My favourite episode of all. Definitely a 10. I was even laughing out loud, then tearing up listening to your podcast, which was awkward as I was on a bus. Had to keep looking out the window and hoping no one noticed. Pantomimes weren't really a big thing growing up in Australia, but we went to see Dick Whitington when I worked in England in the 90s with Bill Oddie as Sarah the cook. It was FUN! Even though we were the only adults in the audience not accompanied by a responsible child. I loved the moments with Pat. Jim Howick really got to show off his acting chops. And the scenes with the Captain and Kitty. He was really starting to find himself behind the gruff military posturing. And Robin as always was the wisest of the gang....even with a face like a horses bum. I think Julian should really have known that Alison wouldn't have given Pat a 'bluey'. Just wishful thinking? Having the plague ghosts as the audience was brilliant, and apparently the actors had fun doing it. They said a lot was ad libbed. And in interview they were all chuffed to find an authentic 80s video recorder to film Pat's Xmas memories. So much to love. And I think we all saw the comic relief special on You Tube. Its been up there for a while. I laughed at Fanny's reaction to Australians.
In Australia I knew the game Mike and Alison played as Celebrity Head Those sort of mixed up phrases are called eggcorns if they still make a similar sense such as Alzheimer's disease becoming old-timers' disease. One I always remember from Friends is Joey calling a moot point a moo point, explaining it's like a cow's opinion, it doesn't matter. Robin's wisdom has been a theme throughout the show. In the first episode, he suggests the Cap and Fanny switch rooms to stop the screaming and jumping. And of course he always thrashes Julian at chess, even though he only learnt it from Julian, has weird names for the pieces and goes dooka-dooka when moving pieces. Regarding bodily functions, next season when Kitty thinks she's pregnant we see Robin counting something on his fingers and then proclaiming ghosts can't get pregnant.
Return of Caroline's History Corner: Bear clarification: Wild bears were not around in the British Isles in the 1500's but there were bears in zoos and travelling shows at that time. Sadly 'Bear baiting' where Bears were set upon by groups of dogs was seen as an appropriate form of entertainment. People will bet on anything! The Puritans banned the practice in the 1640's - but from the point of view that it was too much fun (think of the menfolk of Annie the Ghost's time), rather than any thought for the bears wellbeing. It was finally outlawed permanently in 1835, although it wasn't a popular 'sport' by then anyway. To briefly address the 'bodily functions' discussion- remember we see Kitty be sick with excitement at some point- all the ghosts are surprised by this, but it is another example of bodily functions that shouldn't really happen but clearly do in some way. 'Dandini' is Prince Charming's friend in the pantomime world (We named a cat after him when I was a child as we'd just seen Cinderella at the theatre, so I remember that one). In Cinderella the 'Dame' is usually the stepmother, and the 'Ugly Sisters' are often also played by men. Of course, Prince Charming would usually be played by a woman, just to complete the subversion. Luke is correct, the British tradional 'Pantomime' grew out of the Italian 'Comedia del Arte' and there are lots of crossovers in style. The 'modern' tradition started in the 1700's, with stars of the popular 'Music Hall' joining in from the mid 1800's. I really love this episode, because it gives us lots of little character moments for each of our main cast, as well as being a happy Christmas story overall. I particularly love The Captain's little 'wand' sound effects. I don't usually score- but this one is absolutely a 10. I wonder how much the relatively low IMDb rating is influenced by non UK based viewers who are not familiar with the British Pantomime? If you know, it's all there to relish, but if you don't recognise all the little 'set pieces' it might come across as just 'silly'. I mean- it IS silly- but it's all there for a reason, and we culturally recognise all the little bits, even if like Mike we don't enjoy a pantomime ourselves. Series Feedback: I can't order the episodes as this series is so strong overall. I think the Christmas Special smashes it ourt of the park for the top spot- but the others are all stonkingly good. I think this is the best series of the whole show - there are still some great bits to come, but I think they peaked here. My favourite character is Robin, because he is so intriguing. His outlook on life is both simple and also based on centuries of soaking up new knowledge. On the one hand his actual life experiences were very limited, but on the other he is fascinated by what he learns by watching and listening to everyone that he comes across. Also Larry Rickard's characterisiation of him, and his delivery of some of the funniest lines in the whole show is so brilliant!
