Channel 4 may well be behind the greatest scripted television ever created. Britain's commercial station with a youngish bent (but not as trashy/ soft porn as Channel Five). They made Spaced, the show that turns my legs to jelly and my belly to squishy chocolate cake. They made the greatest celebration of nerdyness - The IT Crowd.
And they are the home of Shameless.
This show started when I was Over There, but I really didn't get entirely hooked until I snaffled a super cheap copy of season 1 on DVD, and since then I have wanted to emerse myself in northern slang, take up smoking and return to drinking pints. I also really really really want to punch someone in the nose.
Set in the grimey world of the houseing esates, following the less than functional Gallagher family, this show is seriously addictive and so so well made. Intelligent structures and adorable flawed heroes. Season One also cradled James McAvoy (oh my) (and perhaps I only watch each subsequent episode with the tiniest of shining hopes that he will come back into it, but alas, he is somewhere in Spain with Fiona on the run from the boys in blue).
This show kinda glorifies the world of the coupon and the gyro and the quick scam. Not quite to a point where we want to be involved, but almost. There is not much that makes me want to live near the Maguires (ooh and I love the way the Maguires say their name. Ma Gwy Ahs. !!) or take a spot in Lilian's home made brothel. And I don't fancy getting my bag snatched at the Jockey or getting lost in the streets of the estate. Frank (or Vernon Francis) is a slug, a worm, a germ of a man. His latest (and original but not only) wife Monica is an annoying narcissist who really deserves a knitting needle through one of her central organs. Fiona was a little too self righteous for me, plus she was a monkey wingnut (or maybe I'm just jealous that she used to snog James on a regular basis). But Lip (I want him back too) is a heavy browed sex god, Ian is the gay brother I want to have and Debbie has grown into a narky sarcastic cow that I wish I had the guts to be when I was a teenager. I do feel like the Gallaghers are a part of my life.
And they are the home of Shameless.
This show started when I was Over There, but I really didn't get entirely hooked until I snaffled a super cheap copy of season 1 on DVD, and since then I have wanted to emerse myself in northern slang, take up smoking and return to drinking pints. I also really really really want to punch someone in the nose.
Set in the grimey world of the houseing esates, following the less than functional Gallagher family, this show is seriously addictive and so so well made. Intelligent structures and adorable flawed heroes. Season One also cradled James McAvoy (oh my) (and perhaps I only watch each subsequent episode with the tiniest of shining hopes that he will come back into it, but alas, he is somewhere in Spain with Fiona on the run from the boys in blue).
This show kinda glorifies the world of the coupon and the gyro and the quick scam. Not quite to a point where we want to be involved, but almost. There is not much that makes me want to live near the Maguires (ooh and I love the way the Maguires say their name. Ma Gwy Ahs. !!) or take a spot in Lilian's home made brothel. And I don't fancy getting my bag snatched at the Jockey or getting lost in the streets of the estate. Frank (or Vernon Francis) is a slug, a worm, a germ of a man. His latest (and original but not only) wife Monica is an annoying narcissist who really deserves a knitting needle through one of her central organs. Fiona was a little too self righteous for me, plus she was a monkey wingnut (or maybe I'm just jealous that she used to snog James on a regular basis). But Lip (I want him back too) is a heavy browed sex god, Ian is the gay brother I want to have and Debbie has grown into a narky sarcastic cow that I wish I had the guts to be when I was a teenager. I do feel like the Gallaghers are a part of my life.
And what astounds me is that 5 years later, the kiddie actors they hired - especially Our Carl and Debbie - are pretty bloody good, really.
I'm rationing myself on Season 5 at the moment (having picked up the 1-4 box set when I was Over There last year, and then ordered #5 on Amazon, because SBS DVD only want Season 1 to be on DVD here - bastards) because I missed most of it last year, being on Boy Factory duty on Monday nights. And I am avoiding watching Season 6 on Mondays, because it might ruin #5 for me.
If you love character dramas with dark dark humour and a fair whack of silliness, then you will love this show. If you like to steer clear of obscene language, sex scenes, hand held cameras (counting out David Stratton here I guess), vomit, punched noses or gratuitous drinking, or you can't catch on to a thick Northern accent then I'd give it a miss. But never let me know you have spurned it. Or I might call you one of the creative insults like they have on the show, like.
If you love character dramas with dark dark humour and a fair whack of silliness, then you will love this show. If you like to steer clear of obscene language, sex scenes, hand held cameras (counting out David Stratton here I guess), vomit, punched noses or gratuitous drinking, or you can't catch on to a thick Northern accent then I'd give it a miss. But never let me know you have spurned it. Or I might call you one of the creative insults like they have on the show, like.
Oh. And the bad news. Like most things of beauty, that hint at originality on TV, the Yanks are going to do their own version. I don't care if the "writers" do come from West Wing pedigree. Leave this televisiual masterpiece alone, you vultures!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment