GS
I've watched it 3 times now.
At first I wasn't sure, but am glad to note that it improves with multiple viewings - a bit like dinnerladies, which I can watch again and again. The Barry & Frieda song is so brilliantly orchestrated I've played that about a dozen times - and the odd thing is that I had "gone off" that song over the years, but I've got a new fondness for it again!
Did I miss Celia and Duncan? Yes. But was there plenty of other gems? Definitely.
It was *obviously* supposed to be played on Christmas night - it was structured so that you were dipping in and out of scenes in just the way a household might - with guests coming and going - and I'm personally disappointed that it wasn't shown then, and instead the pi$$ poor Gavin & Stacey went out instead (frankly I just don't get its appeal).
Watch it again, and hopefully you'll start to get more out of it.
Gawd bless Victoria.
Gavin Scott
Founding member
So what did people think of the Christmas special then?
I've only just watched it on Sky+, and I'm sad to say I was quite disappointed. I didn't think the writing was up to her usual standard, and it all just seemed a bit drawn out, mediocre and not especially funny.
It seemed to rely too much on the Lark Pies to Cranchesterford bits, which were amusing in places, but not exactly hilarious. I even thought the sequences about Bo Beaumont, which I'd been looking forward to, didn't really hit the spot. She almost didn't seem tragic enough.
And where were Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston and Suzie Blake? I'd much rather have seen them than the celebrity cameos, which seemed a bit crow-barred in in places.
Maybe as a big VW fan, my expectations were too high, but she's certainly capable of much better. I hate to say it, but even All The Trimmings was funnier.
I've only just watched it on Sky+, and I'm sad to say I was quite disappointed. I didn't think the writing was up to her usual standard, and it all just seemed a bit drawn out, mediocre and not especially funny.
It seemed to rely too much on the Lark Pies to Cranchesterford bits, which were amusing in places, but not exactly hilarious. I even thought the sequences about Bo Beaumont, which I'd been looking forward to, didn't really hit the spot. She almost didn't seem tragic enough.
And where were Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston and Suzie Blake? I'd much rather have seen them than the celebrity cameos, which seemed a bit crow-barred in in places.
Maybe as a big VW fan, my expectations were too high, but she's certainly capable of much better. I hate to say it, but even All The Trimmings was funnier.
I've watched it 3 times now.
At first I wasn't sure, but am glad to note that it improves with multiple viewings - a bit like dinnerladies, which I can watch again and again. The Barry & Frieda song is so brilliantly orchestrated I've played that about a dozen times - and the odd thing is that I had "gone off" that song over the years, but I've got a new fondness for it again!
Did I miss Celia and Duncan? Yes. But was there plenty of other gems? Definitely.
It was *obviously* supposed to be played on Christmas night - it was structured so that you were dipping in and out of scenes in just the way a household might - with guests coming and going - and I'm personally disappointed that it wasn't shown then, and instead the pi$$ poor Gavin & Stacey went out instead (frankly I just don't get its appeal).
Watch it again, and hopefully you'll start to get more out of it.
Gawd bless Victoria.