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On the whole enjoyable, leaning more into the drama than the previous series, but with some wonderfully comic moments throughout. It’s not that I dislike Lenny Rush elsewhere, but yeah, you really remember why he’s hitting it big when you watch him in this. I think I still don’t fully buy some of the character motives, which is difficult when, as mentioned, it starts to care more about plot than comedy, but it just about holds up that end.
Had my doubts before it started - Amanda not being my favourite character in Motherland - but this so quickly falls into the strengths of the original that you could easily have kept the title. Siobhan McSweeney is so very good as a stand-out in an excellent ensemble, and Peter Serafinowicz throws the whole thing into a new loop. I would watch this for years.
More two-episode miniseries, please. Or, I mean, just make it a film? I dunno. The kind of show that is absolutely reliant on the performance of its leads, and luckily both Coogan and Walter show up. Walter especially, given the long list of previous Thatchers. I don’t know if it really says much about the rise and fall of long-form political interviews on television, but it’s entertaining to watch another Thatcher downfall.
Still watching
As the rest of it does, admittedly, get stale, Dictionary Corner remains arguably one of the best showcases of comedians who don’t quite make sense in the panel show format. Take, for example, Ewins - he needs the tech, that’s his USP, and that would never fly on Mock The Week or WILTY or anything. But a space of just “you get three minutes with no constraints within the format”? Perfect. Him, Campbell, The Delightful Sausage, ABK. And, of course, the show’s poet in residence, Dr. John Cooper Clarke.
Still watching
Still watching
Took about an episode to ramp up, but it grows from a lot of deliciously written lines, to wonderful scenes, to tightly drawn and lived-in characters. A charmingly bleak little thing.
I think it must be about 7 years since I last watched this, and I love how happy I am every time I remember a character. Much soapier than I remember, and I don’t mind it! The music is gorgeous. David Lynch passed away between us starting to (re)watch this and finishing this season, so that’s added a whole new weight to it.
A cracking edition of this, to be fair. A good cast who enjoy the studio and can relax into themselves. Would I want a full series with them? Maybe not, but that’s what this is for.
Oh god, it’s still one of the best things on TV. Claudia Winkleman is perfect for it and I cannot believe the formula keeps working. The producers are definitely playing with the contestants’ expectations more, which is a lot of fun.