because variables lurk in the wine
Has anyone else seen State of Play? Because I just finished it and, omfg.
I don't know what it is. I watch these series for certain actors, and then in both cases by the end I am more infatuated with David Morrissey than the actor I meant to watch it for. Happened with Blackpool, happened with this. Not that I don't absolutely adore David Tennant as DI Carlisle in the former and John Simm as Cal McCaffrey, but both times it's just kicked me from behind, knocked me over the head -- this total love and empathy for whatever the hell David Morrissey's doing. And he's not my type. At all. But, well, at least in these two series [since I've not really seen him in anything else] he just has this amazing gift for taking really odd, probably-should-be-unlikeable characters, and just understanding them. And making us understand them.
I mean, I just almost cried at the end of State of Play. And I know that probably doesn't seem like much because hey, I should list crying at television as a special talent on my CV. But it's a good ending, everything's come together and they've brought everything to light and they've got the story and the bad guy. Only thing is, I feel terrible for him. I mean, god, his breakdown to Cal was just heartbreaking. [And oh, the lovely vulnerable side of John Simm: when he walked back into the office and couldn't even speak to Cameron or Della, he was so distraught and broken.] Honestly, part of me was thinking at the end, "But, no! He didn't really kill her! He just...didn't tell the guy not to..." and there's where my argument just collapses into me looking sad and wanting to give Stephen Collins a big hug.
I guess what it just comes down to is: David Morrissey sells it. He just sells it beautifully, and the fact that I feel so much sympathy for his character should probably just make him proud. Or something.
And let me bring this back to Blackpool. When I was watching Life On Mars I pointed out that I constantly had strange Blackpool vibes. Sam Tyler as Peter Carlisle, Gene Hunt as Ripley Holden, Annie as Natalie, but again that's where my comparisons seemed to fall apart [though Blythe? Could totally be Chris.] So when I started watching this two days ago I thought, "Oh, ha-ha. It's like they're playing a joke on my brain." And then we meet Polly Walker's character with Natalie Holden-esque hair, and I thought, "Oh, ha-ha again. Now Cal's going to have an affair with her! Poor cuckolded David Morrissey characters." But then they did, and my brain exploded a little.
What makes it all a bit more strange is that this aired around a year before Blackpool did. So then my brain tries to reverse [invert?] all of the comparisons. And it turns to mush.
Superficially! I would just like to say, the costumer on this series should have been personally punched in the face by Bill Nighy. [Er, his character has a line. Where he says something like that.] No. I am not joking. John Simm's wardrobe was HORRIBLE. His clothes did not fit whatsoever, and he had these sleazy chain necklaces and bracelet thing, and it may have been a character choice [along with the goatee which I am not so in favour of] but they were just terrible. And they kept putting Della in these pale blue tops which did absolutely nothing for her complexion [um, hi, I should know] and Anne's whole wardrobe was just a mess. Honestly, the only elements of the costuming I even liked were the three elements I was in LOVE with: Helen's stockings and heels [hot!], Della's coats [houndstooth and tweed = me want], and Dan's dress shirts and trousers. Especially his trousers.
I don't want to sound ridiculous here [a bit late for that, oh snap] but honestly those were the most flattering trousers I have ever seen James McAvoy in. I just couldn't stop checking out his ass in every single one of his scenes! I don't know what it was. They were just lovely trousers that loved James McAvoy very much.
And his character, Dan, was just a bit of awesome. I had heard it was quite a small part so I was pleasantly surprised at his screentime and place in the story. First of all, his introduction in the second episode, with the strut and the special music and the smirk, oh boy. What was lovely about the seemingly constant amusement of his character was how well it fit in with Bill Nighy as Cameron Foster. Honestly, if Paul Abbott can't come up with another concept for a second series [which was commissioned! BEFORE THE FIRST EVEN AIRED! WHY WORLD WHY DEPRIVE ME!?!] then I suggest he writes something called Foster And Son, about the snarky journalistic team of Cameron and Dan. Watch Dan do something sly! Watch Cameron cleverly insult him! It's funny thinking of how obvious their familial connection seems now, because when that quick reveal happened, that clever twist of the script ["Oy! Anything you publish, you publish under your mother's maiden name. And you never under any circumstances on these premises ever refer to me as Dad. Understand?"], I was completely taken by surprise.
I loved all the politics of this series, all the twists and the turns. But most of all? I loved how it was all about journalism. And the pursuit of the story as a way to the truth. And god, if I ever saw anything like this as my newsheadlines:
...I think I'd probably jump for joy.
Oh, and in my continued I Am The Human IMDb series, the kid who played Sid is none other than Giacomo Casanova's son in RTD's miniseries of the same name.
Now I have to watch something else to put my mind off waiting for the finale of Doctor Who. Not that I'm really lacking a selection, it's more of...choosing. That's difficult. Oh boy.
