Douglas Is Cancelled

I am a Moffat-devotee however I had not watched this series until now firstly because trying to watch television on itvx is like trying to catch sunbeams with a butterfly-net and secondly because nothing interests me less than cancel culture not least because I don't really believe it exists however I am pleased to confirm it's awful title to be a total misnomer. This is not a story about the woke mob run amuck, and certainly not a horror story about some poor sod being cancelled for being overheard to make a drunken, sexist joke, this a gripping humanist drama set showing the stark contrast between the surface level optics of rule-by-mob virtue signaling versus what we really should care about, our responsibilities to our fellow humans and why we care about anyone else in the first place. As much as it seems ridiculous to say on a review for a series with such a sensationalist title and description as this does: this is the apotheosis of drama. The first episode was boring, the second thrilling and the third and fourth are poignant think-y feel-y stories about the human experience.

This show is a strange animal, but also somewhat entertaining, thanks in no small part to its brevity. The plot moves quickly and mercilessly, similar to the way the public internet court can pass judgement on someone like Douglas. As with everything written by Steven Moffat, the dialogues take center stage: they are snappy and spirited, often relying on quick repartees to drive the narrative.

The lead cast is excellent across the board, and I could listen to Karen Gillan's soft Scottish accent all day long. Where the show slumps however, is when the secondary players get any screen time. It's hard to believe that Moffat is the creator of such pointless characters as Douglas' unbearable daughter, or his clueless manager, or Nick the comedy writer, whose lifeless sense of humor is certainly meant to be ironic in and of itself, but really only ends up being discordant.

All in all, it's an interesting project and it's topical enough to generate discussions worth having in this day and age. I just wish Moffat had been more judicious when choosing his characters and a little braver when detailing the actual cancelling.

One of the best mini series I've watched in a long while. The acting by everyone is absolutely top notch probably because the writing and direction is of an extremely high standard. Not to mention the editing which often goes without the praise it deserves. The emotional delivery of quick fire line after line demonstrates the quality of this show throughout. I'd usually call out the lead actors for their brilliance, but in this case everyone played an important and valuable role, however small, in making this an enjoyable watch to the very end, and watching to the end is so worth it, trust me. Highly recommended.

Famed and loved TV presenter Douglas Bellowes makes a comment at a wedding, a comment that is deemed sexist. The comment is witnessed by a fellow guest, who posts the incident on Twitter, a media frenzy begins, and Douglas faces cancellation.

Stick with it, I struggled to get through episodes one and two, in episode three however, a switch is flicked, and it transforms into a tense, thought provoking story of control and abuse.

I was expecting a comedy drama, and early on there are snippets of humour, but all of that vanishes in episode three, the tone changes, as does the whole feel. Moffat makes you think, question and try to apportion blame to the various parties, you question who is guilty of what, who's the real villain.

Steven Moffat went for tried and tested, cast members he successfully worked with on Doctor Who, and none of them disappoint, wonderful to see Karen Gillan and Alex Kingston reunited. Hugh Bonneville and Ben Miles are fantastic too.

Please don't quit at episode two, stick with it, I assure you at episode three it will reward you.

8/10.

The whole first episodes are a drag, and they are played like a farce. 3/10. I nearly turned it off. And then the last two episodes are great drama and written far better. 9/10. They should have done it as a two or three episode miniseries instead. Some characters are so overdrawn they feel out of place. And for a series that is (in the end) so squarely in women's corner, why write the wife's character basically as a stereotypical nagging jealous wife? It adds nothing to the point the series makes. There are some baffling decisions in this, so it's quite flawed, all in all, but it was a joy to see Gillan being able to show what she's capable of as an actor.