As fans of this show will know, the BBC press release for this show is:
"A comedy drama series about three twenty-something housemates trying to live normal lives in Bristol, despite struggling with unusual afflictions - one is a werewolf, one is a vampire and the other is a ghost." (BBC Website)
Now to call this a comedy drama pushes this in the wrong direction. You'd expect laugh-a-minute gags, which just isn't so. That doesn't mean it isn't funny, you just could not place it in the same category as Friends, Frasier or Will and Grace - That would be crime! Personally I would classify this as a Horror/Drama with dark comic undertones similar in style to Dead Like Me. And I love every minute of it!
In this fast-paced story driven penultimate episode, Mitchell portrayed perfectly by Aidan Turner, returns to the vampire fold having given up on humanity. Aidan fits the role nicely showing Mitchell's darker side without going over the top. The scene in the kitchen where his housemates find out what he has been up to, is a piece of great writing and superb acting by all three. Aidan has a moment to shine as his darker ego, but at the same time George (Russell Tovey) and Annie (Lenora Crichlow) provide the humor in their reactions.
Inevitably, Mitchell uncovers the true nature of his vampire family, when he uncovers a locked room full of homeless children used as nothing more than food. A horrifying and somewhat unexpected scene showing just what this show can do, leads to a confrontation with his boss Herrick (Jason Watkins).
The B story, just as strong as the main story itself, leads Annie to confront her murderous ex-husband Owen (Gregg Chillin) - after a little practice of course!
The writer (Toby Whitehouse) took the opportunity to play on Annie's key traits and when she does "haunt" Owen the outcome is far from the norm and he turns the tables as he did in life leaving Annie in tears. However, her friends come to her rescue allowing her to finally confront him and in the process reveal the darker side of the world. I still want to know what she whispered in his ear to make him run to the police in such a state.
The end of the episode gives Annie the opportunity to pass to the other side, but she torn after Herrick stakes Mitchell and George begins to panic. Will Mitchell survive? Does Annie pass over? Will George stop fretting like a girl? The answers will be revealed Sunday 9pm BBC3!
Overall, I am throughly enjoying this strongly written, well acted hour of television. And to think the appalling car crash trash that was Phoo Action, was the show BBC originally picked to take to series? Thank God for fan intervention. My only gripe is that it is hidden away on the Tweeny-yob channel BBC3. Surely it deserves better than this? If Torchwood (More soon) can make it to BBC1, then I see no reason why this shouldn't too!
Goddess of Scifi verdict - 9.2/10
Missed it? - How very dare you! Watch it courtesy of BBC IPLAYER. Or I'll send the wolf round!
Goddess of SciFI
1 comment:
Nice review here! Totally agree about it being on BBC3. I'm thoroughly looking forward to sunday evening and finding out where they are going from here. Oddly, you failed to mention the best part when Annie and George go to rescue Mitchell - laugh out loud moment of the episode!
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