Outside Edge

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.

'Outside Edge' must stand as one of the best, if not one of the most overlooked, comedies of the 90's. The casting was absolutely superb, Daws, Spall and Lawrence were each brilliant, but it was the 'dowdy down-trodden' 'Mim' played by Brenda Blethyn that stole the show. It's crafted blend of subtle satire and drama rarely fail to hit the right notes, it has the power to both amuse and deeply move, all within the space of thirty minutes. Admittedly the last series never truly recaptured the glory of the first, but then the whole of the first series is an absolute gem. In short an a must see for both cricket and non cricket enthusiasts.

Although the picture quality is inevitably poor due to its age, the programme isn't too dated. It's evident from the first couple of episodes that it's from a play. The acting is always good with Brend Blethyn and Timothy Spall particularly notable. Another gem is Josie Lawrence makes the most of her part. Towards the the middle of the three series the repetition of some of the catch phrases becomes a bit tiring. There is some pathos and that serves to contrast the humour well. Anybody who has lived in a small village will identify with the story lines and it manages to capture the relationships between the team members very well. Overall this a hidden gem of a comedy that I'm glad I found and would recommend it to everyone.

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.

I remember this as being good and being reminded of it by Robert Dawes appearances in Jeeves and Wooster, I decided to give it another outing.

The first couple of epsiodes were amusing and as I remebered it from the early 1990s.

However, from then on it went downhill fast.

It wasn't funny at all. Half the characters were just plain irritating.

The second series was bland. Just a reworking of essentially the same story lines and cliche's. The Corfu special was boring and too long.

The third series was just plan Maudling and depressing. Maggie and Kevin's desperation to have a child is not the thing of comedy, neither is the death in series 2.

I was looking for something better than some of the trash being produced today, but I have to say this wouldn't have made it to the screens today.

The whole idea of a comedy around a village cricket team is great, I would love to see one.