Director: Yann Demange
The second episode of the five-part Dead Set is marginally better than the first, mainly because all zombie stories become more unpredictable after the initial attacks. Despite this, it's disappointing to see so many clichés rock up (the sick survivor, the gun-toting bitch, the roof-top distraction tactic). The whole episode reminded me of other, better zombie films…As I mentioned in my review of part 1, my biggest complaint is how Dead Set is avoiding any allegorical storytelling, or satirical swipes at reality TV. I just don't understand why you'd set a zombie apocalypse in the Big Brother compound and just decide to use the environment as the Dawn Of The Dead shopping mall. Why not leave the cameras running and cut to Big Brother fans watching the live-feed as the situation worsens, for example? George Romero would have a field day with this premise, but creator Charlie Brooker seems oddly content to just vent his zombie passion in a narrow, predictable way.
Accepting the fact Dead Set's premise is operating below most peoples' imaginations, part 2 had a few entertaining scrapes for the characters to contend with. Kelly (Jaime Winstone) is now the self-appointed leader of the BB housemates, and must think of a way to get medical supplies to help the injured Angel (Chizzy Akudolu), who is being cared for by Grayson (Raj Ghatak).
The resulting scenes are familiar retreads of the genre (distract zombies, run to a van to escape), but work quite well because at least there's direction, action and pace here. Again, it might have been more satirical to have the "reality star" housemates be utterly useless once this "unreal" situation hits, but Grayson in particular is quite capable with his rudimentary first-aid knowledge.
Tellingly, the best subplot avoided the Big Brother backdrop altogether, focusing on Kelly's boyfriend Riq (Riz Ahmed) as he joins forces with gun-toting Alex (Liz May Brice) at a convenience store, before they both head off in a car. Only, guess what: the car breaks down, it's getting dark, and there are zombies about. Is anyone counting the clichés? Still, Alex and Riq are the only characters with a semblance of realism to them, and Dead Set definitely works better without the Big Brother eye looming over proceedings.
The worst subplot belongs to egotistical producer Patrick (Andy Nyman) and Scottish BB evictee Pippa (Kathleen McDermott), who are trapped in a small office with Zombie Davina (Davina McCall) prowling around outside. But there isn't any tension, as their plan consists of sitting around, moaning, drinking champagne, and waiting for help to arrive. More than anything, this subplot demonstrated a perplexing lack of comedy in the series. The idea of a dislikeable TV exec and a dumb Big Brother contestant, sheltering from zombies in a confined space, should have provided lots of material -- but comedy writer Brooker only bows to a shot of Patrick peeing into a bucket, to the oddly-overblown disgust of Pippa. Has she never seen a man piss before?
Overall, I did enjoy part 2 more than part 1, so Dead Set is moving in the right direction. It's well-directed by Yann Demange, the make-up is excellent, the story didn't feel stretched at 30-minutes (indeed, it ends too abruptly), and this episode had one subplot that worked reasonably well (Riq/Alex) -- but the absence of big laughs from the funny premise (zombies attack Big Brother) has left me confused and disappointed. I hate to see potential squandered like this.
28 October 2008
E4, 10pm
Cast: Jaime Winstone (Kelly), Andy Nyman (Patrick), Kathleen McDermott (Pippa), Kevin Eldon (Joplin), Riz Ahmed (Riq), Liz May Brice (Alex), Warren Brown (Marky), Shelley Conn (Claire), Beth Cordingly (Veronica), Chizzy Akudolu (Angel), Raj Ghatak (Grayson), Adam Deacon (Space) & Davina McCall (Herself)
