Series 1. 31 Jul 06. BBC 2, 10:00 pm
WRITERS: Steve Coogan & Neil Maclennon DIRECTOR: Matt Lipsey
CAST: Steve Coogan (Tommy Saxondale), Ruth Jones (Magz), Rasmus Hardiker (Raymond), Morwenna Banks (Vicky), Liza Tarbuck (Jenny), James Bachman (Therapist), David Cann (Male Dinner Guest) & Janette Legge (Female Dinner Guest)
Saxondale leaves our screens on a middling note, typified by the stark "unbalancing act" of its comedy/drama. This episode is possibly the unfunniest of the series, but it's also the most human and strangely beguiling...
Tommy's life is given stark focus after an embarrassing drunken dinner date with Magz and another couple. His behaviour upsets Magz enough to visit her parents and consider their future together. Her departure leaves Tommy noticing omens about his future without her. A simple pest control job to clean the home of a dead man (who was also a fan of old-school rock, yet unable to summon the will to peel potatoes anymore) reminds Tommy of his own likely descent into loneliness without Magz.
However, romance with a supposed soul mate (Liza Tarbuck, in grungy chick mode) lures Tommy into considering a brighter future with a lover more on his level. But, knowing he's in his autumnal years, which destiny awaits him?
As you can tell, the finale of series 1 is quite a revealing and intriguing piece of gentle comedy. The emphasis is on the characters, the plot is thankfully more fulfilling than usual, but this all comes at the expense of huge laughs. Ring any bells?
Saxondale has proven itself to be a mixed bag in its debut series. I think Coogan remains one of Britain's best comedy actors (the closest thing we have to a new Peter Sellers), and his writing alongside Neil Maclennon is always intricate and witty. The problem facing Saxondale is that it has a fun premise and enjoyable characters, but doesn't go for the comedy jugular often enough, and fatally has its lead overshadow everyone else -– a trick that works with comedy monsters like Alan Partridge, but not with more measured characters like Tommy.
Rasmus Hardiker and Ruth Jones are still begging for comedy meat like starving dogs, with Coogan just tossing them the odd bone to chew on. It's a shame, as Hardiker and Jones both to admirable work with such sparse material and underwritten roles; essentially elevating their archetypes into believable people.
Interestingly, Morwenna Banks is the only character who regularly steals the limelight from Coogan. Her spiteful secretary is undoubtedly designed to be a periodic shot in the arm for the show, always appearing to fling insults and abuse at Tommy through a doe-eyed cod-sympathy act. She's a great creation, but it's a shame she isn't indicative of how the rest of the cast are treated.
Episode 7 does have a proper plot; a component usually missing from Saxondale. The stories have never been particularly interesting in the show, more often designed as functional reasons for Tommy to get into particular situations, or shed a glimmer of light on his character. I certainly hope the same care and attention shown to the characterisations is given to plotting next time.
Yes, next time. I wholeheartedly believe Saxondale is worthy of another series. There hasn't really been a total stinker in these 7 episodes, just vague disappointment in the overall show. With tighter plots, more generous writing for the cast, and more jokes aimed squarely at the funny bone, and Saxondale could evolve into the show is deserves to be.
I certainly await the Mustang's return...
