When we heard him praying it reminded me of Butterflies or Open All Hours.
Rev - Series 1 Page 3
Quote: Badge @ June 15 2010, 11:36 PM BSTBut is he played better by Branagh or the original foreign chap?
I thought it was a bit of a mixed bag. I also telegraphed the finale where the bloke throws the bottle and it hits the window.
I wasn't sure that the builders shouting abuse had a genuine feel to it. I thought that idiots like that were of the 'Oi love, get yer tits out' variety, but hey ho, maybe they give the clergy grief as well. A lot of set up effort for a smallish pay off when he told them to 'f*** off'. Also, I couldn't understand why he smokes. No biggie, maybe it's to show him as a bit of a beer swilling, would be womanising, blaspheming type, but when he was walking down the road an early scene puffing away I thought that perhaps his ciggy habit would be the subject of a gag, but no, he's just a smoker. Maybe one week they will show him nipping outside in the middle of a sermon for a fag break or something.
All in all I'd give it a 7 out of 10. It wasn't dire and it wasn't great. Is it something that I will fret about if I missed an episode? Probably not.
Quote: Aldeem @ June 29 2010, 9:15 AM BSTI thought it was a bit of a mixed bag. I also telegraphed the finale where the bloke throws the bottle and it hits the window.
I guessed it too, but only by a minute or so.
I guess he smokes and drinks to show that he's not one of those pious chaps. Has plenty of flaws of his own.
When did anyone last see rowdy builders shouting from the scaffolding? Last century some time, I think.
Never at clergy either.
Do you follow vicars around?
Found it rather boring - so many sitcoms down the ages with awkward CofE vicars that it felt like a repeat. Agreed the main character was well-acted but it seemed such a well-worn scenario for a sitcom that all jokes around moral dilemmas will be seen a mile off.
I even felt like it got a bit preachy; the bit about Dawkins made me cringe and the light touch of the writer suddenly became hamfisted.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ June 28 2010, 10:34 PM BSTThat was good stuff; no big laughs, not many small laughs either, but very likeable and enjoyable.
But would have been better with some jokes? I'm not sure whether to bother now. 
It was average for my liking. Bits were good, but on the whole I'd like to see where it goes before passing my final judgement.
I rather enjoyed this. Engaging.
Quote: the heretic @ June 29 2010, 11:48 AM BSTI even felt like it got a bit preachy; the bit about Dawkins made me cringe and the light touch of the writer suddenly became hamfisted.
Must admit I find Richard Dawkins jokes quite dull now. They're absolutely everywhere. There was even one in Doctor Who on Saturday. Move on. Find smebody new to joke about.
Was this show made to fill some kind of BBC religious programming quota?
I didn't laugh. It appeared awkward and I agree the builders were seemingly misplaced in this situation. I will watch the next episode to see if my opinion changes.
As has been noted by pretty much every reviewer, the gag rate is low on this sitcom... but there's something ultra likeable about it and thus I'm really looking forward to the next episode.
Quote: Aldeem @ June 29 2010, 9:15 AM BSTI wasn't sure that the builders shouting abuse had a genuine feel to it.
I couldn't understand why he smokes.
As it happens, pretty much everything that happens on the show is based on what has happened to real vicars. Which is perhaps quite worrying.
Here's an article about it from The Evening Standard
For example, it was Rev Richard Coles who admits to being the inspiration for the builders scene. Here's a quote from him in this Mirror article...
Quote: Richard ColesI'm one of many priests who shared experiences with the writer. In one episode, every time the priest walks past some builders they shout insults at him. He takes it and he takes it - then one day he's had enough, rips off his dog collar and replies in kind. That happened to me.