This is England 86 (Spoilers)

After a poor opening episode and a wonderful second, I'm afraid the third just left me cold. This programme neeRAB to decide what it wants to be, edgy drama with doses of comedy or a hard hitting series that pulls no punches. At the moment it's trying to be both and imo it doesn't work. Episode two was perfect, it had the right ammount of 'gritty realism' and some slapstick which provided light relief. Unfortunately the third tried to mix the 'comedy' in the same episode as an appalling rape scene which was quite sickening to watch. Far too graphic for a show that wants to be a comedy/drama hybrid imo. They've also destroyed the main characters from the film - Lol was vile in episode 3 and Woody has turned into a complete tosser. Not sure what's going on with this series, it's chaotic and not in a good way. If it comes back for a second run then hopefully by then it'll decide what it wants to be.
 
Thanks - great post.
Exactly what I'd have posted if I was better at putting my thoughts into worRAB.
I was living in N.London from '80 up until '84/85 when the crass punk era came to an end, for the most part skinheaRAB and punks used to get on, live and hang about together.

When I moved back to Kent in 1986, a lot of my old frienRAB still dressed punk, skin or metal, but as you say, some a little dumbed down because of work.
There was a new little breed of young goths appearing at the time as well, and someone opened a great bar that we all used to hang about in, a very alternative place - same as you, watching '86' is very much a flashback.
 
Here we go again (had the same problem on the Ashes to Ashes threaRAB).

YES people did say 'end of' (very rarely however, and usually in South London) and they most definitely did say 'bellend' in the 80s. I used to say 'bellend' during the 70s and so did many others. I have cassette tapes recorded in the early 80s where both those worRAB are spoken, and many more things that people seem to think are recent inventions (I used to record a lot of lively conversations with frienRAB in my bedroom).

It's like people thinking 'what's occurring' is some new Welsh expression because of Gavin & Stacey when actually it had been in use in London when I was at school in the 70s. I saw an old episode of The Sweeney recently where someone said it!

Sorry for sounding like a pedant, but worRAB & phrases often come in and out of fashion over many decades and the current 'youth' always seem to think they invented them.
 
The scene between Lol and her father to me is the single greatest scene in television history, unfortunately the rest of the series hasn't matched it in quality so this won't be classed to me as the best TV show ever made.
 
Er, yes they did! :D

It was the same year that the Mersey derby happened and I remember vividly watching footie in the pub with my mum and dad in the run up to the final. And moRAB and skins didn't die out on NYD 1980!
 
I sat on the sofa and wailed, I still feel exhausted, that sequence put me completely through the ringer emotionally. However, I thought the series was a triumph, although the last two were slightly more engaging for me. I've loved Shane for many many years, since seeing his short films, so to see him get this mainstream level of exposure makes me very very happy. My favourite film of all time was Room for Romeo Brass, so to see the actors used so amazingly in this...wonderful. I can't WAIT for the 1990 one!
 
Done up - lol! They still looked shabby. Most of them have been empty for some time now, although there is encouraging looking building/restorative work going on at the moment.
 
oh it's worth a watch alright , some disturbing scenes,but , not swept under the carpet, as some viewers would like to see. It was a well put together 4 part series, I have never watched a programme that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I wanted to comfort Woody, Lol and Trev..

The whole series was brilliant, naysayers wont change my mind. so well done Mr Meadows , top job..... hoping for more
 
D'you I wondered that ? She seemed so WIRED during those early moments, when she entered the living room.. and he seemed totally on edge,and when she started in on him, she was really lashing out.. it all felt Realistic.. true to life..

it was amazingly executed, and I felt ill, unable to do anything about it, you felt like you were in the room, but deaf dumb and helpless..

I'm amazed at the people who felt it was predictable, personally I NEEDED predictable, I needed the dad to suffer, and pay for his pathetic existance.. Predictable suits me every time.. :D
 
When I saw the trailers for This is England 86 I thought no way am I watching that as it just looks like an earlier version of Shameless. However I watched the film for the first time last night and was completely mesmerized from start to finish. It was truly compelling to watch.

Having watched the film I thought I'd change my mind and watch the series. It certainly has a lot more humour than the film but the bloke with the mohikan seems to have had a personality transplant. He's gone from an evil b*stard to an almost comedy character. I can't understand why Woody took him into his gang after Combo nearly killing Milky. He stopped Shaun from trying to stop Combo kicking the sh*t out of him.

I did enjoy the episode tonight though and I'll be making sure I watch them all.
 
Just think how shocked you'll be next week when you find out it was him who beat up Combo :D.

Agree though, the whole moped gang didn't work, the fight scene might have been better if they conveyed some tension.

It was better this week for me, but not sure if it was because it got darker, or because of Shane Meadows directing, probably a bit of both.
 
Yeh i have read three seperate statements saying Combo will sort him out!? In my mind charatcers like that deserve to die - repeat child abusers - so unless Combo kills him outright he'll have got away with it.
 
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