"The Lakes" (1997)TV series

Creator:

Jimmy McGovern

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

14 September 1997 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Samantha Seager	...	Julie (14 episodes, 1997-1999)
Elizabeth Berrington	...	Ruth (11 episodes, 1997-1999)
Annabelle Apsion	...	Beverly (9 episodes, 1999)
Barbara Wilshere	...	Dr. Sarah Kilbride / ... (8 episodes, 1997-1999)
John Simm	...	Danny Kavanagh (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Elizabeth Bennett	...	Mrs. Archer / ... (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Charles Dale	...	Chef (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Kevin Doyle	...	John Fisher / ... (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Mary Jo Randle	...	Bernie Quinlan (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Kaye Wragg	...	Lucy Archer (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Robert Pugh	...	Father Matthew (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Clare Holman	...	Simone Fisher / ... (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
James Thornton	...	Pete Quinlan (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Matt Bardock	...	Albie (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Elizabeth Rider	...	Sheila Thwaite (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Lee Oakes	...	Tharmy (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Robin Laing	...	Joey (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Amanda Mealing	...	Jo Jo Spiers / ... (7 episodes, 1999)
Emma Cunniffe	...	Emma Kavanagh / ... (6 episodes, 1997-1999)
Paul Copley	...	Peter Quinlan (6 episodes, 1997-1999)
Tony Rohr	...	Grandad (6 episodes, 1997-1999)
Nicholas Day	...	Mr. Archer / ... (6 episodes, 1997-1999)
Jessica Perry	...	Annie Quinlan (6 episodes, 1997-1999)

Runtime:

237 min (4 parts) | 374 min (10 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Cumbria, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek" (1966)

Soundtrack:

Anywhere

Naughty and nice...

I've just watched this again and the misgivings I had when I first saw it have dispelled somewhat. Following on the heels of, and attempting to continue, the first self-contained (if open-ended) saga of Danny and the residents of the small Lake District town he finds himself in might seem foolhardy and unnecessary, but the finished result proves these assumptions wrong.

True, "The Lakes 2" (as it is called on video) does stray into soap opera territory at times; some changes in certain characters behaviour does require a seismic suspension of disbelief; and some plotlines almost fall into self-parody. But, as with the first series, what pulls you into this drama and keeps your attention throughout is the incredible combination of superior acting, writing and directing.

Danny, the hero of Part One, takes more of a back seat here as the action focusses on the Hitchcockian story of the teacher who murders his philandering wife; the devout Catholic mother who sleeps with her priest; the bitch of a rich girl who gets more than she bargains for at the hands of three local rapists; and, best of all, there's Chef who, despite being run over repeatedly at the end of the last instalment, proves that he is still as nasty as ever, polluting the lives of all around him, especially his long-suffering but sluttish wife.

The Chef storyline actually provides a brilliant backdrop to the foreground drama of rape and infidelity, simply because the character is such a great creation: an immoral bull of a man who uses sex as a weapon, hates everyone around him, and who is motivated by an unrelenting vengeful streak against the (obvious) culprit who ran him down. Charles Dale plays Chef perfectly, making him one of television's most memorable and despicable characters who gets his delicious comeuppance courtesy of two very strong women and a rusty straight razor! Compare Dale's performance here with his Mr Nice Guy character in "Coronation Street" and you'll see just how good this actor is.

That's not to take anything away from the rest of the cast: they are all fine, and Bob Mason's world-weary police sergeant deserves a special mention. The team of writers and directors (including original scribe Jimmy McGovern) manage to create a seamless whole, and this is well worth watching and rewatching.

Is it as good as the original? Not quite, but if you take this as written before you sit down to watch, there are just as many enjoyable and striking things on offer here.