stevenm-07117 Reviews

Prison Break (2005–2017)

The Show That Stayed Too Long

[8/10 · 6 November 2021]

A common problem with American TV series is that they start off with a brilliant premise, but due to a turnover of writing and production staff along with the pressure of having to renew the series until the network no longer wants it, they increasingly deteriorate in quality and focus as time goes on.

Prison Break was a prime example of this, the first season being such a detailed and well thought-out attempt of one brilliant mind to free his brother from an execution he didn't deserve that the sudden addition of nine more episodes ordered by Fox only expanded the story even more dramatically and successfully. I don't want to give away too much, but never before or since have I felt gripping televised tension like watching the 20th and 21st episodes for the first time.

The second season, focused more on an outside world push for justice, would probably have been the perfect note to end the show on, although for committed fans the third seasons is an entertaining encore of central character Michael Scofield putting his escape artistry to use in a much more basic but also much more dangerous environment.

The fourth season is just bits and pieces of ideas thrown together, as is the fifth revival season.

A ten for season one, a nine for the first two seasons and an eight when throwing in everything that follows whilst paying respect to just how brilliantly it started.

Jonathan Creek (1997–2016)

Dial M for Magnificent

[9/10 · 2 January 2020]

David Renwick had demonstrated his talents for writing intricate, dark comedies with One Foot in the Grave and transferred those qualities to the murder mystery genre for Jonathan Creek.

Comedian Alan Davies had never done any acting prior his casting in the central role, but he made the perfect choice as the friendly yet cynical, calm yet occasionally incredulous, somewhat eccentric yet popular magician's creative genius with a talent for solving complex locked room killings and time shift slayings.

The show did decline in quality after the 2010 special 'The Grinning Man', but only the three episode fifth series is truly worth avoiding.

The Simpsons (1989– )

What Used To Be

[10/10 · 2 January 2020]

The Simpsons has been increasingly maligned for the past twenty years and frankly, justifiably so. But there's a reason this long-running show gets more flack for a decline in quality than any other: during its' first decade, which is what I've based my ten stars on, this was the greatest American sitcom of all-time and one of the greatest ever made worldwide.

In the '90s, this show could make you howl with laughter, but occasionally warm or even break your heart. Back then, celebrity guests were used wisely and sparingly, rather than just being written into lackluster scenarios for the sake of having them. It was thoughtful in a way that most U.S. shows could not grasp and they made no secret of their awareness of that fact, which endeared them to the public even more.

Advice to new viewers: stick to seasons 1-8, 9 and 10 are a decent encore. There, you'll find this once colossal show in its' original brilliant form.

One Foot in the Grave: Hearts of Darkness (1993) Season 4, Episode 3

Another Place Where Victor Can't Settle Down

[10/10 · 29 December 2019]

Even by One Foot standards, this is an absolute pinnacle. As if treating us to 20 minutes of the Meldrews, Mrs. Warboys and Mr. Sweeney somehow turn a countryside visit into pure, hilarious misery wasn't enough, we then get to see Victor do what any decent person who has ever heard horror stories about abusive care homes would love to.

Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)

A Hotel That Welcomes Everyone...Except Customers

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

Having reset the boundaries on what was possible in sketch comedy with Monty Python, John Cleese then teamed up with wife Connie Booth to change the rules of sitcom. Even a divorce at the halfway point couldn't stop them from creating a show that had a short lifespan, but made the most of every second.

Hotel owner Basil Fawlty just cannot get anything right; either the guests are genuinely likable but not to his rather conservative tastes, or they're genuinely unlikable and he is even less equipped to deal with them than wife Sybil, waitress Polly or Spanish waiter Manuel. The hygiene and safety standards are poor and that's before you get anywhere near chef Terry's filthy kitchen, with out-of-date cuisine to match.

At Basil's most exasperating moments, Cleese used his astounding physical comedic talents to great effect, while his near-constant verbal complaining about the world around him undoubtedly paved the way for future iconic anti-hero characters with a flare for increasingly embarrassing situations such as Victor Meldrew and Alan Partridge.

Cleese and Booth proved that quality was better than quantity if all the pieces fit together neatly enough, it's a limited run template that writers such as Ricky Gervais and James Corden have followed in the 21st century.

A legitimate classic.

One Foot in the Grave: The Wisdom of the Witch (1995) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

Dreadin' Edwin

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

The 1995 Christmas special featured the first 'false finish' to One Foot in the Grave, David Renwick honestly not knowing when he would end the show from one episode to the next.

Being snowed in doesn't feel comfortable at the best of times, but imagine spending that time at a creepy old property whose owner has recently passed away, with their pet tarantula roaming the premises.

Patrick and Pippa may have finally been able to move away from Victor Meldrew, but he isn't going to let them escape to freedom quietly.

One Foot in the Grave: The Man Who Blew Away (1994) Season 5, Episode 1

Start Laughing, With All Your Blessed Might

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

The opening episode of Series Five doubles as the 1994 Christmas Special and from dreadful returned cars to an unwanted visit from Mr. Foskett, David Renwick kept the quality high and the laughs coming.

Mostly an absolute riot, this episode also has one of the show's saddest ever conclusions, reminding the audience that people they might find incredibly irritating have their demons too.

One Foot in the Grave: Dreamland (1992) Season 3, Episode 2

Margaret In Margate

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

In a tea shop, Mrs. Warboys decides to spill the story of Margaret's uncharacteristic behaviour and brief disappearance around a year earlier.

Two bits of attention to detail: the cream three piece suite - stolen in 'Monday Morning Will Be Fine' - appears in the Meldrews' sitting room for the final time as most of the episode is set several months before that episode, whilst Margaret's reference to Victor buying a Noel Edmonds sweater suggests that the flashback begins several hours after the events of 'Timeless Time'.

One Foot in the Grave: In Luton Airport No-One Can Hear You Scream (1990) Season 2, Episode 1

Back With A Literal Bang

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

Written primarily due to a royalty dispute with the real life occupants of the Meldrews' original house, Series Two opens at the conclusion of their Athens holiday, discovering that catastrophic damage to their new home has forced a move elsewhere. In a nice bit of attention to detail, the early scenes - set several months before the majority of the episode - have Annette Crosbie with Margaret's Series One hairstyle, before being changed to a shorter cut that would predominantly be her trademark for the rest of the show's run.

This episode also sees the re-introduction and full-time casting of Mr. Sweeney as the Meldrews' new next door neighbour, the character having proved very popular in 'Alive and Buried'.

One Foot in the Grave: The Big Sleep (1990) Season 1, Episode 2

Plastic Hips And Funerary Quips

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

Whilst 'Alive and Buried' did a great job of introducing the Meldrews, Mrs. Warboys and (inadvertently at the time) Mr. Sweeney, the grim reality of death was only touched upon. 'The Big Sleep' visibly sets the tone for a series that would openly pride itself on bringing humorous darkness to the suburbs. You'll never approach a fitness class in the same way again, especially the instructor.

One Foot in the Grave: Comic Relief Special: Visiting Uncle Dick (2001) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

An Encore Of Sorts

[5/10 · 28 December 2019]

This charity special, though being the absolute last televised One Foot In The Grave broadcast, is not exactly the show's finest offering and David Renwick publicly admits that himself, having been given a limited amount of time to come up with something presumably after Series Six was already in the can.

I've never judged the Comic Relief/Children in Need shorts by the standards of the regular series, because they are after all just mini segments in aid of a very good cause, but this is probably the only one that is the most disposable viewing experience.

However, right at the very end, a revelation that hits Victor hard and lets the audience know exactly when this short is set, does pack a sad punch. Watch for absolute completism, but like those Christmas fan club albums The Beatles used to cobble together, not essential.

One Foot in the Grave: Threatening Weather (2000) Season 6, Episode 4

Self-contained Joy at One Man's Misery

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

Doing a full sixth series meant reviving the customary 'trapped in one place during real time' story usually reserved for the fourth or fifth episode. This time, the Meldrews are quite literally in the dark, with no electric lights and no power fans to cool them on a boiling summer's day.

Falling lampshades, ludicrous newspaper articles, caps that may have rather more than a cigarette burn in them and a horrendous scented candle are just some of the absurdities endured by Victor and Margaret during the opening 25 minutes inside the house, to say nothing of what Victor discovers in his car outside.

But these episodes are more famous for their bittersweet conclusions than others and this is no exception, an elderly neighbour concerned about the health of his wife leading to some painful memories being stirred for Margaret.

A much more satisfying conclusion to the self-contained episodes than 'Rearranging The Dust' would have been.

One Foot in the Grave: The Executioner's Song (2000) Season 6, Episode 1

The Other Foot Begins To Step In

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

After a three year absence from television and with no full series in more than five, could David Renwick still find the magic for one final run? The answer, emphatically, was yes, as One Foot in the Grave finally returned just as good as ever, if slightly more gritty to reflect changing times both culturally and in televised comedy.

The rise of critics who pick apart absolutely anything, underground Chinese brothels, oddball reality shows and inexplicably popular 'modern' art are all lampooned brilliantly through the increasingly despairing eyes of Victor Meldrew, who's already got enough on his plate with the delayed arrival of some wallpaper for the spare bedroom. Naturally, he's upset the providers and without wishing to give any spoilers, as the preview image of this episode may suggest, they've responded.

This might be the beginning of the end, but the journey will be gloriously bumpy.

One Foot in the Grave: The Dawn of Man (2000) Season 6, Episode 5

The Party Before The Tears

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

There are essentially two 'finales' to One Foot in the Grave: whilst 'Things Aren't Simple Anymore' is the absolute last episode, presented in a different way for reasons that will become obvious when watched, 'The Dawn of Man' is in essence the final hurrah for the regular run of this exceptional comedy and most of its' regular characters, only Mrs. Warboys is absent.

While Patrick and Pippa provide several comedy elements, from brothers to wine corks to video misunderstandings, Mr. Sweeney is placed into a situation that shows a very different side to him, one which demonstrates that underneath all the positivity, eagerness to help and charity tombolas, worries about the level of fulfillment in his life and loneliness in his old age. It's another sign of concern about the future, death and the end that crops up often during this final series.

But of course, there's plenty of the usual mishaps, such as Victor getting himself very much on the wrong side of a potential new neighbour that, let's just say, isn't exactly the embodiment of suburbia.

One Foot in the Grave: Things Aren't Simple Any More (2000) Season 6, Episode 6

The End Of The Line

[9/10 · 28 December 2019]

Finishing a beloved series of any kind is never easy and One Foot in the Grave isn't immune from that. Before continuing any further, while I don't like giving away spoilers in my reviews, I need to establish one thing immediately: Victor dies. Clearly doesn't think of this as any kind of secret, it's written very plainly in their own mini overview of the episode. What I won't reveal is HOW that happens.

I will touch on overall reaction to it and the episode in general. Inevitably public opinion was and to this day remains very much divided. Personally, I think it's a slightly ironic but fitting ending that suits the tone of Victor Meldrew and the series in general, with audiences left to make up their own mind over Margaret's decisions (I'll go no further there) towards the end of the episode.

I feel that the episode's format of moving between the present and the past works well, while the closing montage is a lovely touch on two levels: One Foot ends on a relatively jolly note after an inevitable somberness at many points, whilst we finally get to see some of the more ridiculous things that Victor would often moan about after he got home later.

This show went out on top, David Renwick did absolutely the right thing in ending the series in a way that meant he couldn't be pestered into bringing back, inevitably diluting a masterwork of not only his career, but also televised situation comedy. As Richard Wilson said at the time: "Goodbye, Victor."

One Foot in the Grave: The Trial (1993) Season 4, Episode 5

Verdict: Excellent

[10/10 · 28 December 2019]

Of all the brilliantly written One Foot in the Grave episodes, this might well be David Renwick's crowning achievement. The plot isn't hugely elaborate, but thirty solid minutes of Victor Meldrew talking to himself - and in a sense, at the Fourth Wall - works spectacularly well in this one-off setting.

Even in most of the all-time great sitcoms, it's difficult to imagine an entire episode of Basil Fawlty or Frank Spencer by themselves working seamlessly, without having their beleaguered wives or other characters to bounce off at some point - indeed, the Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em writers once tried and got about halfway before needing Betty (I'm aware that reference to this show won't make sense for every reader).

Obviously Annette Crosbie is absent for this one, the feint mumble of Mrs. Warboys on the phone for a few seconds is about the only regular 'company' Richard Wilson is given. From leaky pens and madcap crosswords to toilets and loaves of bread with - no spoilers - unusual inhabitants, via political musings and letters to estranged brothers, Victor keeps himself bored and the audience totally entertained as he awaits jury service on a rainy day.

One Foot in the Grave: Rearranging the Dust (1995) Season 5, Episode 4

Rare, Slight Slip in Standards

[7/10 · 28 December 2019]

If there is one single episode of this phenomenal comedy classic that isn't quite up to the usual level, it's 'Rearranging The Dust'. Now please don't get me wrong, by the standards of most comedies it is still very enjoyable, but by OFitG standards it's a bit below par.

