Sunday, August 17, 2014

Mr. Wakefield’s Crusade: Episode 2 (1992)

 
In episode 2, “more than a little off” increasingly becomes Luke’s dominant trait.  The man is rapidly unraveling at the edges, thanks to the one-two punch of his crusade and a lot of unfinished business with his ex-wife.  The police have picked up the Marion trail, and Luke is convinced that they’re wrongfully trying to string him up for the murder.  As such, he can add paranoid to his laundry list of neuroses, which also includes unhinged, hypochondriac, and delusional.  If he doesn’t solve his mystery in the final episode, the guy might actually implode.
 
Even aside from the obvious mental instability, Luke and his story continue to be tons of fun.  This episode involves surreptitious calls to an anonymous tip line, a sanatorium siesta, and the full undercover monty (we’re talking hair dye and false mustaches – Luke don’t mess around.)  There’s also a brief appearance from Miranda Richardson (Queenie!) as a prostitute/potential lead, and I should mention the late Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon from Harry Potter) in a supporting role as the porter for Luke’s building.  The jocular doorman seems well-meaning and friendly, but Luke clearly regards him as one of several banes of his existence.
 
PC is delightfully off-kilter in this, just balls-out crazy but still kind of sweet and sympathetic.  While I don’t know if this role could unseat any of my top ten performances of his, it could definitely make its way into the top twenty.  I’m so glad that PC’s casting as the Doctor has brought these little-known projects to light, because some of them are really great.  It’s wild, the kind of stuff that can slip through the media cracks (although at least PC’s work has survived better than the Second Doctor’s!)
 
Plus, that hair ought to have its own screen credit.  Ah, the ‘90s…
 
Warnings
 
Add prostitution to the sexual content – no sex scenes, but plenty of talk and implications.

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