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New Statesman, The
In a time when people's trust of politicians is at an all time low, a comedic series about an evil and corrupt politician may not seem so funny. Going against the odds, writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran manage to create a hilarious satire about this topic with a show titled "The New Statesman."
The series revolves around Alan B'Stard- a murderous, back stabbing, sexist, racist, troublemaking, fast talking, quick witted, power hungry, heartless, treacherous, cheating, slimey, hateful, sadistic, brown nosing, two faced, rich, law breaking, right winged politician. Alan has a seat as an MP for Haltemprice, but he wants so much more. Whether he has men killed ("Happiness Is A Warm Gun") or attempts to assassinate Gorbachev ("Profit of Boom") Alan will literally do anything it takes to advance his own career.
The episodes :
Season One:
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
Passport To Freedom
Sex Is Wrong
Waste Not, Want Not
Friends of St. James
Three Line Whipping
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Season Two:
Fatal Extraction
Live From Westminster
The Wapping Conspiracy
The Haltemprice Bunker
California Here I Come
May The Best Man Win
Piers of the Realm
Season Three:
Labour of Love
The Party's Over
Let Them Sniff Cake
Keeping Mum
Natural Selection
Profit of Boom
Season Four:
Back From The Mort
H*A*S*H
Speaking in Tongues
Heil and Farewell
A Bigger Splash
The Irresistible Rise of Alan B'Stard
First and foremost, the casting of Rik Mayall (best known for his work in "The Young Ones" and "Drop Dead Fred") as Alan B'Stard is inspired. Without him, "The New Statesman" couldn't and wouldn't be successful. Mayall's devilish demeanor, mannerisms, and expressions are priceless. From the way he interrogates a teddy bear interrogation to kicking down senior citizens, Mayall positively makes Alan B'Stard his own. I can't imagine any other actor in that role.
In addition, Michael Troughton's (son of the late great Patrick Troughton) role as the sidekick Piers is equally impressive. Piers may be a bumbling goofball who carries a Winnie the Pooh lunchbox, but he adds a lot to the show. As much as Alan may despise and torture Piers, Piers often gives Alan bright ideas. Alan truly needs to work with Piers even though he would never admit it. Troughton's Piers, while a bit brainless at times, is also necessary as his character makes for a nice contrast with Alan. We get to see how crazy Alan is whenever he attacks poor, shy Piers.
Not to be outdone, Marks and Gran do a wonderful job in not only writing a laugh out loud funny satire, but creating a fascinating villain. Whenever a villain is at the forefront of a film or show it's a risky move, but Alan's humorous antics pay off. What makes the stories work is the blend of fiction with non-fiction. For instance, we all know that slavery will never be re-introduced or that public hangings will again take place, but in the world of Alan B'Stard these things are possible. The humor lies in the fact that Alan can accomplish shocking and controversial goals. Plus, as repulsive as Alan and his actions are, you can't help but watch to see what hilariously insane plan he comes up with next. I never thought I would find myself invested in such a crooked politician.
Another strong characteristic of the show is the character of Sarah B'Stard, Alan's wife. As if Alan wasn't wicked enough, Sarah could be even nastier. She cheats on her husband with virtually every character we meet in the show and even managed to leave Alan in Siberia for 3 years. What's funny is that even after all she did to him, Alan still takes her back. I say this lightly as the two could easily be at each others throat or worse after the last episode. Personally, I see them staying together as they truly know each other better than anyone and probably enjoy one upping each other in the most heinous ways imaginable.
As much as I enjoyed "The New Statesman," a few flaws put a damper on the set. While the first three seasons are undeniably entertaining, the fourth season left something to be desired. Without giving away too much, Alan no longer has a seat as MP for Haltemprice. Instead, he manages to become a European MP. I respect the writers for attempting a change, but the transition doesn't work for me. The six episodes in season four aren't nearly as funny. I'm not one to be a prude, but a couple jokes were too cruel. For instance, there's an ongoing gag with Alan threatening to kill an infant that falls completely flat. There's no denying that Alan is a horrible person who WOULD do such a thing, but it's still a bit over the top for my taste and may put off viewers other than myself.
The DVD
Video:
Since the show was shot on video, the picture quality was spotty at best. The video is extremely grainy throughout, but as most past British shows have similar quality it is not a big deal. The show is presented in its original full-frame 1:33:1 Aspect Ratio.
Sound: Extras: Final Thoughts:
Film and television enthusiast Nick Lyons recently had his first book published titled "Attack of the Sci-Fi Trivia." It is available on Amazon.com.
Knowing nothing about the series in advance, "The New Statesman" turned out to be a welcome treat. For those on the lookout for a smart comedy, I implore you to check out "The New Statesman."
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