The killer baby stuff was excellently done, I found that to be the most entertaining aspect of last night's episode. The singing bit was a bit of a let down, but you know these showbiz luvvy types, ooh can I show off my range, etc.
As always, good stuff.
The line between 'homage' and 'derivative' is pretty thin.
Personally I think they fell the wrong side of it with the 'Chucky' sequence.
Similary with the the Singing Detective-esque musical number.
I don't think the twins are very good - rather over-acted IMHO.
All in all I think it's drifting.
The doll scenes reminded me of Tales of The Unexpected or Hammer Horror more. I liked the AA guy with the clown car and the wax works. I must admit I'm not keen on the conjoined twins either, but I loved the corny happy families gag.
I just watched on iPlayer.
I LOVED the scary baby bit, and loved the suprise helper.
The cuddly bear walking down the hospital corridor tickled me too!
The baby bit was freaky, but great.
Just got into watching the first few episodes. I gotta say, while it's quite entertaining and interesting, the comedy just is not there. Has barely registered a chuckle from me.
Just watched the latest episode. Brilliant, absolutely superb.
Quote: fzoe @ July 17 2009, 10:29 AM BSTI can't decide whether I enjoyed the musical sequence or not, I think I'll need to watch the episode again before I make up my mind on that.
I've rewatched the episode and have come to the decision that it was pretty much perfect. I think that the musical number was ideal for adding a new dimension to the show.
I don't know how many of you have seen the BFI Q and A session that Reece did, but he said that his favourite episode of the series is Episode 6 (i.e. the one coming up this week). It'll be an interesting one to watch just to see why it's one of the favourites of the writers.
I'm not sure about where this series is going now. The 'Rope' one sort of interrupted the flow of it and I had hoped the latest one would be back on track, but its turning into a bit of a mish-mash. The back stories of the characters are still going strong and they aren't really being drawn together much; there's too much going on.
The scary baby bits are the best sections - its great to see Dawn French in there doing this sort of 'League-esque' comedy and being slightly better than Shearsmith and Pemberton.
Overall though, its like Series 3 of the League of Gentlemen - ok but not as good as it might have been. Like S3 of the League, the actual jokes are very thin on the ground.
Maurice, I agree with almost everything you say about Pyschoville and LoG series 3. Let's hope it gets back on track Thursday night.
Series three of the League was brilliant.
Maybe it's still a "mish mash" because if they all came together in episode five, there'd be two episodes left. Could it be that you just want to know what happens and they're not telling you quick enough? This episode told us a LOT about what is happening - and why.
I'm not sure how Reece and Steve would take to such a comparison, but I see the episodes as much like the Harry Potter books (and to an extent, films): each builds upon the former, the penultimate having very little of its own encapsulated, resolved story, but all going towards the final, rounded installment, and all of the loose ends and seemingly minor flourishes, tales and stories coming together with great relevance and significance.
I think that's a really interesting way to look at the episodes. And not that strange if you think through each of the episodes logically.
Oh...Thursday cannot come quickly enough for me!
Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 20 2009, 8:25 PM BSTSeries three of the League was brilliant.
Well it was good, but slightly at odds with the earlier series and suffers by comparison.
In a similar way I suppose I may be viewing Psychoville with Tubbs and Edward & Co looming large in my mind still, and I guessthat's what the League performers have had to work round for the past 10 years.
But I still think the gag count is a bit low and there is a bit too much crammed in. Each of the story threads seem to have their own sub plots that are getting more tangled as the weeks go by, not less so. Maybe they are ultimately important, but I think some pruning would have helped (hindsight may prove useful here though).
I also think, without restating thoughts already explored, that the 'Rope' episode had another significant weakness in that it didn't include the mysterious figure in black who started it all off in the first place and who will obviously draw it all together at the end. It was another break in the thread of the series; I think that figure has to keep cropping up to remind the viewer of where it is going (unless I'm barking up the wrong tree).
And on the subject of whom, he/she hasn't really impacted on the Joy/Freddy storyline at all - her little plot is continuing its own course, irrespective of any letters sent. Whereas the letters are driving Maureen & David and Messrs Jolly & Jelly. I think that's why I like the Dawn French segments as it's the most intriguig plot and seems separate to the rest.
