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I’ve just started on Season Two of Skins (British version obviously.) I realize I’m late to the game, but not extraordinarily so. Like, I’m still meeting people who are either willing to talk at length with me about it or who haven’t watched any of it yet. After this, I’ll move onto Downton Abbey. I’ve been told I can polish that off in a day, if I work really hard at ignoring the rest of my life. I’ve been told to watch Peep Show but I’m not positive it’s for me. Which is different than saying it’s not good. I’m sure it’s good. You see the difference, right?
While I still have some time here, I’d like to just throw out there a nominee for the new British television show that Americans should be getting obsessed with. I’ve already seen it but I’d be willing to watch it again. For the good of my country.
The show is called Cracker. I’m positive some of you have heard of it. But I want you ALL to have heard of it. I want the Glee kids to be dropping references about it. I want it to be a new expression. I want everyone to be saying, “Oh, I just crumbled a cracker in my mouth” instead of “I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.” Mainly because I will do ANYTHING to make people stop saying that latter expression, even if it involves dedicating the rest of my life to making you love a show about a sweaty, British, drunken, gambling addict criminal psychologist, who is nonetheless a totally appealing character. (True story: Last weekend I met a guy…not a GUY guy, just a male human…and the subject of marriage came up. Like I said, apropos of not much, “How do you feel about marriage?” And he said, “I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.” It was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me and that will ever happen to me. Even if, say, my dog were to die in the future, which he won’t, he’s going to live forever even if I have to zombify him to make that happen, but if he WERE, having heard someone put those two sentiments together in one sentence would still have been worse.)
Cracker is played by Robbie Coltrane, who is the Brit’s version of both Oliver Platt and James Gandolfini. They have to consolidate their actors there. He also plays Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies. If you’ve only seen him in those, you’re going to have a hard time believing how charming he can be. Which is very.
The show is full of cliffhangers and dark turns. You can definitely binge on it, just stuff it in your brain like a bag of M&M’s. I feel like if we all work together, the entire country could have watched the entire series by this summer. Then we could all meet up somewhere…like at the mall or the state of Wisconsin…and talk about it freely, without having to worry about spoilers. If you think summer is too optimistic, I’m willing to compromise. We could shoot for early fall. Whatever it takes.
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In England, crackers are called lorries.
I think that might be wrong!
Where does the new James Bond in a dress come into all this?
The second episode is the best thing ever.
I have not yet seen “Crackers,” but I assume that at some point it features a comical montage of Robbie Coltrane chasing girls in bikinis, scored to Yakety Sax, right?
See also: Inspector Lewis
and then: Luther
For my money, I always thought the 1976 version, “Jive Turkey,” was better.
What did you call me?
Yesssss. twilly loves new British TV.
Downton Abbey is pretty solid. Though the main girl falls into the category of heroines who definitely don’t deserve love. Hopefully she’ll soften in the second series.
I recently purchased the new Sherlock with the always charming Martin Freeman. I was surprised by how much I loved it.
Also, new season of Doctor Who starts up in less than a month on BBC America. I am excited.
Yesssssssss New Sherlock and current New Who are rocking my tv world. I need more new Sherlock in my face though! Why must it take so long?
I have great hope for the BBC adaptation of The Crimson Petal and the White (such a good book! Read it now!) – Richard E Grant! Gillian Anderson! Pseudo-Victorian Swoon!
Twilly, I feel compelled to point it out about once a week, but we are TV soulmates. Let’s have TV watching parties.
Maggie Smith is increidble
Yes! Skins!
Downvote all you want, bitches. Still won’t make Misfits any better.
Because Misfits is already perfect? Is that what you mean? I think that must be what you mean. Yeah.
Can we talk about “Skins” for a bit? This season has been so-so for me. Franky and Rich are two of my favorite characters, maybe even in the all-time category of favorite “Skins” characters (see: Chris, Cassie, Katie). But I feel like since Mini’s episode it’s been all downhill. Nick’s was downright boring for me. Alo was a little bit better but I still feel a general meh towards this cast. I’m hoping Grace can redeem the later half of this season.
