Outside Edge

I've never been fond of cricket, so I was tempted to give 'Outside Edge' a miss. I only watched because of the presence of Timothy Spaull ( of 'Auf Pet' fame ) and the scrumptious Josie Lawrence. I'm glad I tuned in because if I hadn't I'd have missed I.T.V.'s last truly great sitcom, a delightful show centred around two cricket-mad men, Roger Dervish and Kevin Costello, and their contrasting wives, the prim and proper Miriam and larger-than-life Maggie. Shot on film, and without a studio audience to ruin the best lines, 'Outside Edge' was satisfying on all levels. It didn't bend over backwards to be funny. The regular cast were perfect, in particular Robert Daws, whose 'Roger' must rival 'Gordon Brittas' as the sitcom character you'd most like to throttle. The show had its tragic moments too; witness Maggie's sad pleas for pregnancy in the Corfu Xmas special. With more and more modern sitcoms relying on toilet humour for comic effect, it seems unlikely that we will get many more series of this ilk. More's the pity.

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.

'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.

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....

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.