Party Animals

[Jark]

I think I have a new favourite television series :o Party Animals is one of the best dramas I've seen in ages! I've watched the re-run on BBC4 this past month having missed it first time round and have become slightly obsessed, which is a shame since it was never recommisioned. Who watched it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/images/bank/programmes_tv/drama/party_animals/300andrea_riseborough.jpghttp://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/images/bank/programmes_tv/drama/party_animals/300matt_smith.jpg

One thing I liked about it was that it was so much more character-driven than plot-driven; we see the likes of Scott Foster (Andrew Buchan) and Ashika Chandirimani (the fabulous Shelley Conn) really develop, but the big only storylines running through the series are their romance and Ashika's political ambitions and running in the bi-election. Was anyone else a fan (of the show, not of Andrew Buchan's genetics)?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/images/bank/programmes_tv/drama/party_animals/300andrew_buchan.jpghttp://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/images/bank/programmes_tv/drama/party_animals/300shelley_conn.jpg

[TurnerPrize]

Oh fuck, have i missed this again?

I would love to swap thoughts and observations about this series with you Jark, but ALAS you did not start this thread when it began.

Was Matt Smith any good?

[K@ne]

Matt Smith is looking his best in the stills from this series, I much prefer his hair like that, but I suspect the floppy do will be considered more Doctorish.

[Jark]

Matt Smith is very good in it, yeah. He portrays the nerdy, clumsy, intelligent, well-intentioned and warm-hearted character type very well. I'm afraid TP only two episodes are on iplayer :(

[Madison]

Who watched it?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/images/bank/programmes_tv/drama/party_animals/300andrew_buchan.jpg

I did. I loved it - I would love to be one of these New Labour policy wonks/spin doctors.

[Jark]

I'm BUMPING THIS because I'm about to rewatch and TP (and anybody else interested) I think you should DO THE SAME. I'm sure I could find a way to fit each episode in the YKW somehow, or find links online. It's just SO GOOD and I want somebody to discuss it with.

ps. Matt Smith is so much better in this than he is as the Doctor. SO much better.

[Jark]

ps. Shelley Conn (who I literally love) is going to be one of the leads in Spielberg's new mega budget US TV series Terra Nova later this year :disco: BREAKOUT STAR

Although that might mean no Mistresses reunion :(

[FetchFugly]

I really loved this at the time. The dancing in the living room to Walls Come Tumbling Down sticks in my head for some reason.

[TurnerPrize]

I refuse to believe that Smith can be better than he is as the doctor, because i think he is absolutely perfect at that (at least once he hit his stride towards the end of last season), but i have finally ordered this. I love Riseborough and quite like Andrew Buchan, too.

Also in an Andrew Buchan OT: i accidentally saw an episode of garrow's law a few months back and really really liked it. I might have to catch up on that before series 3 gets here. Though he does have the oddest voice in it.

[Jark]

Matt Smith made me stop watching Doctor Who for good. POOR MAN'S DAVID TENNANT.

[TurnerPrize]

Jark: the voice of SLOW-IN-THE-HEAD HOUSEWIVES

He's so much better than Tennant was. And that's not 'imo', it's SOLID FACT.

:evil:

[COB]

Preach it TP - I'll not hear a word against the NEW PATRICK TROUGHTON(™)

[OhSnap]

you'll hear a word aginst Doctor Who though - it's fucking SHIT.


bye x

[COB]

Moopy's mystery anti-Who tagger UNMASKED :D

[OhSnap]

:o

[Penelope]

I've FINALLY GOTTEN AROUND TO WATCHING THIS. I downloaded the whole series and just thought I'd dip in and watch the first episode and then ended up watching the whole thing in one go. I felt HORRIDLY unprincipled (so basically viewing the whole thing through Scott's prism :D) that I was swayed to a point where I was actually rooting for Ashika in the finale (who is my new goddess).

And Matt Smith is WONDERFUL in this. That said, it would've been nicer to have a slightly less MASSIVELY VAGUE ending. Maybe something along the lines of a PROPER KISS/final equivocation convo between Matt and Kirstie. I could live easily with the endings for all the others but that stuck out as the one properly hanging thread, whereas the others all at least had some resolution.

[Penelope]

But yeah, this so could do with a recommissioning now. I'd like to see Ashika as one of Cam's Babez and a nice bit of role reversal given the hints throughout at the lack of firm policy from the Tories in the first series :disco:

[Jark]

There wasn't a resolution because they expected a second series but unfortunately it never happened. :(

Ashika was amazing wasn't she? What a woman. One of my favourite scenes in the whole thing was when she gives the misogynist MPs in the pub a proper SMACKING DOWN (whilst maintaining perfect composure) after one of them says 'you would though, wouldn't you?' under his breath.

[Penelope]

Oh, but additional note - it did PISS ME RIGHT OFF that they constantly spelled it 'bi-election' throughout :grr:

[Penelope]

There wasn't a resolution because they expected a second series but unfortunately it never happened. :(

Ashika was amazing wasn't she? What a woman. One of my favourite scenes in the whole thing was when she gives the misogynist MPs in the pub a proper SMACKING DOWN (whilst maintaining perfect composure) after one of them says 'you would though, wouldn't you?' under his breath.

I suppose it's never going to happen what with Matt Smith off at GREENER PASTURES and all :(

Oh god, that one was FANTASTIC. There were just so many brilliant moments throughout the whole thing though. I know the term has been subject to gay inflation but Ashika REALLY IS a QoL on all levels :disco:

[Jark]

What did you think of Kirsty? She really was a NASTY WITCH at times (quite frequently actually) but there was still something kind of endearing about her, like she was actually just a bit lost in the world of Westminster and trying to find her feet but not really managing. I LOVE the scene in the car with Jo Porter (another genuine QOL) where she says she so admires that Nelson Mandela never resorted to violence during the Apartheid era. :D That LOOK Jo gives her!

[Penelope]

See, Kirsty REALLY was one who was inconsistently characterised, although I did find her quite endearing (say NOTHING.). One episode she'd be hyperefficient careerist and the next she'd be dumb bimbo who had no idea how to write a précis, didn't read up on Mandela or had no idea what to do when someone SUPERGLUED HER DOOR :daf: That said, I did think she was a right bitch at times for how she kept chopping and changing with how she treated Danny.

Jo Porter really was WONDERFUL. I hope I get a boss like that :disco:

[Jark]

The Jo and Danny relationship was one of my favourites too. The little scene where he put his arm around her after her husband turned up at her party and IMMEDIATELY LEFT AGAIN and she got monumentally hammered was great.

I could honestly talk about this show all day. But I won't!

[Penelope]

Her husband was a RIGHT DICK THOUGH. I mean WHAT DID HE EXPECT from a wife in GOVERNMENT?

[FetchFugly]

Ashika was amazing wasn't she? What a woman. One of my favourite scenes in the whole thing was when she gives the misogynist MPs in the pub a proper SMACKING DOWN (whilst maintaining perfect composure) after one of them says 'you would though, wouldn't you?' under his breath.

I watched it at the time but bought it on DVD dirt cheap recently and have just watched that episode. Fabulous.

It is also nice to look at Andrew Buchan and have him speak in a non-crap accent.

[Eileen]

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