By June L.
Apr 18, 2008, 12:32 GMT
Look up the word curmudgeon in an illustrated dictionary and you might just find a photograph of Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson) from BBC’s series One Foot in the Grave.
This show explores the ups and downs of late middle age and unwelcome retirement for a nice, middle-income English couple. It is great to see this series again!
If ever there was a prototype for a grumpy old man, it is Victor Meldrew. He doesn’t set out to be irascible, it just seems that if anything is going to turn out wrong, it happens to Victor. And, well, he isn’t the type to take adversity with grace.
When things get messy, Victor lets people know just how annoyed he is with the situation. Retired, though his long-suffering wife still goes to work at a florist shop, Victor manages to make life chaotic rather than peaceful and enjoyable.
Season 3, or Series 3 as the BBC calls it contains episodes: (1.) Monday Morning Will be Fine, (2.) Dreamland, (3.) The Broken Reflection, (4.) The Beast in the Cage, (5.) Beware the Trickster, and (6.) The Worst Horror of All. The titles should tell you something about the tone of the stories, which have upheaval, some terror, much distraction, mixed up and messed up situations, and mostly from Victor’s point of view. Fans of the show usually have a favorite episode or two or three.
One of mine is Dreamland, in which Margaret is plagued by the dream that she murders an old man…..any guesses who it might be? There are wonderful lines (Victor’s ever-present “I don’t believe it!”) and scenes that are classic examples of domestic comedy. One might strongly identify with scenes such as the clueless neighbor invited to come over “sometime” showing up at the door only minutes after you left HIS house.
Watching Victor and Margaret dressed in pajamas and ready to go to sleep, trying to be hospitable to the idiot they left just half and hour past is too funny, and too true. We try to be nice and civil in odd situations, but leave it to Victor to put the situation into real terms after the guy finally goes home.
Series 3 is presented on 2 discs containing all six episodes and some nice special features. The 1991 Christmas Special “The Man in the Long Black Coat” is included and a very good commentary with writer David Renwick and actor Richard Wilson for the episode The Beast in the cage.
Series 4 has the episodes (1.) The Pit and the Pendulum, (2.) Descent into the Maelstrom, (3.) Hearts of Darkness, (4.) Warm Champagne, (5.) The Trial and (6.) Secret of the Seven Sorcerers. Again the titles hint at the fact that while this was a comedy, darker subject matter was examined.
In Hearts of Darkness, elder abuse came to light and Victor becomes involved with an escape plan for the nursing home inmates, and in Warm Champagne, Margaret meets another man and thinks about having an affair.
Special features for series 4 include The Classic Christmas Special “One Foot in the Algarve” and a commentary on Hearts of Darkness with David Renwick and Richard Wilson.
Both of these are nice additions to collections of BBC classics. One Foot In the Grave is not the typical comedy, but has much for the viewer to enjoy and ponder. In 2004 it was voted one of the top ten sitcoms in the UK.
One Foot in the Grave – Season 3 is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD database for more information.
One Foot in the Grave - Season 4 is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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