I am now the proud owner of DVDs of the two series. It was one of those programmes that had humour (no laughter track, thank the Lord) sprinkled among the satire.
I had a massive crush on Barbara Flynn whose character has no surname. "Just Rose Marie. That's my full name. I'm not exactly into patronymics, Stephen. Going through the whole of one's life labelled as one man's daughter ,another man's wife." She delivered the line so beautifully. She is no defenceless little delicate flower.
David Troughton is the obnoxious Thatcherite Bob Buzzard just played perfectly without quite going over the top, who gets his comeuppance from his wife and a gay athlete (hilarious when his straightness was threatened).
Graham Crowden is the alcoholic and swivel-eyed "auld Jock" who holds the peculiar practice together by letting Buzzard and Rose Marie jockey for position, and their shenanigans ensure they stay where they are.
Peter Davidson was excellent in this. He starts off as the emotional wreck in a bad marriage (he was beaten up by his wife), nervous and frightened of his own shadow. His emotional life takes a turn for the better and his voice is no longer nervy or high pitched. When he addresses the new intake he gets the delivery of a terrified and reluctant speech giver spot on.
This is among the best British TV had to offer in those days. Intelligent drama, leavened with humour that often did not require more than a wry smile. Even though I am watching this alone, I can recall the joy my late partner and I both had at the time and I've laughed out loud a few times.
In episode four, watch out for the final scene in the university bar and notice the various side effects of the drug in action. It's nicely understated.
It became darker in the second series, but it was none the worse for that. Probably that's why it was so enjoyable. The move from the light to the dark.
I had a massive crush on Barbara Flynn whose character has no surname. "Just Rose Marie. That's my full name. I'm not exactly into patronymics, Stephen. Going through the whole of one's life labelled as one man's daughter ,another man's wife." She delivered the line so beautifully. She is no defenceless little delicate flower.
David Troughton is the obnoxious Thatcherite Bob Buzzard just played perfectly without quite going over the top, who gets his comeuppance from his wife and a gay athlete (hilarious when his straightness was threatened).
Graham Crowden is the alcoholic and swivel-eyed "auld Jock" who holds the peculiar practice together by letting Buzzard and Rose Marie jockey for position, and their shenanigans ensure they stay where they are.
Peter Davidson was excellent in this. He starts off as the emotional wreck in a bad marriage (he was beaten up by his wife), nervous and frightened of his own shadow. His emotional life takes a turn for the better and his voice is no longer nervy or high pitched. When he addresses the new intake he gets the delivery of a terrified and reluctant speech giver spot on.
This is among the best British TV had to offer in those days. Intelligent drama, leavened with humour that often did not require more than a wry smile. Even though I am watching this alone, I can recall the joy my late partner and I both had at the time and I've laughed out loud a few times.
In episode four, watch out for the final scene in the university bar and notice the various side effects of the drug in action. It's nicely understated.
It became darker in the second series, but it was none the worse for that. Probably that's why it was so enjoyable. The move from the light to the dark.