esprit9

This was an enjoyable lighthearted rendition of a middle-aged man discovering the precariousness of life once he loses his office job and girlfriend. Out of some desperation he enters the gig economy and barely scrapes by, if that. Any polemics were rendered with a light touch, but they will ring true to those who have experienced similar situations. His enemies are impersonal, and faceless: the mad scramble to ride his delivery bike to make a few euros, the lack of sleep enforced by his employer to encourage him to be more productive, the loneliness of barely making a living. The opening scene is a bacchanalian party of dancing wealthy people mocking Hitler by camp impersonation, and it's both funny and shocking. It reminds me of Mel Brooks' attitude. If you can make fun of scary icons, scary people who evoke these icons become less credible.

A thoughtful rendition of a loving old couple presented with a dilemma that threatens to sever their bond. She is frustrated because he cannot provide a convincing explanation as to why he refuses to take the elixir of life. Her exasperation compels her to push and prod him to no avail. He has a reason for refusing but he keeps it a secret for what he believes to be altruistic reasons. Despite his refusal, she still loves him dearly even as she regains her youth. Complicating matters, the source of the elixir is her old boyfriend, who still yearns for her. She continues her campaign of convincing him to take the elixir, going as far as adopting a homeless drug addict. The elixir of youth is an attractive proposition but grief and loss lurk.

I really enjoyed this quiet British drama. The acting and writing were a joy but it will not appeal to short attention spans.

Season 1 was a like a Coen brothers story, which could be summed up as an unremarkable dark comedy that was barely worth my time.

Season 2 had higher aspirations and dropped the silliness that came with the first season. The writer wanted us to be intimate with the characters in their journey to redemption, and Mark Bonnar spent much of his screentime negotiating between fragile bravado, terror and torment. It was a pleasure to watch, and I hope the writer is able to do similar work in the future.