A Satan-worshipping Warlock and his wife move in next door to the Nesbitts, putting fear up to the local community apart from Rab, who is his own typically truculent Glasgow manner denounces him. As a result of this, he finds himself having a curse placed upon him. Meanwhile, Mary and Gash, both desperate to find meaning in their seemingly drab, bleak lives both find and embrace religion, albeit in different ways.
The sixth and final episode of Series 2, Life Has Meaning works as a sublime commentary on the nature of religion, and how fear and misery can lead people to embrace it. This is while others might turn to other means to give some shred of meaning to their lives. Of course in Rab's case, as is his want, finds it at the bottom of a beer glass. His long-suffering wife, Mary on the other hand is beguiled by a charming, American Evangelist, and his hapless eldest son Gash goes for a more unconventional means of worship. The resulting conflict as Rab attempts to come to grips with it to his consternation makes for some pointed and sharp observations on religion. As well as how at times, the overbearing effect it can have on its followers, as well as how it can brainwash impressionable minds.
In this regard, Peter the Warlock, the Nesbitt's newly arrived Satanic next-door neighbor played with nonchalant brilliance by veteran actor, Peter Mullan, shrewdly personifies this. As does Matt Zimmerman in magnificently sickly sweet form as a fundamentalist, Christian Evangelist. On hand as well, is former Red Dwarf actor, Norman Lovett as his faithful right-hand man, in one of three appearances he would make in the series.
With a brief side-story involving a virtual reality simulator offering a humourous bit of respite for us, as well as Rab from the madness he finds himself having to contend with. Life Has Meaning represents the series when it was at its most insightful and satirical, which the series occasionally delved into. Hardly surprising considering the philosophical nature of its work-shy, beer-swilling Govan anti-hero. With reliably assured performances from the regular cast, it serves as a superb way to drop the curtain on series 2 with aplomb. Topped off with a denouement you won't soon forget. It's also one that might make you wince if you were to catch sight of a pair of gardening shears, Life Has Meaning is a must-see episode.
The sixth and final episode of Series 2, Life Has Meaning works as a sublime commentary on the nature of religion, and how fear and misery can lead people to embrace it. This is while others might turn to other means to give some shred of meaning to their lives. Of course in Rab's case, as is his want, finds it at the bottom of a beer glass. His long-suffering wife, Mary on the other hand is beguiled by a charming, American Evangelist, and his hapless eldest son Gash goes for a more unconventional means of worship. The resulting conflict as Rab attempts to come to grips with it to his consternation makes for some pointed and sharp observations on religion. As well as how at times, the overbearing effect it can have on its followers, as well as how it can brainwash impressionable minds.
In this regard, Peter the Warlock, the Nesbitt's newly arrived Satanic next-door neighbor played with nonchalant brilliance by veteran actor, Peter Mullan, shrewdly personifies this. As does Matt Zimmerman in magnificently sickly sweet form as a fundamentalist, Christian Evangelist. On hand as well, is former Red Dwarf actor, Norman Lovett as his faithful right-hand man, in one of three appearances he would make in the series.
With a brief side-story involving a virtual reality simulator offering a humourous bit of respite for us, as well as Rab from the madness he finds himself having to contend with. Life Has Meaning represents the series when it was at its most insightful and satirical, which the series occasionally delved into. Hardly surprising considering the philosophical nature of its work-shy, beer-swilling Govan anti-hero. With reliably assured performances from the regular cast, it serves as a superb way to drop the curtain on series 2 with aplomb. Topped off with a denouement you won't soon forget. It's also one that might make you wince if you were to catch sight of a pair of gardening shears, Life Has Meaning is a must-see episode.
