This is England '88

[Chicken Chaser]

Well all you soothsayers, I have absolutely no idea of where this is going at the moment. I can see certain characters struggling with life, but I'd not like to hedge my bets on who decides to finish it first.

[CHIEF]

I can't quite make my mind up although i was a bit underwhelmed to be honest

[carmonk]

Cracking episode. Like the way Meadows goes from lighthearted to dark in an instant, does that in all his stuff. Don't think there needs to be a new series but if there is, more of Milky and Combo would be good.

[spiritof'76]

Stomach pumping scene was a bit harrowing

Gotta love the Woodster though, just finds out the love of his life is a killer............. so, on a scale of 1 to 10, how dangerous are you

Glad the whole gang are back on track though

[Parabola]

Amazing television.

Half way through, my friend texted to say they'd just had a healthy baby girl.. way to make me well up even more!

[Steamer]

Brilliant! Really enjoyed it.

Plenty of life left there for This is England 90.

[lincolnlad1977]

Hi everyone,long time lurker so thought i would add something.
Really enjoyed the new TIE series.Didn't feel episodes 1 and 2 were quite as good as i hoped(still better than 99% of the dross on the box though) but what an amazing last episode.Think the series would have really benefitted with maybe each episode being an hour and a half rather than an hour just to fill out some of the stories and characters.
Cant believe what a great actress Vicky McClure has turned into aswell.When i first saw her in Room For Romeo Brass i wasn't that impressed but my oh my she is amazing now.And as for Joseph Gilgun(woody) i really think he could go far with the right roles.You could really see him being torn in two in the first episode when he was offered the promotion but didnt really want it but felt he had to.Just my 2p.

[TheHeretic]

Shaun... Annoying.

Oh, and needed more Combo.

Edited by TheHeretic on Friday 16th December 13:29

[headcase]

That was quite possibly the only thing on TV this year that was worth watching. Cant wait for 90.

[Steamer]

There was no word on Meggy though was there?

[DuncanM]

Really great TV, watched all three last night on 4od.

Gilgun and McClure (Woody and Lol) are so good they kill me.

I think this may be marmite viewing but I love it. I love Shane Meadows work.

[TheHeretic]

Absolutely agree, on all counts. I'm very surprised Meadows hasn't moved to higher budget stuff. Saying that, would his stuff be as good with Hollywood budgets? I'd be happy if This is England carried on in a long running series. Nice to have good hard hitting stuff, like Boys from the Blackstuff.

[DuncanM]

TheHeretic said:

Absolutely agree, on all counts. I'm very surprised Meadows hasn't moved to higher budget stuff. Saying that, would his stuff be as good with Hollywood budgets? I'd be happy if This is England carried on in a long running series. Nice to have good hard hitting stuff, like Boys from the Blackstuff.

I would love to see Meadows do something with a big budget.

I think a great director is great and should be given the chance.

Getting the best out of actors is the key thing and Meadows does just that.

[lincolnlad1977]

TheHeretic said:

Absolutely agree, on all counts. I'm very surprised Meadows hasn't moved to higher budget stuff. Saying that, would his stuff be as good with Hollywood budgets? I'd be happy if This is England carried on in a long running series. Nice to have good hard hitting stuff, like Boys from the Blackstuff.

i reckon he had a bit of a bigger budget in once upon a time in the midlands but imho the story wasnt really there.When he keeps it real and close to his roots i think he's untouchable.Don't think there are many directors who can mix the light and dark moments like he can.Hope Shane and Paddy Considine can get the money together to do the King of the Gypies at some point in the future.

[carmonk]

lincolnlad1977 said:

TheHeretic said:

Absolutely agree, on all counts. I'm very surprised Meadows hasn't moved to higher budget stuff. Saying that, would his stuff be as good with Hollywood budgets? I'd be happy if This is England carried on in a long running series. Nice to have good hard hitting stuff, like Boys from the Blackstuff.

i reckon he had a bit of a bigger budget in once upon a time in the midlands but imho the story wasnt really there.When he keeps it real and close to his roots i think he's untouchable.Don't think there are many directors who can mix the light and dark moments like he can.Hope Shane and Paddy Considine can get the money together to do the King of the Gypies at some point in the future.

Meadows' father was a prize fighter, wasn't he? He certainly does the violence thing well. I remember watching Romeo Brass for the first time and thinking, "God, I've seen stuff exactly like that" - such as how Morell behaves when his bluff's called by Joe, and when Bill is putting his hand out to stop himself being hit again by Morell at the end.

[Athlon]

When Woody flipped his switch when he crossed paths with Milky and co, that, right there was some awesome acting, he was really pretty scary when he went off, the real old Woody, that was brilliant acting.

[Chicken Chaser]

Just watched the last episode and have to say that the team have totally pulled another great mini series out of the bag. I think we had some complaints about 86 being a slow burner as well? Either way, some absolutely superb acting by those playing Lol & Woody and you actually immerse yourself into the story when they're playing their parts. Fight scene & final scenes were both brilliant and they had me laughing one minute and swallowing a frog the next. I dont watch much TV these days, but for this I'd sit on the sofa all day.

[flyingjase]

I think these series has been a lot darker and deeper than the others, I really enjoyed it and I don't mind admitting to wiping a tear or two off last night.

They just don't make TV like this very often, it makes such a change to the aneamic American stuff that's pumped out.

I loved Woody's red Staypress, I used to have a pair of those, thought I was the bees knees.

[Pugster]

Watched the last one last night and as has been said the acting was immense. This series has indeed been dark but I read that's why he split it into 2. The next one is set around 1990 and the whole acid house/summer of love thing and I guess will be far lighter.

Maybe Combo gets out of prison and ends up a being a raver!

Oh and Johnny Harris. What superb acting. He scares the st out of me just hanging around not saying much

[HeavySoul]

lincolnlad1977 said:

TheHeretic said:

Absolutely agree, on all counts. I'm very surprised Meadows hasn't moved to higher budget stuff. Saying that, would his stuff be as good with Hollywood budgets? I'd be happy if This is England carried on in a long running series. Nice to have good hard hitting stuff, like Boys from the Blackstuff.

i reckon he had a bit of a bigger budget in once upon a time in the midlands but imho the story wasnt really there.When he keeps it real and close to his roots i think he's untouchable.Don't think there are many directors who can mix the light and dark moments like he can.Hope Shane and Paddy Considine can get the money together to do the King of the Gypies at some point in the future.

Correct - he got(comparatively)large backing for 'Midlands' and it is his weakest work. IIRC he nearly chucked in the towel after his experience of bigger business.

It was going back to a tiny budget for Dead Man's Shoes that got it back on track.

When you have acting as good as the This Is England cast, you don't need a lot of money and special effects.