Green Wing is, in my mind, one of a kind.
This show manages to successfully combine conventional elements of a drama/comedy (a compelling romance plot, likable characters, a seemingly grounded hospital setting) with wacky madcap slapstick, mind-bendingly surreal escapism and sketch comedy. Doing so is no mean feat.
Even after seeing the series multiple times, every time I watch the show I undergo the same process as a viewer. Initially I feel slightly weirded out by the unusual filming style (slow-mo and fast forwards are used an awful lot) and juxtaposition of comedy and occasional effective drama. It's so different from the standard TV fare even in 2019.
Then after a few episodes suddenly I once again feel totally at home with the style. By the end of the show I always feel a real final sense of sadness that there are no more episodes in this unique style and format with these great characters!
Perhaps my favourite aspect of the series is that despite it's insane surreal comedy and ridiculously over the top situations, it still manages to exactly nail the real feelings of social anxiety, social awkwardness, work stress and romantic failure that exist in real life. Somehow the show can be a completely mad melodramatic exaggeration of reality and yet still keep the bits of reality you most recognise and empathise with.
Caroline's house party is a notable example of this kind of blend; everyone's dressed oddly and behaving hilariously but at the same time the scene genuinely feels one hundred percent like every fun-but-sketchy-and-awkward house party I ever went to as a Uni student.
The cast is universally excellent, but my special shout out has to go to Mark Heap as Dr. Alan Statham. Heap has been a standout cast member in everything I've seen him in, from Jam to Spaced to Green Wing and the man possesses prodigious talent for both comedic acting and physical comedy.
I also really like Tamsin Greig as Caroline Todd, she brings a kooky humanity Todd that makes her a very compelling "everywoman" character. She's not as mad as everyone else (endearing her to the audience), but is still quirky enough to feel like one of the gang.
Perhaps my only disappointment with the show was the ending; personally, I feel like the series could have gone on a good deal longer and it's a shame it ended after only a couple of seasons. The latter half of Season 2 and the Special ending feels rushed in comparison to the rest of the series, as if the writers were simply told by the execs upstairs to make it a wrap.
Anyway, if you haven't seen it...see it!
This show manages to successfully combine conventional elements of a drama/comedy (a compelling romance plot, likable characters, a seemingly grounded hospital setting) with wacky madcap slapstick, mind-bendingly surreal escapism and sketch comedy. Doing so is no mean feat.
Even after seeing the series multiple times, every time I watch the show I undergo the same process as a viewer. Initially I feel slightly weirded out by the unusual filming style (slow-mo and fast forwards are used an awful lot) and juxtaposition of comedy and occasional effective drama. It's so different from the standard TV fare even in 2019.
Then after a few episodes suddenly I once again feel totally at home with the style. By the end of the show I always feel a real final sense of sadness that there are no more episodes in this unique style and format with these great characters!
Perhaps my favourite aspect of the series is that despite it's insane surreal comedy and ridiculously over the top situations, it still manages to exactly nail the real feelings of social anxiety, social awkwardness, work stress and romantic failure that exist in real life. Somehow the show can be a completely mad melodramatic exaggeration of reality and yet still keep the bits of reality you most recognise and empathise with.
Caroline's house party is a notable example of this kind of blend; everyone's dressed oddly and behaving hilariously but at the same time the scene genuinely feels one hundred percent like every fun-but-sketchy-and-awkward house party I ever went to as a Uni student.
The cast is universally excellent, but my special shout out has to go to Mark Heap as Dr. Alan Statham. Heap has been a standout cast member in everything I've seen him in, from Jam to Spaced to Green Wing and the man possesses prodigious talent for both comedic acting and physical comedy.
I also really like Tamsin Greig as Caroline Todd, she brings a kooky humanity Todd that makes her a very compelling "everywoman" character. She's not as mad as everyone else (endearing her to the audience), but is still quirky enough to feel like one of the gang.
Perhaps my only disappointment with the show was the ending; personally, I feel like the series could have gone on a good deal longer and it's a shame it ended after only a couple of seasons. The latter half of Season 2 and the Special ending feels rushed in comparison to the rest of the series, as if the writers were simply told by the execs upstairs to make it a wrap.
Anyway, if you haven't seen it...see it!