This Is England '90

[Pferdestarke]

I can't see any spoilers on there?

[Oakey]

Why only now is Combo looking for revenge for something that happened, what, 7 years ago?

It's like they remembered that they needed to address the issue of him being beaten to death in the film

[entropy]

Just watched the first 3 episodes.

RodMod said:

As some of you have said the story is perhaps not as thought provoking as the earlier ones.

However the acting is excellent I think a few primetime soaps could learn a thing or two.

Rod.

Agreed

Nothing particularly happens in the first couple of episodes but its great to see the gang together again. I had tears rolling during episode 3. Top notch acting.

[Antony Moxey]

Oakey said:

Why only now is Combo looking for revenge for something that happened, what, 7 years ago?

It's like they remembered that they needed to address the issue of him being beaten to death in the film

You mean Milky I think. Combo's been in prison for a number of years and out of the picture. Milky's life appears good in that he's friends again with Woody, a regular guest there and has full access to the child he had with Lol. The three of them seem to have a good relationship which could have been messy.

Now Milky finds out Combo's coming out and will be staying at Lol and Woody's - his world's just been turned upside down, why wouldn't he now think of revenge after all this time? Had he been told Combo was out and Lol was giving him a lift to Cornwall to start a new life he'd probably have done nothing.

I think.

[PurpleTurtle]

I am finding it all massively depressing! I gather that is the point ...

Will watch the finale out of blind loyalty, but had great hopes for this - mainly seeing more scenes related to clubbing/raving but that seems to have been a bit of a damp squib

[Mezzanine]

PurpleTurtle said:

I am finding it all massively depressing! I gather that is the point ...

Will watch the finale out of blind loyalty, but had great hopes for this - mainly seeing more scenes related to clubbing/raving but that seems to have been a bit of a damp squib

It really was set up to have a load of great music and scenes from the Madchester era and it was originally meant to involve Italia '90 too. They seemed to chuck a bit in episode 2 but that will likely be the sum total of 'fun' for this series.

Definitely the weakest of the lot for me, those first two episodes were a real waste of screen time and seemed like padding before going back to the main storyline from the last instalment.

[Athlon]

Well I thought the ending was very well done, the change in Combo was unreal and the acting tonight was superb.

They have said that's the last ever but there are unresolved stories so you never just know.

I hope for more.

[Ruskie]

Not a patch on the first 3. Really wanted to love it like I loved the others but I couldn't get there.

[Chicken Chaser]

Difficult to better 86, but it was a gripping climax Great acting, and the way it was running I thought there was more to come.

Am I right in thinking Meggy met his maker in 86 yet he was at the wedding?!

The fact we know nothing about what happened to Combo or what might happen with Milky still leaves a door open.

[petrolsniffer]

Chicken Chaser said:

Difficult to better 86, but it was a gripping climax Great acting, and the way it was running I thought there was more to come.

Am I right in thinking Meggy met his maker in 86 yet he was at the wedding?!

The fact we know nothing about what happened to Combo or what might happen with Milky still leaves a door open.

I thought i was seeing things when I saw meggy glad someone else spotted it!

I thought this was the last series? The ending was good but far too open?

[andrewparker]

Er no, Meggy never died. Had a heart attack, but if you remember they surrounded his hospital bed and ribbed him for it for ages afterwards.

[Chicken Chaser]

Yeah, just had to wiki to check that. Wasn't in 88 hence thinking he had croaked it!

[DuncanM]

Some of the best acting I have seen if you put the whole thing together, Film and TV Series.

'86 Was the best in my opinion.

The scene in the Cafe tonight between Milky and Combo =

[petrolsniffer]

andrewparker said:

Er no, Meggy never died. Had a heart attack, but if you remember they surrounded his hospital bed and ribbed him for it for ages afterwards.

Ah my bad Might have to have a TIE marathon starting from the film until 90 skipping the rape scene which imo is the most awkward uncomfortable scene i've seen in any tv or film but saying that I haven't really watched that much.

[s3fella]

Was a bit confused with the Combo thing. Were the guys he was handed over to at the Docks his old Skinhead gang? Or just some ruffians? He seemed to go mad as he left the Van, was that because he knew "this was it" or did he recognise who they were?
If it was his old gang, did he go off on one as he'd turned them in or something?

Just a bit confusing that bit from our end.

[Oakey]

s3fella said:

Was a bit confused with the Combo thing. Were the guys he was handed over to at the Docks his old Skinhead gang? Or just some ruffians? He seemed to go mad as he left the Van, was that because he knew "this was it" or did he recognise who they were?
If it was his old gang, did he go off on one as he'd turned them in or something?

Just a bit confusing that bit from our end.

I thought the same.

[kmpowell]

s3fella said:

Was a bit confused with the Combo thing. Were the guys he was handed over to at the Docks his old Skinhead gang? Or just some ruffians? He seemed to go mad as he left the Van, was that because he knew "this was it" or did he recognise who they were?
If it was his old gang, did he go off on one as he'd turned them in or something?

Just a bit confusing that bit from our end.

I interpreted it as Combo being handed back to the national front for being a traitor (in their eyes). Milk and his family wouldn't want blood on their hands, so it made sense for them to get their revenge in a way that didn't implicate them.

I have to say, the cafe scene was one of the finest bits of acting I've ever watched on TV. Truly outstanding.

A lot of people here saying "it's not got going" etc, but I think that might have been intentional. All the way through there were suggestions that there was going to be a outbreaks of violence and depression (especially Milk's 'phone call' to his family), but in reality it's just been setting the scene for the closure, demonstrating that a section of the group have moved on (and Shaun moving on last night).

[Oakey]

Did I miss something in a previous series? How was he a traitor to the National Front?

[kmpowell]

Oakey said:

Did I miss something in a previous series? How was he a traitor to the National Front?

Repenting & reforming, going against his previous NF way of thinking.

Hence all the footage/flashbacks in that episode to remind us what he used to be like, to ensure the viewer could see both sides of the feelings churning around in Milk's head.

[dave_s13]

That or hired muscle?

I was half expecting milky to fire up the capri (laser) and jump in halfway through whatever beating was on the menu and sort it out.

I didn't think combo was actually gonna get capped, I don't think he did either, a good beating maybe.

There were quite a few outstanding bits of acting. Lol and Kel making up in at the wedding was properly emotional. Combo and milk in the cafe was outstanding too.... You can tell they get to play about with it. Combo coming out for lunch just before bumping into milky, pidgeon on th path and he playfully shoo's it off then looks all happy with his lot. Little things like that make him stand out as a great actor. I bet woodies wedding service funnies were improved too, you could just tell MClure thought it was genuinely funny.

All in all, I properly loved the whole series and it'll be missed. Best not to drag it out though.