US viewer here, too, and I had no idea what a pantomime was, in this context. It's so fun! We have skit shows here, like Saturday Night Live, but it's not anything like this version of Cinderella! The Captain as the Fairy Godmother warms my heart and, during my first watch through, cemented this as my newest comfort show. The scene with Pat watching his family Christmas after he died makes me tear up every time. I lost my dad when I was little. The scene where Pat gets to see his grandchild makes me ugly cry, but this scene gives me a sense of peace for Pat. Series feedback: The best, most dynamic of the four we've seen so far. It's really interesting to me how the writers can show the character development of ghosts who are (in some cases) hundreds and hundreds of years old! You'd think they would be stuck with their personalities the way they were when they died.
As a viewer in the US, I can say I am not familiar at all with Pantomime. I agree with Caroline, the lower IMDb rating may be because viewers are not familiar with this artform. I, having no clue, can only offer that this in no way affected my rating. What a great episode! The Ghosts complex and charming interactions really make this episode shine. Robin and Pat, the Captain and Kitty...just brilliant. Left wondering still with Ghost body functions. In our US Ghosts the Ghosts definitely have sex. A lot of sex. And masturbation using a washing machine is explored in a way that makes you pretty certain that it is "fullfilling". Anyhow, now I'm wondering do they go to the bathroom room to relieve themselves and if it's just nothing, why would you bother and not just go where you stand? I have so many functional questions. And which spice girl would I be? I would be Morose Spice I think.😁 Series feedback: definitely the strongest season, they've found their footing and are obviously so comfortable with each other. While I love each of the characters for different reasons, the Captain is still my favorite, but they are all endearing in their own ways. If I had to be in a house with ghosts, I can't think of a better, more amusing group of spirits to live with.
My favourite episode of all. Definitely a 10. I was even laughing out loud, then tearing up listening to your podcast, which was awkward as I was on a bus. Had to keep looking out the window and hoping no one noticed.
Pantomimes weren't really a big thing growing up in Australia, but we went to see Dick Whitington when I worked in England in the 90s with Bill Oddie as Sarah the cook. It was FUN! Even though we were the only adults in the audience not accompanied by a responsible child.
I loved the moments with Pat. Jim Howick really got to show off his acting chops. And the scenes with the Captain and Kitty. He was really starting to find himself behind the gruff military posturing. And Robin as always was the wisest of the gang....even with a face like a horses bum.
I think Julian should really have known that Alison wouldn't have given Pat a 'bluey'. Just wishful thinking?
Having the plague ghosts as the audience was brilliant, and apparently the actors had fun doing it. They said a lot was ad libbed.
And in interview they were all chuffed to find an authentic 80s video recorder to film Pat's Xmas memories.
So much to love.
And I think we all saw the comic relief special on You Tube. Its been up there for a while. I laughed at Fanny's reaction to Australians.
In Australia I knew the game Mike and Alison played as Celebrity Head
Those sort of mixed up phrases are called eggcorns if they still make a similar sense such as Alzheimer's disease becoming old-timers' disease. One I always remember from Friends is Joey calling a moot point a moo point, explaining it's like a cow's opinion, it doesn't matter.
Robin's wisdom has been a theme throughout the show. In the first episode, he suggests the Cap and Fanny switch rooms to stop the screaming and jumping. And of course he always thrashes Julian at chess, even though he only learnt it from Julian, has weird names for the pieces and goes dooka-dooka when moving pieces. Regarding bodily functions, next season when Kitty thinks she's pregnant we see Robin counting something on his fingers and then proclaiming ghosts can't get pregnant.
Return of Caroline's History Corner:
Bear clarification: Wild bears were not around in the British Isles in the 1500's but there were bears in zoos and travelling shows at that time. Sadly 'Bear baiting' where Bears were set upon by groups of dogs was seen as an appropriate form of entertainment. People will bet on anything! The Puritans banned the practice in the 1640's - but from the point of view that it was too much fun (think of the menfolk of Annie the Ghost's time), rather than any thought for the bears wellbeing. It was finally outlawed permanently in 1835, although it wasn't a popular 'sport' by then anyway.
