At this point in the series, we basically know what we’re in for with each episode. Hilarious bits that are wildly random and #QuarantineRelatable, theatre/acting jokes, and delightful comedic chemistry between David Tennant and Michael Sheen, with the bonus option of a fun guest star turn. This episode has all of the above.
Still struggling to get Michael and David to trust in his authority, Simon has brought in a wringer: actor Adrian Lester, who he’s worked with before. Simon brings Adrian on board for a Zoom rehearsal before even figuring out what role Adrian would play, in the hopes that Adrian will talk him up to David and Michael. As usual, other demands and distractions of lockdown life get in the way of their creative pursuits.
I haven’t seen Lester in a ton of things, but he’s made me sit up and take notice ever since I saw him as Oliver in the 2006 As You Like It movie. He’s awesome here, bringing the “theatre with a capital ‘R E’” pretentious-actor vibes hard. The Zoom session between him, David, and Michael is fantastic, especially the bit where he lectures them on the value of acting with their native accents (which, of course, both Tennant and Sheen have been doing for the whole series, since they’re playing versions of themselves.)
I like that, while the show continues to be plenty funny, it weaves in small, more serious moments that show the wear and tear of quarantine of everyone’s psyches. Throughout the series, we’ve seen that even the people who appear/profess to have it the most together probably don’t, and Michael in particular is thrown for a loop in this episode.
I’ve mentioned my love of David’s characterization before, but it bears repeating. I really like the dynamic of him being less cerebral than most of the theatre folk he interacts with and insecurely trying to pretend he’s keeping pace with them at times. He’s frequently in that role with Michael and Simon, and throwing Adrian into the mix cranks the intellectualism up so high that Michael shows a rare bit of solidarity with David, sharing these “can you get a load of this guy?” looks between them (the moment when Michael mimicks Adrian’s entreaty for David to use “a bit less RP” in his delivery makes me laugh out loud.) I also really like David’s obvious ignorance about Ulysses as everyone else compares readings.
When it comes to actors being willing to make fun of themselves, this is a commendable performance. I think it’s probably a little easier on the ego to take Michael’s role, that of the overly-pretentious actor who thinks he’s always right and is more than a little vainglorious. But David’s characterization, while not outright dumb, is definitely a step or two behind the others, and what’s more, he’s pretty needy about desiring everyone’s approval. That’s a slightly more humbling portrayal for an actor who’s playing himself, and I appreciate how game Tennant is in futilely trying to prove he’s just as smart as Michael or fishing for affirmations from his wife while she’s getting shit done.
Also, Tennant provides the biggest laugh of the episode for me. When an unexpected bit of ridiculousness is dropped into a more serious scene, his wordless reaction is just everything. I busted up, so funny!
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