisition of the phones includes Ozzie, an ex-British-Telecom technician played by PC.  Ozzie is immediately deemed a useless waste of space by his new employer – in fact, when Arthur is making his initial deal for the phones, he asks to be assisted by anyone else.  Ozzie, however, knows his way around telephones and grifting, and he proves to be a valuable asset.

 

This is a pretty lightweight role, but it’s a lot of fun.  Par for the course for a lot of the early PC roles I’ve seen so far, Ozzie is energetic, upbeat, and a bit of an oddball.  Our first shot of him in the episode is his leg sticking out the window of a parked car, a bright pink sock visible between his shoes and his trouser cuff.  He takes a laidback approach to his criminal activities, unconcerned when the police start sniffing around.  Perhaps most unforgivable for Arthur, he doesn’t shy away from technical lingo and makes it clear that he considers himself smarter than Arthur.

 

This episode also features a short appearance by Benjamin Whitrow, who we just saw in Tom Jones and is still best known for his great Mr. Bennet in the Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice.

 

Accent Watch

 

Incredibly Scottish, with a little Scottish slang to boot.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Not necessarily.  Enjoyable, but nothing all that special.

 

PC-wise – Possibly.  Ozzie is a fun character, and it always amuses me to see PC as a scrawny 20-something.

 

Warnings

 

A little swearing, some drinking and smoking, a handful of sexual references, and miscellaneous criminal behavior.

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Episode 5 (1997)

 

And so our story draws to a close, mixing all sorts of drama and unfortunate coincidences before reaching its conclusion.  Lady Bellaston, having fallen out with Tom, brings new meaning to the term “hell hath no fury.”  She enlists Lord Fellamar to forever remove Tom from any romantic equation, either through naval conscription or the gallows.  Misunderstandings are made, chance encounters occur, and secrets come to light.

 

As for Sophia, her father and aunt have each championed a prospective fiancée for her, and she can’t stand either of them.  Kept forcibly under a close watch, she has Lord Fellamar thrust before her, offering the promise of land, fortune, and a title.  (Note:  it’s interesting to me that Lord Fellamar is actually in love – or rather, lust – with Sophia.  In stories like this, the Wrong Fiancée is usually only in it for the dowry, all about making the advantageous match.  While it’s true that Sophia’s father is a wealthy squire, Lord Fellamar was head-over-heels before he even knew who she was.  Maybe this sort of romantic villain was more common in the 18^th century?  Admittedly, a lot of the period romances I’ve read are Victorian, which perhaps have different tropes.)

 

Also, I just have to say – Lord Fellamar is involved in one of the best duels I’ve ever seen.  Just stupendous.  Greatest resolution ever.

 

Just a few more actors to mention.  On the Who side, there’s also Ron Cook (Mr. Magpie in series 2’s “The Idiot’s Lantern”) and Rupert Holliday-Evans (Colonel Mace in the Sontaran two-parter from series 4.)  Plus, we can’t forget Frances de la Tour; I’ve seen her in all sorts of things, but I best know her as Madame Maxime, Hagrid’s lady love in the Harry Potter films.

 

Accent Watch

 

RP, as previously stated.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Quite possibly.  It’s a lot of fun, with some delightful performances.  If you like costume dramas and don’t mind all the scandal, it makes for a good watch.

 

PC-wise – I would.  PC is very good in a role that’s somehow absurd and creepy at the same time.

 

Warnings

 

In addition to what I’ve previously mentioned, there’s a question here of possible incest (probably what got the book blamed for an earthquake.)  Nowhere near approaching the kind of stuff you get on Game of Thrones, but it’s still there, and I know that’s a deal-breaker topic for some.

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Episode 4 (1997)

 

Because misunderstandings, prejudice against bastards, and the disapproval of Sophia’s father isn’t enough, further forces in episode 4 conspire to keep the young lovers apart.  Lady Bellaston, the relation in London with whom Sophia is staying, has taken a shine to Tom, and she’d very much like to keep him all to herself.  Her machinations come fast and furious throughout today’s installment.

 

One of the many prongs in her efforts involves Lord Fellamar.  The dandified, powdered snob is determined to “have” Sophia, and he’s willing to do anything to acquire her.  Fortunately for Sophia, he’s not terribly adept, but he’s tenacious as all get-out and keeps turning up as the proverbial bad penny in her life.  Naturally, once Lady Bellaston becomes aware of Lord Fellamar’s intentions, he becomes involved in her schemes.

 

PC is great in this role.  Lord Fellamar, like I said, isn’t adroit enough to seem intimidating on first glance.  However, his obsessive, single-minded focus is unsettling and doesn’t bode well for the heroes.  He’s a not-all-together rational man with a great deal of power, piles of money, and a woman saying no to him.  Despite his ridiculously made-up appearance and foppish manners, all that could spell big trouble.