I don't know what it is. I watch these series for certain actors, and then in both cases by the end I am more infatuated with David Morrissey than the actor I meant to watch it for. Happened with Blackpool, happened with this. Not that I don't absolutely adore David Tennant as DI Carlisle in the former and John Simm as Cal McCaffrey, but both times it's just kicked me from behind, knocked me over the head -- this total love and empathy for whatever the hell David Morrissey's doing. And he's not my type. At all. But, well, at least in these two series [since I've not really seen him in anything else] he just has this amazing gift for taking really odd, probably-should-be-unlikeable characters, and just understanding them. And making us understand them.
I mean, I just almost cried at the end of State of Play. And I know that probably doesn't seem like much because hey, I should list crying at television as a special talent on my CV. But it's a good ending, everything's come together and they've brought everything to light and they've got the story and the bad guy. Only thing is, I feel terrible for him. I mean, god, his breakdown to Cal was just heartbreaking. [And oh, the lovely vulnerable side of John Simm: when he walked back into the office and couldn't even speak to Cameron or Della, he was so distraught and broken.] Honestly, part of me was thinking at the end, "But, no! He didn't really kill her! He just...didn't tell the guy not to..." and there's where my argument just collapses into me looking sad and wanting to give Stephen Collins a big hug.
I guess what it just comes down to is: David Morrissey sells it. He just sells it beautifully, and the fact that I feel so much sympathy for his character should probably just make him proud. Or something.
And let me bring this back to Blackpool. When I was watching Life On Mars I pointed out that I constantly had strange Blackpool vibes. Sam Tyler as Peter Carlisle, Gene Hunt as Ripley Holden, Annie as Natalie, but again that's where my comparisons seemed to fall apart [though Blythe? Could totally be Chris.] So when I started watching this two days ago I thought, "Oh, ha-ha. It's like they're playing a joke on my brain." And then we meet Polly Walker's character with Natalie Holden-esque hair, and I thought, "Oh, ha-ha again. Now Cal's going to have an affair with her! Poor cuckolded David Morrissey characters." But then they did, and my brain exploded a little.
What makes it all a bit more strange is that this aired around a year before Blackpool did. So then my brain tries to reverse [invert?] all of the comparisons. And it turns to mush.
Superficially! I would just like to say, the costumer on this series should have been personally punched in the face by Bill Nighy. [Er, his character has a line. Where he says something like that.] No. I am not joking. John Simm's wardrobe was HORRIBLE. His clothes did not fit whatsoever, and he had these sleazy chain necklaces and bracelet thing, and it may have been a character choice [along with the goatee which I am not so in favour of] but they were just terrible. And they kept putting Della in these pale blue tops which did absolutely nothing for her complexion [um, hi, I should know] and Anne's whole wardrobe was just a mess. Honestly, the only elements of the costuming I even liked were the three elements I was in LOVE with: Helen's stockings and heels [hot!], Della's coats [houndstooth and tweed = me want], and Dan's dress shirts and trousers. Especially his trousers.
I don't want to sound ridiculous here [a bit late for that, oh snap] but honestly those were the most flattering trousers I have ever seen James McAvoy in. I just couldn't stop checking out his ass in every single one of his scenes! I don't know what it was. They were just lovely trousers that loved James McAvoy very much.
And his character, Dan, was just a bit of awesome. I had heard it was quite a small part so I was pleasantly surprised at his screentime and place in the story. First of all, his introduction in the second episode, with the strut and the special music and the smirk, oh boy. What was lovely about the seemingly constant amusement of his character was how well it fit in with Bill Nighy as Cameron Foster. Honestly, if Paul Abbott can't come up with another concept for a second series [which was commissioned! BEFORE THE FIRST EVEN AIRED! WHY WORLD WHY DEPRIVE ME!?!] then I suggest he writes something called Foster And Son, about the snarky journalistic team of Cameron and Dan. Watch Dan do something sly! Watch Cameron cleverly insult him! It's funny thinking of how obvious their familial connection seems now, because when that quick reveal happened, that clever twist of the script ["Oy! Anything you publish, you publish under your mother's maiden name. And you never under any circumstances on these premises ever refer to me as Dad. Understand?"], I was completely taken by surprise.
I loved all the politics of this series, all the twists and the turns. But most of all? I loved how it was all about journalism. And the pursuit of the story as a way to the truth. And god, if I ever saw anything like this as my newsheadlines:
...I think I'd probably jump for joy.
Oh, and in my continued I Am The Human IMDb series, the kid who played Sid is none other than Giacomo Casanova's son in RTD's miniseries of the same name.
Now I have to watch something else to put my mind off waiting for the finale of Doctor Who. Not that I'm really lacking a selection, it's more of...choosing. That's difficult. Oh boy.