Post by rhort on Jul 6, 2012 3:58:26 GMT -5
Another opening scene in the Printer’s office with Ron, and we see the strain he is under with the increasing complexity of Gary’s storytelling. Ron clearly cares a great deal about Gary, as he’s prepared to entertain his web of deceit during its convoluted spiral of intricacy, but it seems that even he has his limits, as he attempts to bring Gary down to Earth somewhat with a brief injection of logic. Gary however, in his usual style, soldiers on with what Gary wants, and Ron is forced to trail in his wake.
Back to the 40s, and we see Reg used once again for comic effect across the scenes here, telling the stories of his wife’s apparent ‘social’ exploits, whilst himself seeming relatively naïve about the ways of the world in general. Personally, I see from these scenes a specific example of Reg’s role as a counterpoint to Ron back in the 90s. They both seem to have similar senses of humour, but played out with a definite leaning towards the timeframe they find themselves in. I think they’re probably both of similar levels of intelligence too, with Ron bolstered by a superior standard of education and a penchant for loquaciousness giving the illusion that he would be smarter than Reg. Also, and perhaps most obviously, their attachment to Gary, being a point of inspiration in both their lives, if for different reasons.
When Gary arrives back in the 90s, we see him drunk, and I’ve always enjoyed watching Nicholas Lyndhurst playing a drunk; I just think he does it *SO* well, although not particularly as a believable drunk, as such, but the comic effect he brings gives an insight into the high quality of his acting, and this is most notable in the scene at Ron’s front door. Yvonne seems a lot more amenable towards Gary when he returns home, showing some genuine concern for him, which seems, in part at least, to be down to the story Gary has been telling her about what he’s been up to recently, and it seems to me that, carrying on from the final scene of the last episode, they may have been working on things between then and now.
Back to the 40s, and we see more evidence that Phoebe is looking for an increase in commitment from Gary, which is certainly something that has been building for a while, and takes another small step pushing us ever closer to the point where Gary will one day have to make a firm decision as to what he’s going to do. Phoebe’s reaction to the ‘period’ line here, is one of the most memorable of the entire series for me.
As the 90s scene cuts in here, the repetition of the line by Yvonne on the stage is truly outstanding, and leads nicely into Gary’s visit to the doctor, where he is shown to be displaying classic signs of extreme stress, and the manner in which the doctor himself unwittingly hits the nail on the head is handled brilliantly. The ‘Canadian Sprinter’ line here dates this episode.
The concert scene brings us back to Gary’s immediate issues, and I particularly enjoy another great line from the unseen heckler. The subtle drug use reference with ‘Eggman’ is also brilliant, and shows for me the high calibre of screenwriting this series exhibits.
And then to round things off, Ron is once again called in to cover Gary’s absence, which he carries out in typically excellent form, saving Gary once again, however, bringing this episode full circle, we’re back to the mood of the opening scene, and the strain is showing.
I’d give this episode a 70% rating.
Back to the 40s, and we see Reg used once again for comic effect across the scenes here, telling the stories of his wife’s apparent ‘social’ exploits, whilst himself seeming relatively naïve about the ways of the world in general. Personally, I see from these scenes a specific example of Reg’s role as a counterpoint to Ron back in the 90s. They both seem to have similar senses of humour, but played out with a definite leaning towards the timeframe they find themselves in. I think they’re probably both of similar levels of intelligence too, with Ron bolstered by a superior standard of education and a penchant for loquaciousness giving the illusion that he would be smarter than Reg. Also, and perhaps most obviously, their attachment to Gary, being a point of inspiration in both their lives, if for different reasons.
When Gary arrives back in the 90s, we see him drunk, and I’ve always enjoyed watching Nicholas Lyndhurst playing a drunk; I just think he does it *SO* well, although not particularly as a believable drunk, as such, but the comic effect he brings gives an insight into the high quality of his acting, and this is most notable in the scene at Ron’s front door. Yvonne seems a lot more amenable towards Gary when he returns home, showing some genuine concern for him, which seems, in part at least, to be down to the story Gary has been telling her about what he’s been up to recently, and it seems to me that, carrying on from the final scene of the last episode, they may have been working on things between then and now.
Back to the 40s, and we see more evidence that Phoebe is looking for an increase in commitment from Gary, which is certainly something that has been building for a while, and takes another small step pushing us ever closer to the point where Gary will one day have to make a firm decision as to what he’s going to do. Phoebe’s reaction to the ‘period’ line here, is one of the most memorable of the entire series for me.
As the 90s scene cuts in here, the repetition of the line by Yvonne on the stage is truly outstanding, and leads nicely into Gary’s visit to the doctor, where he is shown to be displaying classic signs of extreme stress, and the manner in which the doctor himself unwittingly hits the nail on the head is handled brilliantly. The ‘Canadian Sprinter’ line here dates this episode.
The concert scene brings us back to Gary’s immediate issues, and I particularly enjoy another great line from the unseen heckler. The subtle drug use reference with ‘Eggman’ is also brilliant, and shows for me the high calibre of screenwriting this series exhibits.
And then to round things off, Ron is once again called in to cover Gary’s absence, which he carries out in typically excellent form, saving Gary once again, however, bringing this episode full circle, we’re back to the mood of the opening scene, and the strain is showing.
I’d give this episode a 70% rating.