 

So hey, how about some of the other scads of British actors in this thing?  Today, we have Tom Jones Cast:  Whoniverse Edition.  This miniseries features Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor himself,) Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler,) Lindsay Duncan (Capt. Adelaide Brooke in the Tennant special “The Waters of Mars,”) Roger Lloyd-Pack (John Lumic, creator of the Cybermen in the second series of new Who,) and Brian Blessed (Blackadder is usually my first thought when I see him, but he also played King Yrcanos in one of the “Trial of a Time Lord” stories from the Sixth Doctor’s era.)

 

Accent Watch

 

The RP is pretty good.  I can’t hear much Scottish in it, but there’s something that’s just a little bit off – can’t tell what.

 

Warnings

 

An attempted sexual assault.

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Episode 3 (1997)

 

I read portions of Tom Jones back when I took a Restoration-era lit. class.  Its length kept me from reading past the assigned pages, but I enjoyed it as a microcosm of its period:  sex and scandal mixed with pageantry and propriety.  Evidently, when it came out in 1749, it was considered so shocking that it got the blame for an earthquake.

 

PC shows up halfway through this miniseries, so I’ll bring you quickly up to speed.  Tom Jones, as per the title, is a foundling.  Translation?  Illegitimate.  He’s raised comfortably by one Squire Allworthy and falls in love with the lovely/rich Sophia Western.  However, despite his upbringing, his birth discounts him as a good match.  Certain unscrupulous persons defame his character, and he’s forced to leave home.  Sophia likewise departs, fleeing an odious fiancée, and the two crisscross one another’s paths on their ensuing adventures leading to London.

 

PC’s Lord Fellamar is introduced near the end of episode 3.  Not much is known about him yet.  Henry Fielding, our narrator, identifies him as a villain, and he develops an at-first-sight infatuation with Sophia.  Based chiefly on the height of his wig, I’m assuming he’s rather peacock-ish and is probably even worse for Sophia than the fiancée she ran away from.

 

With such a brief look at Lord Fellamar so far, I don’t have a lot to say.  Still, I anticipate good things.  PC’s turn as Azolan in Dangerous Liaisons proves he can fit in well in 18^th century period pieces, and I bet he’ll be even more fun playing a prissy lord than a manservant.

 

Familiar faces abound, so many that I won’t even list them all here.  I’ll hit the highlights and probably mention more for the remaining two parts of the miniseries.  Sophia is played by the wonderful Samantha Morton.  We also have Michelle Fairley (lately Catelyn Stark on Game of Thrones,) Benjamin Whitrow (Mr. Bennet from the Ehle/Firth Pride and Prejudice,) James D’Arcy (Tom Bertram in the Billie Piper version of Mansfield Park,) and Kelly Reilly (it always makes me smile to see her – I discovered The Spanish Apartment when I was in college.)  Phew!

 

Accent Watch

 

He’s only had a couple lines, shouted in the midst of an uproar.  I’m sure it’s RP, but I’ve yet to pass judgment on it.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Quite possibly, if you don’t mind lots of 18^th-century naughtiness.  Tons of excellent actors having a grand old time in an arch, racy adaptation.

 

PC-wise – Too early to say, but I’m sure the next two episodes will give me more to work with.

 

Warnings

 

Lots of sexual content, including sex scenes, sexual discussion, and nudity.  A brief scene of violence.

Waking the Dead: Series 6, Episode 6 – “The Fall: Part 2” (2007)

 

Not quite sure what I think of the resolution to this story.  It’s a little too busy for my taste, going for convoluted in place of complex.  We ultimately wind up with five or six different plots, each branching out from the central mystery of the two dead bodies.  There’s self-flagellation and biological parent drama, there are gold bars and an ominously-padlocked freezer, there’s a memory of a family enjoying some Jonestown refreshment.  Something for everyone, I guess?

 

For his part, PC does well.  Lucien has some serious crazy going on, and PC offers a good range of insanity:  creepy-crazy, foreboding-crazy, and sad-crazy all get turns in the limelight.  Plus, we see a few flashbacks to Lucien’s life before the murder of the mid-coital couple.  Based on what the episode reveals about Lucien’s history, his mental state was probably just as fractured back then, but it certainly doesn’t come through.  He was a big-shot banker with incredible power; you’d think someone as unstable as Lucien wouldn’t be able to get the opportunities for such career advancement. 

 

But like I said, you don’t see it in the flashbacks.  He’s stressed, and he’s more than a little desperate, but he gives no obvious impression of his mental health issues.  That’s interesting to me.  Was he repressing?  Hiding – putting on a mask so no one would see?  Did he genuinely used to have it more together?  Has he just gone downhill in the past few years?  If he instead addressed his problems, could he have gotten help?  The episode doesn’t answer any of these questions, because it’s not interested in them, but it’s the kind of thing I get curious about.

