Outside Edge

Whether you love or loathe Ricky Gervais, one favour he did do for us is kill off the godawful middle-class sitcoms that proliferated in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

For me, this one is a cut above, for a few reasons. Firstly, it's shot mainly on location (hooray, no laugh track!), secondly, the performances are mostly excellent, and thirdly, it feels like an affectionate poke at that most wonderfully eccentric of middle-class eccentricities, village cricket, and for those of us with experience of it, the deranged seriousness with which some otherwise normal people take it - as an example, I once had a 55 year old salary man who worked in banking, not speak to me for a day after I dropped an easy catch off his bowling, because I was distracted smoking a cigarette at the time.

I hadn't seen this programme since the 90s, I re-watched most of the episodes, as well as the original play from the early 80s, with a different cast of actors. Aside from Paul Eddington, who I think is exactly the right mix of gentle stalwart Brit with a dash of psychosis, and Prunella Scales who is always lovely to see, I think the 90s cast was an improvement, particularly Josie Lawrence and Timothy Spall, who bring a genuine warmth to the characters, even when confronted with lazy plotting about 'serious issues' that sitcoms in those days felt compelled to include for some reason.

Then there's Brenda Blethyn, who pretty much steals the whole show as the much downtrodden and ignored Mim. Robert Daws just confused me a bit in the role of team captain Roger, as he seems to be doing an impersonation of Rik Mayall (not that there's anything wrong with that), even his hairdo is the same.

Overall, I can't say I regret re-watching it, it's a nice gentle bit of 'forever England' (even if you live in Ireland, Wales or Scotland).

The characters and characterizations are superb. However, it is a short-running series and those are difficult to find a spot for on American television. There are simply not enough episodes for a normal alloted space; it can only be used as a filler, so is rarely seen.

Probably because the plot (cricket) is so specific, there are only a certain number of situations that can be addressed. Either the cricket match goes on, or it does not, and the team either wins, or loses. The trials and tribulations of Mim and Roger Dervish, and Roger's fellow cricket team players, play out within the confines of those few scenarios.

Roger is painfully insecure, and he covers up by bullying. He also has a problem with keeping a balanced perspective. His latest passion is his election as captain of his volunteer cricket team, and he takes his position very seriously. Sadly, he believes that he can compensate for everything that is lacking in other areas of his life if he can just create an excellent winning cricket team. To that end, he goes overboard in his expectations of his teammates and his demands of his wife.

Mim tries to be a supportive spouse, but she is painfully aware that Roger is lacking in sensitivity. For example, he expects her to not only be at his beck and call, but to also cheerfully anticipate his every need. While she certainly tries, she finds it difficult (for example) to provide a huge "feed" for his team, with no support or attention from Roger. In fact, she doubts his actual feelings for her, and she does not have the self-confidence to rise above her own limitations. She is a good, patient, and sometimes pathetic soul, but she also exhibits a bit of spunk, particularly when she is at her wit's end, and has allowed herself to be "walked on" yet again, by her insecure husband. Mim is sort of a cross between Debra Romano and Edith Bunker. She clearly loves Roger more than he deserves, but less than he needs.

The opening credits revealed the sameness of their "cookie cutter" neighborhood (and implied "cookie cutter" lives) and was an excellent visual to counter the complications of their lives. I wish they would have finally moved the focus away from cricket (change the name from "Outside Edge" to something more familiar such as "Whirling Dervish") and move the focus on exploring the relationships among the principals. Mim and Roger (and their friends) certainly had the "bones" for an excellent British sit/com.

This is a series that I watched so long I had forgotten all about it at a loose end, I decided to catch up with it from the beginning.

It's set amoung the frankly bucolic environs of the home counties and cricket, one of the remaining male bastions.

With their other half's, left doing the matches catering.

We have two couples the Dervish's Miriam and Roger, and the Costello's Maggie and Kevin.

On the face of it the Dervish's are a fairly typical close knit unit, but once you scratch the surface you can start to ascertain that's not necessarily the case.

Roger is a control freak who likes to imagine that he is in sole charge, but in reality he enjoys lumbering Miriam with responsibilities.

When anything goes awry Roger has someone to blame, and he never misses an opportunity to berate her.

The reality that if he, actually bothered to give her a thought. Let alone a helping hand matters may have worked out, never appears to occur to him at all.

Miriam is the sweet unassuming character, that has become accustomed to her lot in life. She is someone Roger never fails to take advantage of, and never hears a single word she says.

The Costello's on the other hand appear to be a thoroughly miss-matched pair, but they actually gell fairly well in their own manner.

Maggie who is good with her hands and appears to be, the one doing all the odd jobs and maintenance.

Kevin is the one with the culinary interests and aspirations, who is in his elements when slaving over the stove.

Any thoughts that Miriam and Maggie could possibly be able to relate to one another, let alone have things in common may appear preposterous.

But when circumstances involving their ridiculous other half's, conspire against them they are flung together.

A fair amount of the story lines revolves around cricket, as indeed apparently does Roger's whole existence.

He is the local team captain, and takes every opportunity to let it known to all and sundry.

Roger's ego is such that he deludes himself, with the notion that everything revolves around him.

Whereas far from being the oil that lubricates the gears, Roger provides the grit that gums up the works.

Well I know where I was and what I was doing in 1994-6, so how I missed this series I honestly don't know, but I am so glad I found it in 2021.

I've only watched episode 1 but it had me laughing out loud.

I'll comment more as I watch subsequent episodes.

A much too often overlooked sitcom, especially when 'Talking Heads' come together to decide such nonsense in those the 'Best' Ever British Sitcoms' shows. Based on Richard Harris' play, the theme revolves around Robert Daws' stodgy Roger character who is a dyed in the wool stickler for tradition, detail and doing it (cricket)'the right way' and his relationships with his friends and team mates, the unconventional Kevin and Maggie, and his long suffering wife, Miriam (Mim). All the cast shine. Played out against a backdrop of a (long gone) pastoral semi-rural England (Supposedly Surrey but actually filmed in Wollaton in Nottingham) the combination of the whimsical characters, the idiosyncrasies and cultural niceties which surround the Beautiful Game make for a rich final product which cold have run for years but sadly only lasted a few series. I actually used this show to introduce my Thai wife to the above mentioned idiosyncrasies which she would encounter as a Cricket Wife in her life in England which worked a treat as her Thai themed teas have become a byword in our local league....