remindmeofthe: (Default)
Cathryn (formerly catslash) ([personal profile] remindmeofthe) wrote2009-10-07 03:49 am

"Come the fuck in or fuck the fuck off."

New show I am in love with: The Thick of It.

It's a 2005 British comedy/satire about politics, following the Minister of Social Affairs and all the completely insane shit that goes on in his department. It first came onto my radar after Children of Earth, when people were suddenly interested in sharing things Peter Capaldi has done.

Then there was a movie, In the Loop, based on the show, and it somehow managed to make its little way up to Portland for a week or two. I was able to get out and see it, and it was brilliant. It was funny as hell, reasonably easy to follow despite that fact that I know fuckall about the structuring of British government, and did I mention funny as hell? I was thrilled that I'd gotten to see it, and reminded myself to check out the show.

The show is better.

I know this is kind of an awkward entry so far, without much information about what makes these things awesome, but it's kind of hard to get into it. What's so funny about a wall that's falling apart, or a politician owning an extra apartment? I can't explain it. You just have to see it for yourself. The other half of the appeal is the dialogue, which is partially improvised and as a result sounds really natural. And they had a swearing consultant, so you may rest assured that the swearing is authentic and truly quality. I just don't think the vast majority of it would be especially funny written out. It's a very "you have to be there" kind of show.

And yes, Peter Capaldi is fantastic in it. His character, Malcolm Tucker, is the polar opposite of John Frobisher. He's vicious and aggressive and swears constantly (the subject line? Malcolm) and will cut any throat he has to cut to keep things running smoothly. He is a magnificent fucking bastard, and I think the only thing that could stop him dead in sheer despair would be meeting meek little John Frobisher slinking around wearing Malcolm's face. And even then he'd find some way to turn this to his advantage that would make Frobisher positively long for more poisonous orders from PM Horatio Green.

Tragically, The Thick of It is not available on DVD in the States, though In the Loop will be released eventually, I'm sure. I mean, hell, if a limited release movie makes it to fucking Maine, it's done pretty well for itself. For the record, I am absolutely not planning to make TToI available in any way in the next week or two. Just making that clear.

[identity profile] karaokegal.livejournal.com 2009-10-07 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
My love for Malcolm knows absolutely NO BOUNDS. As you say, if Capaldi had been playing Malcolm, instead of Frobisher he'd have given the 456 such a bollocking, they would have departed this galaxy and never been heard from again. This would have been a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, for obvious reasons, but otherwise the show would have been greatly improved

Seriously, few things make me LOL as much as Malcolm in action.

I really hope there is someday a DVD release of the whole series. I know I could downloads but Mr. Hard Drive, is a bit stuffed these days.

[identity profile] remindmeofthe.livejournal.com 2009-10-07 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, yeah. If Malcolm had been around, that whole thing would have been sorted inside of a workday (with, yes, a one hundred percent survival rate). Not just because he is Malcolm Tucker, but because his presence would have meant that there would have been a politician involved with an actual brain in his head who would've seen instantly the many glaring problems with the 456's approach and explained, eloquently, the many ways in which they could fuck off.

Man, that whole plot would have fallen apart if anyone with any intelligence had gotten anywhere near it.

(Also: Jack Harkness vs Malcolm Tucker. I would pay money to see that.)

[identity profile] karaokegal.livejournal.com 2009-10-07 10:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Jack Harkness/Malcolm Tucker--I'd pay more. THERE would someone would could actually challenge Jack a little bit.
Edited 2009-10-07 22:49 (UTC)

[identity profile] remindmeofthe.livejournal.com 2009-10-07 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Who says the one can't lead to the other? :D

[identity profile] karaokegal.livejournal.com 2009-10-07 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Works for me. With you know who completely forgotten.

[identity profile] remindmeofthe.livejournal.com 2009-10-08 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
I don't see what Voldemort has to do with anything.

. . . *runs away*

[identity profile] karaokegal.livejournal.com 2009-10-08 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
I SEEEEEEEEEE YOUUUUUUUUU!

[identity profile] remindmeofthe.livejournal.com 2009-10-08 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
I AM NOT YOUR MUMMY.