Perhaps intended by David Renwick as a more experimental effort, this being the customary 'stuck in one place, set in real time' offering that every series bar the first had, there's more slapstick and odd sound effects than usual for this show, plus a few of the gags don't quite hit their usual mark.

But with that said, there are still a fair number of Victor moments to enjoy and as is also often the case with the self-contained episode, the relatively serious incite into the Meldrews' lives is a wonderful piece of bittersweet dialogue.

Watch it, but be warned that it's not what you might normally expect.

Red Dwarf (1988– )

Don't Like Dwarf? Off!!

[9/10 · 26 December 2019]

Back in the '80s, you either did science fiction or you did sitcom, one didn't compliment the other. Then Red Dwarf came along.

A big space ship lost three million years from Earth, with all the dangerous planets, aliens and cyborgs that could entail, is really window dressing for relatively grounded British comedic fun, although subjects such as time travel or cloning do frame many episodes.

Dave Lister is the 22nd century equivalent of a lazy but likeable dole scroungers who reverses his way into the lowest ranking job on a space mission; Arnold Rimmer a much less likeable man of slightly higher social standing, but nowhere near as prestigious as he'd love to kid himself or others. They're as odd a couple as TV could ever produce, but forced together by circumstances, have to learn to barely tolerate each other.

The show has changed in style and tone many times over different eras and series. I felt that going more cinematic from series 7 onwards was a mistake, the true charm and indeed point of Red Dwarf is that it was low budget space travel, part of the humour.

A largely subservient yet occasionally sassy android named Kryten and Holly, a 'supercomputer' who considers its' questionable IQ to be "a load of old Tottenham" add to the fun, as does the Cat, a human-like feline evolution that fashions himself as James Brown with pointy teeth and even sharper clothes.

Even august 'serious' sci-fi performers such as Patrick Stewart are fans of the show.

One Foot in the Grave (1990–2001)

An All-time Classic. Beliiiiieeeeeeve It!!

[10/10 · 26 December 2019]

One Foot In The Grave is arguably the most tightly written sitcom of all-time, only Fawlty Towers could really contest that. And whilst John Cleese and Connie Booth could 'only' conjure up twelve immaculate gems, David Renwick managed an entire six series' worth, plus a number of Christmas specials, on his own. The only relatively disposable offerings were the Children in Need/Comic Relief specials, but those were 5-10 minute shorts hastily drafted for a very good cause.

We kid ourselves as the viewer that everything Victor Meldrew finds hilariously irritating about the world - from littering to vandals, car mechanics to madcap neighbours - relates mostly to curmudgeonly pensioners, yet the truth is anybody from their 20s onwards can relate.

It's a dark, occasionally surreal comedy posing as a traditional suburban sitcom, groundbreaking for its' time.

The final episode - NO SPOILERS - polarised opinion, but then finales often do and in my view, fits the tone that One Foot always chased.

Richard Wilson still hears regular "I DON'T BELIEVE IT"s during stage performances and walks down the street, almost 20 years after he last portrayed Victor. That was the level of impact One Foot had on British culture.

Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas (2019) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

Not One Step Lost

[10/10 · 26 December 2019]

This could have been a disaster, a lukewarm retread of a show that had its' prime a decade ago. Instead, the time and care that James Corden and Ruth Jones put into this script was well worth the effort, it's the first time in a very long time that a returning or even hyped comedy of any kind has delivered in spades, it's the most watched Christmas broadcast in Britain for over a decade.

Every character has retained their original charm, a little older but fundamentally unchanged. Without risking spoilers, I liked the fact that a couple of predictable comedy/Christmas tropes - to be brief, relationship struggles and cookery calamities - were addressed and then resolved, so that they didn't get in the way of more interesting plot and gags.

I'm delighted that political correctness wasn't adhered to during the karaoke scene, everyday working class people use 'unacceptable' words all the time without meaning huge offence. Readers will either know which bit I'm talking about by now or at least know when they see it.

Most of all, I was pleasantly surprised that James Corden remembered how to portray Smithy, fears that he'd be more like his late show persona in the States were quashed very quickly.

The conclusion - again, no spoilers - is a clever quasi cliffhanger that could either be left to viewer interpretation forevermore or set up future specials.

Well done James AND Ruth. Lush.