Also, Matty. Can we talk about Matty as well? UGH.
I love this season personally! Maybe I’m really blinded by love of Rich and Grace (and Franky) though. Matty is pretty….creepy.
I liked Franky, Rich, and Grace almost immediately. They’re classic “Skins” characters, so well-written. I know Matty is supposed to be this weird, dangerous figure but I like my bad boys Cook-style, okay.
Skins is the BEST. People seem deeply divided on the current (ENDING TODAY) season 5 though. Personally, I’m heads over heels in love with it, especially Rich and Grace! Someone join me in this love-in, please.
I liked the characters, but the season had no real story. The first season, for example, had Tonys and Sids friendship as an arc. The (amazing) Effy-Episode wouldn’t work if we hadn’t learned how Tony suppresses Sid all the time. Most of the friends were involved heavily even when the episode wasn’t about them.
In this season, they all live their lives, and sometimes one of the others crosses their path. I didn’t get the feeling that this is a gang that belongs together. Also, I missed a unique, outstanding character (like Cooooooook). Rich is just a cliché, Franky too introvert, and Mini a Cassi minus personality. I liked Alo, though. But he had not much appearance.
I used to watch Cracker with my mama in the early-to-mid ’90s, which when you consider that I was born in 1985 was probably not that age-appropriate. I distinctly remember when (SPOILER) the cop who was Cracker’s girlfriend was raped by another cop, who then contaminated the evidence when it was at the lab.
Trivia: the actress who played that girlfriend plays Lily Potter in the Harry Potter movies.
I’ve been casually watching Downton Abbey lately (casually means I still pay attention to the rest of my life, and so didn’t finish it in a day) and it’s the first show that nobody I know watches or even mentions. I was beginning to think that it was just made for me and I’m the only one who has ever seen it–like some weird Twilight Zone thing where the show would start talking directly to me, trying to force Britishisms into me. Your mention of Downton Abbey reassured me that it really is a thing that people know about, and I thank you for that.
Well, Christopher Eccleston is in this, so I must watch it.
The Doctor! Right, fellow nerds???
Sorry, my friend, the Doctor has regenerated (reincarnated) twice since Eccleston. The Doctor is now played by Matt Smith.
I fell in love with Robbie ages ago when I first saw Crackers. I remember thinking “that is one chubby guy I would totally hit/fall deeply in love with.” This was long before the first Harry Potter film. Years later, I read in a magazine at my optometrist’s office that he was being cast as Hagrid, and I was thrilled, being also a fan of the Harry Potter book that I read aloud to my young son as his bedtime story. (I also was elated from discovering in the same article that Alan Rickman was being cast, as I adored him too, from his “Truly Madly Deeply” film.) I am so happy that someone else besides me remembers and loves Crackers. Yay!
Peep Show is brilliant. Total cringe-fest. I discovered it through a British friend (definitely not searching surfthechannel for free smut). Black Books is also very good. I’ve seen the first 3 seasons of skins but haven’t had the time to catch up. NO SPOILERS PLZKTHX, I definitely don’t need anyone telling me Chris dies AGAIN.
Robbie Coltrane is actually Scottish, not British. It’s the equivalent of calling a Canadian American.
So many good crime shows, it really is their niche. I enjoyed Luther, as ridiculous ads it is. Taggart used to be great too.
Wrongo. Scotland is in Britain. He just ain’t English.
Well, I would love to meet you in Canada, or wherever, to discuss Cracker, but Mr Netflix says Season 1 is on “Save” so it ain’t gonna happen.
it’s been my experience that if you start watching downton abbey, you will never be able to stop regardless of whatever is actually happening in real life until you’ve finished the series
I am from England, I have ordered a bag from brandbagsales.com. When I receive the product. I find it is not the color I like.They change the bag for me immediately for free. The service is very good.
The worst thing that could happen in your life is that an animal who hangs around because you feed/imprison it will die. You lead a charmed life my friend.