And we bring series 1 of Staged to a close. Apparently, series 2 is already airing in the U.K., but I’m not sure when it’ll be available on this side of the pond, so I’ll jump to another Doctor for next week’s Other Doctor Lives and check back in with Staged at a later date. It’s a really fun series, so it’ll be nice to see more, but I’m sure David Tennant, Michael Sheen, and all involved were hopeful that the pandemic wouldn’t go on long enough to warrant a second season.
The simmering issues, both personal and professional, that have been getting in the way of rehearsals from the beginning are coming to a head. Simon is afraid that either David or Michael are ready to pull out of the play altogether and that, once one leaves, the other will follow. Luckily, his producer Jo has a very impressive ace up her sleeve.
As with episode 3, I don’t want to spoil who the big guest star is in this episode. Even though I’ve likened the show’s guest-star-playing-themselves usage to Extras, there is something different about the particular place of the guest stars within the plot. On Extras, each episode is named for the celebrity guest star, and their presence is basically the point. “What’s Daniel Radcliffe gonna do on Extras?”, “How are Andy and Maggie going to interact with Kate Winslet?”, and so forth. But on Staged, with the really big names, they like to go for the dramatic Zoom reveal, so I’m not going to say who it is in this episode. I will say, though, that David and Michael are completely bowled over. The entire scene, they range from nervous and starstruck to pretending they’re on equal footing even though they both know they’re categorically not. I enjoy it when celebrities are fans of one another, so this is a lot of fun, and the guest star performs her role with aplomb.
As for the rest of the episode, on its own as well as in the context of a season finale, I like how they draw things to a close. In amongst the humor, there’s a wistfulness but also a warmth. I know I keep saying this, but again, it captures the spirit of quarantine very well. I think a lot of people have spent much of their time wrapped up in their own worries and difficulties, manufacturing these attempts at digital connection that often just serve to remind them how stuck they are in their own homes. But then, something’s able to break through the anxiety or the disconnection or the moodiness, and people can come together and have it feel real, feeling almost normal for however long it lasts. I really like that.
Also? Very funny. In addition to the aforementioned guest-star scene, Tennant and Sheen are in their usual prime form. I especially like the opening scene of the two of them comparing what they miss in lockdown, leading into a fun bit of them reminiscing about how pampered they are on set. I’ve probably said this every week, but I just love how they play off of each other. There’s a great dynamic between them where they’re frequently sniping at each other and getting under one another’s skin, and yet they’re also very much “in this together.” I’m sure it’s not the easiest mix to pull off, but it’s endlessly watchable.
Wrapping up series 1, then! Here are my closing thoughts.
Accent Watch
So very, very Scottish (no matter what Adrian Lester says!)
Recommend?
In General – Yes. Fun and relatable, and a nice addition to the list of strong creative work produced in quarantine.
David Tennant – For sure. Tennant is really funny here, endearing in his willingness to make fun of himself. He, along with Sheen, have brought me a lot of entertainment with this series.
Warnings
Language, drinking, and thematic elements.
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