Watched the first 2
episodes of Borgen Saturday
night. Yes, the subtitle season has started early.
Why
is it so fascinating? And it was! I have mentioned before that it
was made for Danish viewers and thought to be too arcane for a
foreign audience. And it's in Danish. With subtitles. Set in a
foreign city, whose geography doesn't immediately make any sense.
Starring unknown (except to devotees) actors. And deals with
subtleties of Danish politics and even (this week) military niceties.
But somehow it is as popular in UK as in Denmark. And the lead
journalist hasn't even got her kit off yet.
I
think a leader I read today hits the nail on the head – 'why can't
the BBC produce anything more complex than a futile game show or a
foul-mouthed comedian?' Well, a bit harsh maybe, but I have felt for
some time now that British TV has become even more dumbed down than
usual.
Stand-up
has become big here lately. I quite enjoy some of the exponents
myself. But it has led to rather a lot of stand-up programmes, and
panel games featuring comedians, and indeed panel games hosted by
comedians. Nothing really wrong with that in theory; we all need a
good laugh from time to time. From time to time to time even. But,
inevitably, with so many funny men and women, not all of them are
good. Or even funny.
There
are, to be fair, one or two amusing sitcoms (and some unfunny ones
too), but even they rely occasionally on the odd belly laugh from
foul language or toilet references.
This
situation seems to be supported by the film industry. I saw a poster
the other day for Stag Night 2 or Bridesmaids 2 or The Hangover 3, or
whatever it was, and the tagline was 'even cruder than the last one!'
So I presume that this type of humour is a selling point. If that's
the current demand, I suppose it explains why the jokes on TV have
become so unsubtle.
Game
shows and their totally uninformed contestants I've sniped at before.
But new ones keep coming along. They now seem to be the accepted
parking place for comedians whose own comedy shows have come to an
end. So they're usually both irritating and without humour.
Anyway,
back to foreign series. I was totally gripped, as ever by The
Killing 3, that other Danish thriller, but devastated by the ending.
I shan't spoil it for any of you that hasn't seen it yet, but the
series' trick of ending each episode with the least expected outcome,
to whet your appetite for the next, was exceeded tenfold at the end,
but the whole house of cards was not only knocked over, but set light
to. Even the US remake writers will have difficulties writing a
series 4 now. Perhaps the formula had been played out.
Actually
the producers of US TV series don't think so. I know there have been
series with unclear or semi-real happenings unfolding – 'Lost', and
I suppose '24', for example, and 'The Wire', but 'Homeland' seems
even closer to the Nordic formula. The writers used this approach
too to prolong the US version of 'The Killing', which was also
greatly enjoyable, though different from the Scandinavian version.
The immensely enjoyable 'Homeland' similarly underlines that other TV
series-makers have picked up on this script-writing method. But
'Homeland' too ended completely unsatisfactorily and, I assumed, with
some open-ended denouement intending to signify that the main
protagonists had been written out. I have since discussed the ending
with several friends and discovered at least as many possible
meanings to the ending. Hmmm.
I
subsequently read that Damian Lewis (the British lead actor) has
signed a new 5 year contract. So I guess he hasn't died then. Just
a guess mind. And perhaps the next series will be ready when Borgen
finishes. Hooray! Meanwhile, for my health and peace of mind, tell
me to switch the bloody television off.
