1 review
S1: Bit uneven in tone and not wholly successful in its characters
Although I have not read the book that this show is based on, I have been a longtime fan of Danny Baker, whether it be his old Radio 1 show (playing Smoke on the Water on various objects), through to his current Five Live show. The sense of wonder and fun in his stories and those he has others tell tends to be what engages me, as he does have a passion for his memories. The first season (for there will be another) of this show has a good stab at conveying the sense of wonder and fun of growing up in this environment, but yet also has a run at getting through the filter of memory and providing something which also has genuine pathos to it.
In doing this it is a bit uneven in its tone, with a mix of the comedic and serious across the episodes. It doesn't quite feel like the show is flitting back and forward on this, but it doesn't manage to convince as a consistent approach. I guess part of this is that it does bounce around in a chaotic life, and have events from Baker's teenage self, and even from his father. The mixture does have a lot to like, but at the same time it is not as compelling on a character or narrative level as it may have been. The cast mostly help to counter this, with of course Peter Kaye leading the cast very well with a solid performance of real presence and character. The supporting turns are not always served as well, but there are not really any real weak links.
There is enough here to look forward to a second season to see what it does, but at the same time the show never threatens my preference for the way Baker tells the stories in his other media outlets.
In doing this it is a bit uneven in its tone, with a mix of the comedic and serious across the episodes. It doesn't quite feel like the show is flitting back and forward on this, but it doesn't manage to convince as a consistent approach. I guess part of this is that it does bounce around in a chaotic life, and have events from Baker's teenage self, and even from his father. The mixture does have a lot to like, but at the same time it is not as compelling on a character or narrative level as it may have been. The cast mostly help to counter this, with of course Peter Kaye leading the cast very well with a solid performance of real presence and character. The supporting turns are not always served as well, but there are not really any real weak links.
There is enough here to look forward to a second season to see what it does, but at the same time the show never threatens my preference for the way Baker tells the stories in his other media outlets.
- bob the moo
- Mar 5, 2016
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