Friday 28 January 2011

Class of 2011

2007, I'm finding my independence at University, being simultaneously grown up and enjoyably childish at the same time, drinking, partying and embracing the freedom. Then E4 go and premiere a TV programme where a load of 16 year olds have beaten me too it and are seemingly making a better job of it. I'm talking about skins, E4's massively unrealistic, but incredibly watchable teenage drama; back for its fifth series this week with a brand new cast.


Something about a new series of skins always excites me - from the clever advertising to the anticipation of seeing what new characters the writers will come up with. And there was even more pressure this year to come up with an exciting new bunch of sixth-formers.


While the second generation were great (far better than the first) there were obvious comparisons between the two. The writers seemed to follow a noticeable formula: the slightly dorky one - Syd/JJ, the gay one Maxxie/Emily & Naomi, the pilled up one Chris/Cook etc. and when the new cast pictures were released, people quickly commented things like ‘he has the looks like Freddie but the personality of Cook’.


Comparisons were always going to be made so it was important that the writers came up with something different. While at the moment there isn’t much to be said about most of the cast they’ve certainly thrown us a couple of interesting curveballs in the form of non-gender specific Frankie Fitzgerald and mysterious Matty - whose few words during a brief encounter with Frankie were more intriguing than anything the rest of the cast said put together.


For an introductory episode, the ratio of screen time was strangely weighted; giving more attention to the girls, leaving the lads attempting to provide some comic relief. However, the relationship between Frankie and ‘the Plastics’ was well established. And the Carrie-esque changing room scene cleverly foreshadowed the prank to be played on Frankie later on in the episode. The changing of relationships from start to finish - with a clear divide emerging - could provide an interesting, and ultimately more realistic group dynamic this series.


(Along with Carrie, there were a couple of other clever nods to teen films, such as Mean Girls & Donnie Darko)


Music, as ever, played its part in the storytelling. Music from upcoming bands fleshed out the soundtrack while Frankie Goes To Hollywood was played for laughs. The cleverly ironic use of Fergie’s ‘Glamorous’ as Frankie entered the party more than made up for her incredibly obvious and slightly tacky burning of societal norms in the form a sequinned dress.


All in all, this was generally a well written, funny, and at times moving intro episode, which has left me wanting to know more about some of the characters who weren’t given as much attention as the others. It didn’t ‘wow’ as much as previous series openers have, but something about its simplicity took me back to when Tony first woke up and introduced us to his world.


Frankie’s battle to find friends, but be accepted as an individual rather than a carbon copy, coupled with Minnie’s jealousy over her new ‘rival’ should provide some different avenues to explore, and it will interesting to see how this year’s crop of kids make their mark.


It may be ridiculous at times (though that may be because I can detach myself - I’m an Inbetweener at heart) and it may enjoy exploiting its bad reputation (skins parties, drugs, sex, violence), but the show deals with a lot of issues that teenagers face - mental illness (eating disorders, aspergers) sexual orientation, substance abuse, death. Like it or not, it’s far more culturally relevant, and representative of our society than any of the teen dramas imported from America and for that reason, it should be praised, and watched, and just enjoyed for what it is.

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Moffat vs. Moffat

2010: Year of the Tiger. That’s if you’re up to date on your Chinese Astrology. If, like me, you’re not, and all you care about is TV then 2010 was the Year of the Moff.

With two flagship BBC shows under his belt – Sherlock and Doctor Who – Steven Moffat’s reign over British TV in 2010 was supreme. The task of taking over as executive producer and head writer on Who probably seemed daunting enough to many (How would Matt Smith fare against David Tennant? Would the series live up to fan expectation? Was it going to be full of "Blinks"?). But Moffat took it all in his stride and also found time to co-create a new, revamped, 21st century relevant incarnation of the world’s greatest detective.

And neither of the shows suffered at the hands of the other. 9 Million viewers tuned in to see Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman solve a Study in Pink and 10 Million viewers watched as newly regenerated Matt Smith crashed to Earth changed the life of little Amelia Pond and made tweed and bowties (and Fezes) cool again.

But which was better? That’s up to the British viewing public to decide as Steven Moffat goes head to head with…well himself…in two categories of this year’s National Television Awards.

I say with himself – let’s just clarify this. Here’s how the two categories stand:

Drama

Doctor Who / Shameless / Sherlock / Waterloo Road

Drama Performance

Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) / Philip Glenister (Ashes to Ashes) / David Jason (A Touch ofFrost) / Matt Smith(Doctor Who)

In the Drama category, Waterloo Road can probably be written off. It is a little bit ‘soap-y’ and the final episodes had viewing figures half the size of Sherlock and Who. Shameless, for me, has past its prime and while it continues to produce good scripts, and the series length has doubled since it’s initial outing (and is still growing), it has lost some of the initial charm.

Drama Performance is a little bit more tricky, but considering that Smith & Cumberbatch are new to their characters I think they are more likely to be recognised for putting in a good performance.

Ok, that cleared up (or at least swept under the rug), who will win; The Doctor or the Detective?

Drama

I’m going to give this one to Sherlock. There was something extremely clever about this 3 part series that makes it stand out in this category; something a little different from the usual stuff we see on TV. (TV bosses take note – there are no courtroom dramas starring James Nesbitt in this category. What does that tell you?!) .

While Doctor Who series 5 was great drama and entertainment, it stuck rigidly to the formula of other series’ and didn't offer up anything particularly different. This was expected, and welcomed, because with all the new changes in cast and crew (and horrible power-ranger Daleks) to stray too far from what we know and love could have been alienating to viewers.

Sherlock on the other hand was the perfect platform to bring back someone who we know and love and send him charging into the 21st Century. Viewers new to Holmes were welcomed with open arms, but there was so much extra content in for die hard fans that it was always going to be a hit. Sherlock wins this round.

Drama Performance

Tough decision, but I’m giving this one to Matt Smith. Cumberbatch and Freeman both won initial nominations before the shortlist; and rightly so, they made a formidable duo. But there is something about Smith – his searching eyes, the way he uses his hands, his ability to command a scene (even against the likes of the legendary Sir Gambon).

The moment that won it for him was from a two part Silurian episode. Smith seems to be able to look past the obvious delivery of a line, and choose a way of doing it that is so perfect for his incarnation of the character:
Alaya [A Silurian]: I am the last of my species!

The Doctor: No, you’re really not. Because I’m the last of my species, and I know how that sits in a heart. So don’t insult me.
While Tennant’s ‘last of the Time Lords’ might have made a big emotional fuss about this line, Smith’s quiet, controlled anger made it more poignant.

Following Tennant was never going to be easy, or so everyone thought, but Smith seemed to just walk straight into the role. He instantly embodied the Doctor. That makes it sound like he didn’t put any effort in, but it’s like anyone doing a job – if you’re exceptionally good at what you do, you make it look easy. And that’s why Smith wins this one.

And Who does Steven Moffat want to win? “For all those of you who have asked, I will only be happy with an exact draw. I'm counting on you all.”. Sorry Steven, I can’t rig a draw. Nor can I promise you this prediction will come true, but I reckon you’ll get one for each this year. As I said, Year of the Tiger, who's motto is "I Win".

See if I'm right (and gloat if I'm wrong) on ITV, Wednesday 26th January, 2011