UKC

Been watching the DVD of this BBC TV series from the mid-80's over the last few nights, provoked by (of all things) the first track of Dave Gilmour's new album reminding me of the excellent theme music. Just the last episode to go (I sensibly persuaded myself not to stay up late last night to finish it).

And I knew I liked it, and I knew it was good...but I'd forgotten just how good. At the risk of sounding like an old man, they just don't make TV like this any more. And whilst the plutonium issues were perhaps at their height in the mid 80's, the environmental themes within the programme are just as relevant now - more so, possibly, as we discuss energy futures.

And it's full of wonderful acting - the late, laconic Bob Peck is marvellous as the main character, though Joe Don Baker is scarcely less fine, just more over the top. Just one stand out scene, amongst a number, is from the first episode where, after his daughter's death Craven (the Bob Peck character) discovers a gun in her bedroom. There's hardly a word spoken for a couple of minutes yet you just don't notice the absence of dialogue.

So tonight it's plutonium at conferences, government assassination of a CIA officer and black flowers for me. And I've enjoyed watching it so much this week I'll be tempted to watch it all again straight after finishing it (though I know I won't).

T.

In reply to Tony Buckley: apparently one of the digi channels is showing Bleasdale's "GBH" this weekend. I think I will get the DVD. I think they do occasionally still make some great TV. That said, the last monumental British TV drama I actually watched, was Poliakoff's "Shooting the Past" and that was some time ago wasn't it.

In reply to Tony Buckley:

Edge of Darkness was phenomenal. It's a shame that having already paid for it to be made (via the licence fee), the BBC has decided that the only way it will repeat this and other fine programmes is if we pay again to buy the DVD, or to promote a wanky digital channel that I can't get.

So much brilliance in their storeroom. So much pap broadcast.

In reply to Tony Buckley:
It was the time of the preacher
In the year of O one..
And just when you think it's all over...

Totally agree with you, one of the best bits of television ever. I've got it recorded on vids from when they repeated in in the late 80s/early 90s. Great to know it's available on DVD.

In reply to Kenny:
Yes, what has happened to British tv drama?
Remember Abigail's Party?
Nuts in May?
Brimstone and Treacle?

They call it 'exciting new drama' now when they have some cheesy thriller about a secret evil identical twin...

In reply to Tony Buckley: yep one of the best things ever on TV, probably the first thing that made me environmentally 'aware' and radicalised me slightly...

now you've got me thinking I may have to buy it

In reply to gingerkate:

Mmmmm sublime stuff. And links neatly into me getting to plug Carla Bozulich again (if you like Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger...she made a "cover album" of it, Willie guests on some songs too, it is great)

Anyone remember when Bob Peck was seemingly on EVERYTHING good on TV in the early 90s, just before getting eaten by that "clever girl"?

In reply to Tony Buckley:

<sigh> Joanne Whalley <sigh>

In reply to Kenny:
Oh, this is taking me back... I loved that 'Time of the Preacher' song in Edge of Darkness so much... because I loved the series so much... that I searched through every rack of country music in every shop I went in... which was a bit of a change in behaviour as I was mainly into Iggy ... and I never did find it. And tv may be dire now, but I love this information age, I love the level of connectedness whereby now I know it was Willie Nelson (cheers!), and I've just googled the lyrics, and it I want to buy it I easily can.

In reply to Tony Buckley:

less dark, anyone remember "Nuts in May"?

In reply to gingerkate:


And he cried like a baby
And he screamed like a panther in the middle of the night

Wonderful. And I *hate* country music!

I bought my copy from the BBC site http://www.bbcshop.com/invt/bbcdvd1179&bklist=<venda_bklist1>, where it's yours for a nadge less than £11.

T.

In reply to Anonymous:

There are so many great BBC dramas which would bear repeating and repeating often

Everything from The Singing Detective (Joanne Whalley again!), to Our Friends in the North, to more recent stuff such as State of Play.

And ITV has a stach of them too - Brideshead Revisited, Jewel in the Crown...

In reply to hutchm:
yes, would like to see Brideshead again

In reply to Tony Buckley:

Eric Clapton did the music to Darkness. Easy to recognise his style. I think I've got a 12" EP of the Darkness theme music somewhere in the loft.

In reply to Tony Buckley:

Got the DVD as well - absolutely stunning television