It’s always a good sign when the second post in a planned schedule actually happens, isn’t it? If we get to three, then it’s officially a habit and I won’t be able to stop!
It’s a slightly turbulent and emotional time at the moment, and I suppose that is reflected in the Televigion Schedule. Usually, when I’m feeling most vulnerable, or full of whatever specific emotion has got hold, I go for comedy. Conversely, if I’m in a creative streak of comedy writing, I’ll get my serious on while watching. And I think the list below represents a WILD flailing between the two. I mean, the second half of both Threads and then Hot Rod as a double bill after a massive day of family birthday celebrations is quite possibly insane.
Anyway, that’s some context, here are some thoughts.
- Alma’s Not Normal S1 – I loved Sophie Willan on Taskmaster (as I mentioned in my State of the Union) and continued with Alma’s Not Normal on the back of that. But I have now officially stalled on it twice. Once at episode 3 in July, then this week after episode 4. I saw effusive praise online for the second series and thought “Right, I must get on with it”, but there’s something clearly wrong between it and me. I do love that it has a clear voice and hilarious writing, but it swings so wildly from crippling mental health and addiction, to sex work, to funny larks in a cafe, to whatever else is going on that episode that I just can’t grab hold of it to enjoy. It’s probably just what the BBC are looking for; comedy-drama instead of comedy, real-life issues and adult themes, and a rising star who has created it. I don’t think my lack of enjoyment is anything to do with being somewhat removed from the direct experiences it depicts, and I stand by my appraisal in the State of the Union post, I’d love to see something more removed from the creator’s own life to let her more fantastical and silly writing shine through. I feel a bit starved of UK comedy, and I’m sad that I can’t find much joy in this one that people love.
- Threads – This is now available on iPlayer, following a 40th anniversary showing. It’s a two hour film from 1984 depicting the reality of nuclear war as a result of a Cold War escalation. It is based on copious research and a desire to depict the horrific reality via real, relatable characters. Its reputation is impeccable, and I’ve seen mention of it many times as a genuinely mind-changing bit of television. It really is incredibly powerful and immediate. And harrowing. It’s also interesting now as a window to life in 1984. I think it succeeds best in the first hour, the build up and impending doom through seemingly normal and highly specific vignettes of normal life that give a real sense of foreboding, with interspersed narration on the reality of what is about to come. The final 45 minutes are not as gripping but still devastating. The ending feels like a stretch, particularly since it doesn’t feel like it reflects what would happen now, given advances in technology and infrastructure. Though it may still be more accurate than I’d hope. And it was made in 17 days on a very small budget1. I’ve never really experienced anything like it.
- Hot Rod (Sky Cinema/Sky Go) – Talk about tonal shifts in Alma’s Not Normal, I’ve just gone from the horrors of a nuclear winter to nonsense slapstick featuring multiple doofuses. Inspired by my continued listening to the The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast from last time, I am watching whatever they’re talking about before I listen to the episode. That’s easy enough with two minute sketches, but this is a feature film! Admittedly one I have seen before, so I could have just kept listening. But I’m the sort of person who likes to be pedantic and follow rules, even if they’re stupid ones I impose on myself. And I had actually misremembered this film, mistaking it for Talladega Nights (the Will Ferrell touring car film). I love that this film is very happy to be stupid and has a clear and goofy charm, and a handful of incredible sketch moments (falling down the slope in the woods, “cool beans”, the descent into rioting). It also doesn’t fall into the trap of many comedy feature films with improv and SNL alumni of assuming every run of “improvised” dialogue is gold and is instead tightly edited. But, just like with Alma’s Not Normal, the mix of a bit of almost reality and then over the top caricatures means it doesn’t hit as comedically hard as Anchorman did. I’ll likely love it more once I listen to the two episodes of the podcast about it.
So, it seems that Televigion is best when it understands what it is and revels in it. As usual, I’d be delighted with any follow-on thoughts, particularly disagreements!
Until next Televigion week!
Footnotes
Televigion 