I know I wrote the other day that telly had lost its magic, and that is broadly true.
But there are some stunning exceptions that stand head and shoulders above all the pap pumped out by the networks.
One shining example of quality has been See No Evil: The Moors Murders (ITV1 Sunday and Monday).
There was some suggestion, before this drama was made, that it was exploitative and sick.
But it was neither. It was brilliantly but sparingly written by Neil McKay and made us all think about the nature of evil and about the malign influences others can have on us.
It was well acted throughout, but Sean Harris as Ian Brady was exceptionally good at being totally bad and chillingly bereft of humanity.
Crucial to this two-part drama’s success was the decision to keep the killings themselves in the background and to concentrate on the relationships involved, particularly the links between Brady, and Hindley, and her sister Maureen and Dave Smith, the man who first went to the police about Brady and Hindley.
It wasn’t comfortable viewing – the best things on TV often aren’t – but well done ITV for keeping quality screen-writing alive in these days of mediocrity such as Jimmy McGovern’s The Street and crap such as EastEnders.
It beats me that ‘Enders won the Bafta this year when Coronation Street has been so much better.
In recent days Corrie has been devastatingly good at portraying the touching loneliness of the middle aged and the difficulties endured by those with unusual personalities in getting through life.
The misadventures of Norris in his search for romantic love through a dating agency, and the misfortune of Roy, when his precious café was closed by environmental health, were both sad and funny.
It is all about quality writing, and I think it is the much maligned and unfairly ridiculed ITV that has the best dramatic writing and characterisation of all our broadcasters.
It is not just the examples quoted above that make me say that, the continuing excellence of The Bill.
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kay ~ wrote...
Ummm . . . Steve?
Hello?
Have you been taken short luv?
Should there have been a bit more to that last post of yours?
The end of it didn't make sense . . .
*** No, that was it. I was in a rush to get home for Coronation Steet, only to discover it had been replaced by football. Life is full of disappointments. - STEVE.
Posted by: kay ~ | May 17, 2006 11:47 AM