Any Minder fans?
Discussion
Minder is being repeated endlessly in ITV4, and makes enjoyable watching even 30 odd years later.
A few discussion points for a Friday night.
Could Minder and Fools and Horses be taking place in the same universe? Although only slightly earlier, Minder always seems to have a 70s feel about it, dodgy blokes driving old Jags round dilapidated London suburbs.
Could Arthur and Terry have anything like the same lifestyle now? Terry would have trouble affording a flat in West London and Arthur even more trouble keeping his affairs beneath the official radar.
What would happen to Terry in the long run?
A few discussion points for a Friday night.
Could Minder and Fools and Horses be taking place in the same universe? Although only slightly earlier, Minder always seems to have a 70s feel about it, dodgy blokes driving old Jags round dilapidated London suburbs.
Could Arthur and Terry have anything like the same lifestyle now? Terry would have trouble affording a flat in West London and Arthur even more trouble keeping his affairs beneath the official radar.
What would happen to Terry in the long run?
V8covin said:
I've caught some of The Sweeney episodes.
Time has not been kind,the likes of The Sweeney and Minder used to be the tv highlight of the week,now they come across no better than a b movie.
The point about the Sweeney is that it's been too influential for it's own good, it's full of clichés in the way Shakespeare is full of quotations. The Professionals has aged a bit better because it was the setup was slightly cartoonish, meant to be entertaining rather than realistic. Also the plots are pretty good, I like the way it usually follows that story from the bad guys' side as well as Bodie and Doyle's. Time has not been kind,the likes of The Sweeney and Minder used to be the tv highlight of the week,now they come across no better than a b movie.
Some of the Terry Mcann fights are very well choreographed and almost realistic. Things had gone a bit pcm by Rays time so very few fights and a bit boring.
In the Terry days you could always guarantee a good punch up somewhere in each program. Apparently both Minder and the Professionals got a lot of criticism for this at the time.
In the Terry days you could always guarantee a good punch up somewhere in each program. Apparently both Minder and the Professionals got a lot of criticism for this at the time.
Dennis Waterman could genuinely box, and according to wikipedia he had a brother who was a welterweight champion.
Initially Minder was meant to be a vehicle for Dennis who had become a star through the Sweeney. Basically a drama about a tough guy getting into scrapes (thanks to Arthur's background machinations) but with a bit of humour. As time wore on the Arthur and Terry relationship took over, Arthur became ever less respectable and more prominent and it was played more and more for laughs. as Dennis but it 'the Arthur Daley comedy hour'.
Initially Minder was meant to be a vehicle for Dennis who had become a star through the Sweeney. Basically a drama about a tough guy getting into scrapes (thanks to Arthur's background machinations) but with a bit of humour. As time wore on the Arthur and Terry relationship took over, Arthur became ever less respectable and more prominent and it was played more and more for laughs. as Dennis but it 'the Arthur Daley comedy hour'.
V8covin said:
I've caught some of The Sweeney episodes.
Time has not been kind,the likes of The Sweeney and Minder used to be the tv highlight of the week,now they come across no better than a b movie.
I love the Sweeney, much prefer it to many a newer cop show. It comes across as much more realistic and they're not afraid of showing the stars looking all scruffy and unkempt in the morning, the sets look like they're filmed in a real flat or house full of crap, not some designer interior. Wonderful car chases with big, wallowing barges on the limit.Time has not been kind,the likes of The Sweeney and Minder used to be the tv highlight of the week,now they come across no better than a b movie.
It's easy to see how it was so influential.
Alrightmysonsaynomoreleaveitoutnobotherasithappensitsyourshoutstraightuppulltheotherinarighttwoandeightwhatsthedamagechief
'erewho'syou'rematethegeezerwiththebunnyinthetrilbyhatreckonshe'slegitbut'eain'tallbadArthurDaileyalittledodgymaybebutunderneath
he'salright.
Funny the things you remember from school - that and tamatawacatany etc from Kenny Everett. Ask me about geography and I can't remember a thing.
'erewho'syou'rematethegeezerwiththebunnyinthetrilbyhatreckonshe'slegitbut'eain'tallbadArthurDaileyalittledodgymaybebutunderneath
he'salright.
Funny the things you remember from school - that and tamatawacatany etc from Kenny Everett. Ask me about geography and I can't remember a thing.
Minder is a great series, as is The Sweeney. Both are best watched as entire series and in the correct order, that way you see the characters build and the relationships develop between them.
This applies to most shows to be fair, but these two shows in particular I find difficult to engage with just dipping in and out of the odd episode on ITV4 or whatever. Watch the whole lot though and it’s a total different story.
This applies to most shows to be fair, but these two shows in particular I find difficult to engage with just dipping in and out of the odd episode on ITV4 or whatever. Watch the whole lot though and it’s a total different story.
I'm sure that Minder had some genuinely funny episode titles - "A Star Is Gorn" and "High Drains Pilferer" come to mind.
But by far the best thing about Minder was the great George Cole as Arthur Daley. One of those TV characters who have become woven into the fabric of British society, and a part of our folklore.
"The world is your lobster, Terence!"
But by far the best thing about Minder was the great George Cole as Arthur Daley. One of those TV characters who have become woven into the fabric of British society, and a part of our folklore.
"The world is your lobster, Terence!"
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff