John Byrne looks back on a week's telly that saw the return of a universal favourite as well as the finales of a drama scorned and a surprisingly good new sitcom.
Reviewed: Gogglebox (Fridays, Channel 4); Broadchurch (Mondays, UTV/TV3); Catastrophe (Mondays, Channel 4)
It's amazing to think that Gogglebox (Fridays, Channel 4) has been around for just two years. It's also a testament to the show's strength that it feels like it's always been there, even though it first reared its head as recently as March 2013.
Back then I was a complete sceptic. 'Watching ordinary folk watching telly?' I thought. 'Got to give that one a wide berth.' But that changed as soon as I saw it and, more importantly, realised that Studio Lambert, the production company behind the show, had obviously put a huge effort into getting a great balance with its collection of couch potatoes. It'll be interesting to see what TV3 can come up with when they launch their Irish version of the show.
Anyway, back again for a new run, it was like seeing old friends again with the likes of Sandy Channer and Sandra Martin, Leon and June Bernicoff, the Siddiqui and Moffatt families back on board, as well as more recent additions such as Kate and Graham.
First up for their delectation was Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast, and no one watching seemed to know who Jimmy is, even though he's Jamie's best mate. But that's all by the by when the two guys start talking about eating squirrel pie, something which disgusts most of the punters. Why are some animals okay to eat while others aren't? It's like the dolphin-friendly tuna, which always struck me as a bit unfair on the tuna.
The beauty of Gogglebox is that people are talking off the top of their heads, and obviously encouraged to do so, so you get great remarks such as the one from the Moffat household when they hear a news report that 100 people are being selected to go to Mars. 'Why would you want to go to Mars,' says a stunned Scarlett. 'There's nothing there!'
The Gift, UKIP: the First 100 Days, and a news report on a light-hearted video of US President Barack Obama all followed, but the best reactions were kept until last, although BBC historical drama Wolf Hall came close. During a scene that was filmed in semi-darkness, it was remarked that 'apparently they spent a ridiculous amount on candles' amongst a lot of moaning about the lack of light and shock at the industrial language used by one character.
Controversial 1990s' movie Basic Instinct got rapt attention, especially from septuagenarian Leon, who boyishly grinned at it all, while making remarks to wife, June, about her enjoying it. I was laughing so much at Scarlett Moffatt's horrified reaction to the opening sex scene that I never made a note of who asked: 'Is this a Disney film?' You just couldn't make it up.
On the subject of making things up, Broadchurch (Mondays, UTV/TV3) completed its second season on the back of some major hidings in the press and on social media due to what were considered to be ridiculous plot twists and daft courtroom shenanigans. In fairness, the hype around the first season was just as over the top as the negatives surrounding the second one.
During that celebrated first season, the drama about a murdered boy in a seaside English town went through a 'guilty person of the week' run that was particularly annoying. Personally, I felt it overran by at least two episodes and, for all the high praise it received, it wasn't a patch on other UK dramas screened last year such as Line of Duty or The Honourable Woman. And it certainly didn't deserve the backlash its second season received.
The finale tied things up, although it wasn't exactly an ending of puppy dog and chocolate proportions as murderer Joe walked free, and was lucky to just get run out of town, while the season's major sub plot, the Sandbrook murders, was resolved with the aid of some pretty grim flashbacks and three arrests.
But, just as it was first time around, season two was all about Olivia Colman, a splendid actress in top form who outdid herself this run with a great portrayal of a woman both betrayed and devastated. She pulled off some amazing scenes of intense emotion, and stood head and shoulders above everyone else, even David Tennant, who in fairness was often under-employed during this season. More, please and thank you.
Another show closing its doors for another while is Catastrophe (Mondays, Channel 4). Unlike Broadchurch, this comedy has had a pretty low-profile opening season, but I'd imagine the mainstream is now opening up for its creative couple, Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, who both write and star. It's been a blast of a show and these two could really lighten up the incredibly dull and stale sitcom scene on prime time UK TV, if given the opportunity.
Sharon and Rob talk about Catastrophe - warning: contains adult humour
In case you missed it, Horgan plays Sharon, an Irish/London-based schoolteacher who gets pregnant after a fling with Rob, a US businessman over in Blighty on a work trip. Blissfully unaware, he heads back to the States but when he learns he's to be a father, he returns to England and shacks up with Sharon.
Funny, snappy, snotty, insightful, and with a potty mouth that employs an impressively lewd lexicon, Catastrophe has so far been the surprise TV treat of the year.
In Monday's finale, Sharon's mate from college days comes over from Ireland to be her maid of honour, but disappears after a hens' night that results in her cracking her skull while being lecherous about a stranger and his boat. Drink, eh?
Ashley Jensen's flinty character, Fran, steps up to the plate, and after a pretty normal wedding ceremony (by Catastrophe standards), the couple retire to their hotel room, only for a row to develop as Rob trims his heavily pregnant wife's toenails.
She storms out, but just as Rob is heading after her, Sharon's standing at the door looking forlorn. Her water's have just broken. Cue credits, and here's to a second season of Catastrophe that's just as funny and brutally honest about relationships.
John Byrne
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