The Thick Of It - Series 3 Page 9

Quote: Griff @ November 1 2009, 2:18 PM BST

Agreed, I'm enjoying the new series of TTOI but Chris Langham's character is sorely missed. Also it's kind of turning into "The Malcolm Tucker Show", rather than the ensemble piece it started as.

But in the absence of Peep Show, it's still the best sitcom on telly at the moment.

And I did love "Give me three pejorative adjectives that describe me" and then Olly thinks a bit and starts with "Sour?"

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I'm still laughing at 'Fist the T's and f**k the I's'. Personally, I'm glad it's turning into 'The Malcolm Tucker Show', he has always been the most entertaining character throughout and I think the writers have realised this.

As for bringing back Langham, that's a bit like rewarding paedophillia, is it not?

Nope, is rewarding the audience!

I read an interview with Rebecca Front, where they suggested that her character might have a little crush on Malcolm Tucker, and she didn't deny it. I rather liked that idea.
That's certainly something Langham couldn't have brought to the role of Hugh.

It would only be rewarding paedophillia if he hadn't been on the show in the first place. Also, Leslie Grantham got a job on EastEnders and was idolised by millions despite being a murderer.

Maybe they are right not to bring him back but it means Armando Ianucci would have to pull of a stroke of genius to be able to keep the standard as high as it was, and he hasn't.

I also agree with Griff, Malcolm is a bit of one note character and having him in every scene gets pretty tiresome.

In any case, Langham was not found guilty of paedophilia, so if we could move swiftly on that would be positively fragrant.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 1 2009, 3:50 PM BST

As for bringing back Langham, that's a bit like rewarding paedophillia, is it not?

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Is this some NewLab scheme? Offering posts on popular light entertainment shows to child abusers?

Oh wait no! It's giving a highly talented actor a chance to do his job, after being convicted of downloading some dodgy stuff. Which he didn't pay for, nor encouraged others to do the same.

Top stuff again this weekend, natch.

Quote: sootyj @ November 1 2009, 3:36 PM GMT

Which he didn't pay for-

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Well that's alright then... as long as he got it for free... perhaps Vanessa George and her cronies could use that as that in their appeal... kiddy fiddlings fine as long as it's free...

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 1 2009, 2:50 PM GMT

I'm glad it's turning into 'The Malcolm Tucker Show', he has always been the most entertaining character throughout and I think the writers have realised this.

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Yes, the only problem is that Capaldi gives such a towering inferno of a performance that his talent tends to utterly eclipse all else around him.

Perhaps this has been said before, but this series proves that swearing can be both big and clever.

Quote: Nogget @ November 2 2009, 9:31 AM GMT

Yes, the only problem is that Capaldi gives such a towering inferno of a performance that his talent tends to utterly eclipse all else around him.

Perhaps this has been said before, but this series proves that swearing can be both big and clever.

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Fair points but the show works best as an ensemble piece and there doesn't seem to be a lot of development of Malcolm other than seeing his powers drain away as the election approaches. Olly and Glen haven't had so much good material to work on although its good to see more of hapless Robyn ('Joni f**kin Mitchell').

Quote: KJSmyling @ November 2 2009, 8:48 AM GMT

Well that's alright then... as long as he got it for free... perhaps Vanessa George and her cronies could use that as that in their appeal... kiddy fiddlings fine as long as it's free...

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What I meant is no one was directly harmed by his actions. e.g. made a profit and went onto make porn.

His accessing this material was more pathetic than perverted. And didn't merit a substantial prison sentence and being made into a parriah.

I'm enjoying it, and it's the best sitcom on the box at the moment, but there is a creeping sense of deja vu with it. It seems to follow the same forumla every week: minister f**ks up, Malcolm Tucker finds out and swears a lot, and they all end up a bit sheepish but still hanging onto their jobs.

What I liked about the first series, the specials and the film, was that they seemed to do so much more. This series feels a bit one note. I also liked that in previous incarnations Malcolm Tucker had a foil in the shape of Julius Nicholson or the James Gandolfini character. I.e., big beasts who were just as powerful as him. In this series he seems surrounded by pygmies.

And as with Hanibal Lector or Jigsaw, the more we see of him, the more they risk diminishing him.

Quote: youngian @ November 2 2009, 9:56 AM GMT

Fair points but the show works best as an ensemble piece .../

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Very true, but if most of the cast were replaced by cowering puppies, it wouldn't be any less funny.

Quote: chipolata @ November 2 2009, 10:14 AM GMT

In this series he seems surrounded by pygmies.

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My thoughts entirely, but perhaps the Ministerial pygmy is a David to Malcolm's Goliath, and will manage to fight back?

I liked Malcom's solution to the paper jam.

Quote: Nogget @ November 2 2009, 11:26 AM GMT

I liked Malcom's solution to the paper jam.

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That was a great line.

Quote: chipolata @ November 2 2009, 10:14 AM GMT

I'm enjoying it, and it's the best sitcom on the box at the moment, but there is a creeping sense of deja vu with it. It seems to follow the same forumla every week: minister f**ks up, Malcolm Tucker finds out and swears a lot, and they all end up a bit sheepish but still hanging onto their jobs.

What I liked about the first series, the specials and the film, was that they seemed to do so much more. This series feels a bit one note. I also liked that in previous incarnations Malcolm Tucker had a foil in the shape of Julius Nicholson or the James Gandolfini character. I.e., big beasts who were just as powerful as him. In this series he seems surrounded by pygmies.

And as with Hanibal Lector or Jigsaw, the more we see of him, the more they risk diminishing him.

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I agree the storyline is too centred around Tucker but over these eight episodes I think we will get to see a more deflated Malcolm whose powers begin to fade as the government gives up the will to live.