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I know this is something different from the usual fare on the board but I've been on something of a Dads Army bender this week, watching the whole of series 8 and intending to work my way back (skipping 'All is Safely Gathered in', trivia fans!) and I've got to say it's wonderful stuff.
There's stuff that hasn't aged well such as the pacing, and some stuff that has become pretty much a P.C. nightmare but there's also a lot more than hasn't gone out of fashion and, I suspect, never will.
For a start there are the central performances of Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier. Eternal second stringers and solid character men getting one last turn in the limelight and becoming solid gold stars. The interplay between them could keep me watching for days. The rest of the cast are equally good particularly, I realise re-watching as an adult, Jimmy Beck. Died too young.
And the characters as well are wonderfully drawn. There are more solidly created characters here than in pracically any other sitcom you could name. Cheers is the only one that comes close off the top of my head.
There's also a dark seriousness to it that sometimes surprises, moments of drama and emotion amongst the pratfalls and silly voices. My two favourites involve John Laurie, an actor much better than the material he usually got. One involves him promising not to gossip about Wilsons secret daughter. The other is his simple response to Mainwaring when, believing the Nazi invasion has started, they prepare to go off to battle. Mainwairing says something along the lines of "Of course, we won't survive this" and Fraser replies firmly "I know" but still they go into battle.
Anyway, for all it's fond memories of Saturday tea-times and the laughs along the way I love this show. |
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