This Is England 88

[EDDIE M0NS00N]

Great to see a followup to 86, which I thought was brilliant.

1st episode was great, but a hell of sad 1. You're given almost all the info you need on what happened after 86. Lol is having a hard time, as is Woody too in other ways.
Some funny moments as always.
I just love Meadows' truthful insight into peoples real emotions & lives.

Looking forward to the next episode already

[Charlie]

Very happy seeing this back on the TV. Seemed notably darker than the movie and first television series though, well no, that's not true, those had racism and violence and rape and murder, so they were probably darker, but they also had an abundance of joy and comedy and genuine laugh-out-loud moments. The new series lacks those joyful moments to balance the gritty grimness of it all, there were funny moments but they were subtle and laced with a twisted irony. Least that was my impression anyway. Still a good watch, and I'll definitely keep watching, but I'd like to see just a bit more joy and comedy in the next two installments.

[Escape-To-88]

Got this recorded. '86 had one of the most viciously screened climaxes I've seen on TV. An amazing series, but found the first very intense.

[Baseley09]

Shaun's new babe is a babe.

[JazzFunk]

Liking this but it IS pretty grim (and the 'joy' bits seem a bit awkwardly painted on). The guy who plays Combo is one of the best new actors of recent years, pity he's not getting more screen time, I really like the development of his character throughout the entire saga. The storyline is shifting really slowly, especially now it's 2/3rds down, I don't think three episodes can really do it justice, it needs to be a longer, more regular series, rather than 'something really special from the acclaimed UK director Shane Meadows'.

Weirdest thing was the caf? at the end, bloody Sheffield indoor market (!) - I've never seen it looking so empty and white, it's like an indoor market version of The Shining!!!

[EDDIE M0NS00N]

Well I loved it. I have to admit that I was almost in tears seeing [HIDE]Woody's reaction when he bumped into the old gang, & when he found out Lol was in hospital[/HIDE]. There was genuine emotion there, & we know that Meadows is keen to allow his actors to ad-lib in those situations. They are both a couple in real life too, & Meadows has said that for this series he had to keep them apart behind the scenes in order to get a genuine realistic reaction from them.
It was mostly a grim series but I think that a lot has happened in since 86 & its still laying dormant & effecting those involved[HIDE]Lol's stepdad & dealing with being a single mum, Woody living a lie with his new gf & in the bath crying for instance[/HIDE], & I think its trying to portray that not everyone has a Happy Xmas.

This series was more focused on Woody & Lol, & how their lives have changed drastically.

The end was a bit crazy tbh - [HIDE]Lol & Woody back together, but she didnt seem as keen as him, & poor Combo taking the blame for a crime he didnt commit again while Woody gets close to his girl Lol..............again[/HIDE]


Btw Meadows has mentioned that this was just a small project, which is building up to his next which is This Is England 90 where the younger characters will get involved more into the rave culture & drugs scene

[Charlie]

I enjoyed it overall. But it was grim, and at times made uncomfortable viewing, especially the scene where Lol was

->Open Spoiler<-

getting her stomach pumped

what with the strange music and twisted staccato imagery. Like a bad acid trip.

[EDDIE M0NS00N]

Its what Meadows does best tho. Same with the movie & 88. It kinda builds & you know its eventually gonna go pear shaped but Meadows draws it out as if to almost torture you, & thats what I love about the England series of films.

I gotta dmit tho that the bit where Lol

->Open Spoiler<-

gets her stomach pumped was really effective. I thought she was dead in the morgue at the beginning of it cos it took a while to play out

[Charlie]

Yeah, it is what Meadows does best. I think he, more than any other director, conveys raw human emotion in all it's beauty, uglyness, agony and ecstacy. He's my favourite director, by some way.