To briefly address the 'bodily functions' discussion- remember we see Kitty be sick with excitement at some point- all the ghosts are surprised by this, but it is another example of bodily functions that shouldn't really happen but clearly do in some way.
'Dandini' is Prince Charming's friend in the pantomime world (We named a cat after him when I was a child as we'd just seen Cinderella at the theatre, so I remember that one). In Cinderella the 'Dame' is usually the stepmother, and the 'Ugly Sisters' are often also played by men. Of course, Prince Charming would usually be played by a woman, just to complete the subversion.
Luke is correct, the British tradional 'Pantomime' grew out of the Italian 'Comedia del Arte' and there are lots of crossovers in style. The 'modern' tradition started in the 1700's, with stars of the popular 'Music Hall' joining in from the mid 1800's.
I really love this episode, because it gives us lots of little character moments for each of our main cast, as well as being a happy Christmas story overall. I particularly love The Captain's little 'wand' sound effects. I don't usually score- but this one is absolutely a 10.
I wonder how much the relatively low IMDb rating is influenced by non UK based viewers who are not familiar with the British Pantomime? If you know, it's all there to relish, but if you don't recognise all the little 'set pieces' it might come across as just 'silly'. I mean- it IS silly- but it's all there for a reason, and we culturally recognise all the little bits, even if like Mike we don't enjoy a pantomime ourselves.
Series Feedback:
I can't order the episodes as this series is so strong overall. I think the Christmas Special smashes it ourt of the park for the top spot- but the others are all stonkingly good. I think this is the best series of the whole show - there are still some great bits to come, but I think they peaked here.
My favourite character is Robin, because he is so intriguing. His outlook on life is both simple and also based on centuries of soaking up new knowledge. On the one hand his actual life experiences were very limited, but on the other he is fascinated by what he learns by watching and listening to everyone that he comes across. Also Larry Rickard's characterisiation of him, and his delivery of some of the funniest lines in the whole show is so brilliant!
US viewer here, too, and I had no idea what a pantomime was, in this context. It's so fun! We have skit shows here, like Saturday Night Live, but it's not anything like this version of Cinderella! The Captain as the Fairy Godmother warms my heart and, during my first watch through, cemented this as my newest comfort show.
The scene with Pat watching his family Christmas after he died makes me tear up every time. I lost my dad when I was little. The scene where Pat gets to see his grandchild makes me ugly cry, but this scene gives me a sense of peace for Pat.
Series feedback: The best, most dynamic of the four we've seen so far. It's really interesting to me how the writers can show the character development of ghosts who are (in some cases) hundreds and hundreds of years old! You'd think they would be stuck with their personalities the way they were when they died.
A couple more for Tash's collection: 'It's a doggy dog world' 'I could care less' and my personal favourite 'casting nasturtiums'
As a viewer in the US, I can say I am not familiar at all with Pantomime. I agree with Caroline, the lower IMDb rating may be because viewers are not familiar with this artform. I, having no clue, can only offer that this in no way affected my rating. What a great episode! The Ghosts complex and charming interactions really make this episode shine. Robin and Pat, the Captain and Kitty...just brilliant. Left wondering still with Ghost body functions. In our US Ghosts the Ghosts definitely have sex. A lot of sex. And masturbation using a washing machine is explored in a way that makes you pretty certain that it is "fullfilling". Anyhow, now I'm wondering do they go to the bathroom room to relieve themselves and if it's just nothing, why would you bother and not just go where you stand? I have so many functional questions. And which spice girl would I be? I would be Morose Spice I think.😁
Series feedback: definitely the strongest season, they've found their footing and are obviously so comfortable with each other. While I love each of the characters for different reasons, the Captain is still my favorite, but they are all endearing in their own ways. If I had to be in a house with ghosts, I can't think of a better, more amusing group of spirits to live with.