 

Accent Watch

 

I’m gonna go with RP.  A number of Scottish slips, especially in the vowels, but I think he’s putting something on, and it sounds RP-ish to me.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Not really.  A middling example of its type, and I wasn’t terribly impressed with the writing.

 

PC-wise – Maybe.  PC has lots of screentime and lots to do, but things do get a little scenery-chewing from time to time.

 

Warnings

 

Add in some dark elements from Lucien’s backstory.

Waking the Dead: Series 6, Episode 5 – “The Fall: Part 1” (2007)

 

Another murder mystery – if PC appears on Sherlock anytime soon, I think he’ll have the complete boxed set.  Waking the Dead was a long-running crime procedural about a British cold case division.  Pretty standard fare from what I can tell, nothing too exceptional.  PC guest-stars in this two-part story.

 

In “The Fall,” the bodies of a financier and a journalist are discovered, locked together in a less-than-PG manner.  They were shot, one through the other, back in the ‘90s.  There’s a mysterious set of numbers that potentially ties them to another murder.  More significantly, the whole thing may have its roots in a shadowy religious sect that comes complete with self-flagellation and whispers of conspiracy.

 

One card in the deck of possible killers is Lucien Calvin, played by PC.  He knew the financier back in the day; after doing jail time for fraud-related money mischief, however, Lucien has declared himself a new man.  He now peddles psychoanalysis to bankers and views money as the root of all evil.

 

Also, he’s either totally crazy or pretending to be for reasons unknown.  He’s familiar with Dr. Foley, the team’s criminal profiler, and he in fact gives every appearance of having an unhealthy obsession with her.  Dr. Foley thinks he’s playing them somehow, but isn’t sure why yet.  I don’t know if he’s too obvious to be the murderer, or if he actually did it.  PC does a nice job, although the part is more than a little overwritten for my taste.

 

In the episode’s flashback scenes, I couldn’t figure out where I’d seen the actor playing the murdered financier.  Well, turns out he’s Nigel Whitmey, who’s popped up here and there in small roles.  Most memorable for me, though, was his brief turn as “man who gets his head plungered by a Dalek” in series 1 of Who.

 

Accent Watch

 

With PC, it can be hard to tell the difference between light Scottish and middling RP.  I’m leaning towards Scottish here, but I reserve the right to change it tomorrow if part 2 sways me.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Not necessarily.  It’s a little CSI for me.  Nothing wrong with it, just nothing special.

 

PC-wise – Possibly, depending on how it shakes up.  Whether Lucien is crazy or just faking, PC is committing 100%.  Those eyes, they be crazy eyes.

 

Warnings

 

Violence, sexual content, drug references, and lots of face time given to corpses from the ‘90s.

The Afternoon Play: Series 3, Episode 5 – “The Singing Cactus” (2005)

 

The Afternoon Play is an anthology program, like Dramarama or The Comic Strip Presents, where each episode is its own self-contained story.  “The Singing Cactus” is the first piece I’ve seen from the show, and I enjoyed it a lot.  The title was of course intriguing, and the episode, as it happens, is an odd, sweet coming-of-age tale.

 

John, a fatherless Liverpool lad, has always believed in magic.  Raised on the folktales his dad’s friend Billy used to tell him, John still clings to magic to explain the difficult things in his life.  Lately, much to the chagrin of his therapist, he’s been obsessed with the idea of returning his potted cactus to its home in the New Mexico desert.  It’s a Hopi “singing” cactus, understand: enchanted by a rainmaker and imbued with power.  John is convinced that removing the cactus from its sacred ground has left his family cursed – he blames it for the accident that killed his father when he was a toddler.

 

As Billy Shannon, PC plays the closest thing John has ever had to a father, the only stable male influence amidst his mother’s string of boyfriends.  Together, they talk nature and cowboys and magic.  In everything, Billy tries to look out for John, a trait that John doesn’t always notice or appreciate.

 

Billy is a really engaging, likable character.  He’s an understated friend/father figure, and PC radiates warmth in the role.  Whether Billy and John are joking, talking seriously, or arguing, the dynamic between them is excellent.  Also, Billy is into Morris dancing, an old-fashioned type of English folkdance that comes complete with outfits to wear and handkerchiefs to wave stylishly.

 

Last note – “The Singing Cactus” has a fantastic soundtrack that it puts to good use.  In addition to really nice covers of “Wonderwall” and “Let It Be,” it includes the Johnny Cash version of “Hurt” (which I always adore.)

 

Accent Watch

 

Since this story takes place in Liverpool, we’re talking Scouse.  Middling, I’d say – the vowels sound pretty good, but it doesn’t seem to maintain that particular cadence that Scouse accents have.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Yes; I enjoyed this quite a bit.  Likeable characters, an interesting story, and some fine acting.

 

PC-wise – I think so.  PC does a really nice job with this appealing role.

 

Warnings

 

A little drinking and smoking, and a few light sexual references.