A lot of people find the ending unsatisfying, as do I, but i think that's the whole point. There was no change, no redemption or progress... the absolute madness that is British politics is a never ending cycle of lies, and the lack of a monumental ending, or even an ending at all, emphasises that there is NO ending. Truly one of the greatest TV series of all time, an amazing script beautifully delivered by every actor in the show. Seriously underrated this is.
I do recall at the time Armando said it was getting increasingly difficult to write ahead of politics of the time. There was always something out doing what they had written before they could film and air it. Plus a lot of what they had already wrote still covered things politicians stl used. If anything it's a miracle Malcolm was brought to justice for his actions.
I'd say the ending is pretty satisfying. In the end the one to take down Malcolm Tucker was Malcolm Tucker and his hubris. Ollie played his cards well enough to rise in ranks and find himself in better position but far less stable one. Glenn unstuck himself from a dead-end job by rage quitting and telling the real clowns what the audience has probably been thinking for the past 5 years. Nicola flip-flopped out of the game, probably for good. Robyn had a moment of few jabs at people who were treating her like trash. Stewart Pearson has been moved to some obscure think-tank. In a way, this is like "How it should've ended" UA-cam series fully realized for this show.
The most basic use of innuendo with the word 'finished', but strikes like a hammer blow. Tucker never gave a fuck, but never did he give less of a fuck than in his final moment in the spotlight. Almost relieved that is is finally over, like one of those monks who has self-immolated in a packed market square.
It means that he could easily get out this situation if he wanted to, but hes choosing not to. If had to guess. In his words. "I really cant be fucking asked to deal with this shit" Sorta thing.
'The exchange of private information, that's what drives this economy.' I quoted this scene in my university dissertation about Ethics in Journalism - helped me get a first.
It's amazing after all Malcolm did in series 4, particularly to Nicola and Glen, that we can still feel sympathy for him at the very end. Peter Capaldi is terrific actor and Armando is a great writer.
Because it was *HIM* who had to clean up the fucking royal mess from those fuck ups at DoSAC. I think I really understood what he feels like when he told that little fuck what is like to be a Malcolm F Tucker and I've remembered the scene where first Minister asks him "Do you ever get lonely?" and he answers with a long pause and "no". Anyway I would love to know what he was about to say at the very end.
I think his final words: "It doesn't matter", is simultaneously not what he wanted to say while also being exactly what he wanted to say. He was tired, and he knew that no matter what he said it wouldn't matter. That's how he felt, and that's the point he wanted to make. The fire in him had gone, and had it remained he would have been ever more grandiose in making that statement. Instead, you see a man who's given his all into his career and sacrificed himself so that the system could keep running, who then resigns to having done his job and not being able to do more. The same goes for his last words here: "I'm finished anyway, you didn't finish me" It's an excellent last bit of character development, and gives an amazing amount of insight.
What did he do?He swore a lot, yes. He yelled at people who deserved to be yelled at and who were, frankly, morally bankrupt. Yet he's the ONLY regular person who treated "normal" people well - without a hint of being patronising. He also apologised when he lost his temper and he A) hit Glen and B) ranted at Terri. He said he was sorry and make no excuses for what he'd done and asked for forgiveness whilst showing genuine contrition. When he threatened people - he typically did so in such a comedic way that it would be quite clear the threat was not literal and he generally gave them a dressing down and left it at that, unless previous dressing down's hadn't worked. He was not vindictive. The woman sat behind him is his PA, Sam. She came to his enquiry and sat in the gallery, every day. Not in her official capacity but as a member of the public and - presumably - in her own time. Malcolm Tucker was actually the only decent person in the whole department. And was so utterly pissed off because of this fact. That's my view, anyway.
He actually was pretty horrible to members of the public. When talking about Julie, who has come to party conference to talk about genuine injustice, when she is no longer useful to him he say's 'put her on the train back to shit town or wherever the fuck she came from'. Also, he does leak a member of the public's mental health records, which became a factor in Tickel's suicide. I don't think Malcolm is the good guy, he's a bully who actually perpetuates and causes a lot of the problems in politics, I think Ianucci has said something to this affect as well. The conflict in the programme for me, is between the view of an obviously incompetent minister like Nicola Murray, who doesn't like conflict at all, to the point of agreeing with the government to avoid it. And Malcolm, who is violently abrasive. He controls Nicola through intimidation, knowing she is afraid of him. When I first watched the thick of it, I really liked Malcolm and saw him as solving all the problems and being really funny, which he obviously is. But the more I watch the Thick of It, the less I see Malcolm as the good guy, and actually the cause of a lot of the problems, without any clear ideology of his own, other than we need power, because 'opposition is boring'. He certainly doesn't have policy ideas, he goes along with the same 'fourth sector' bullshit as everyone else. Also, with the Sam thing, is it possible she came here to observe the proceedings on his behalf? It's quite clear he attempts to destroy the inquiry by compromising it's members and releasing news stories such as the coalition talks between the unnamed liberals and labour as a distraction. Perhaps he wanted her to observe everything and report back, while he is doing these things? I'm not saying this is what happened, but I certainly think it's an ambiguity, although we can say that Sam feels deeply concerned for him.
Love the multi-layers of this scene, Malcolm Tucker's rant is correct technically but it doesnt take away from the fact that he's deflecting away from his own responsibility... haunting episode.
Except he's not, he's admitting *collective* responsibility. *Every* person in the political system makes it what it is (including the public). It's easy to judge Tucker for choosing to be a part of it, but nobody starts off corrupt. His failings and frustrations developed *because* of the system he probably joined with good intentions. This is why most politicians (except the very worst) are corrupt *because* of their positions.
Malcolm is actually the guy who does the dirty work behind the scenes to make sure government simply doesn't fall apart - for the sake of the people. He's the anti-hero of the series - pretty much the only character you care about, despite the immoral actions he is often driven to. Malcolm is a fantastic creation because he simultaneously embodies the public's anger towards a ruling class and the cost of a society who is politically apathetic. He has to deal with what we can't bring ourselves to, which is why we identify and sympathise with him. His final relinquishing of power and responsibility to the younger, selfish and inexperienced Ollie reflects society's disillusionment with politics and foreshadows the rejection of restraint in favour of rhetoric. Something that can be seen very clearly in recent political events and personalities.
With you on most of that bar Ollie - i think the whole point of his character arc is by the end he's basically become the next Malcolm, and over the course of the show he becomes more ruthless as Malcolm (unknowingly) grooms him for the role. The end is just continuity, the game carries on with a new spin doctor. Just like it did after Alastair Campbell retired.
A note for Sam, who's in the background clearly showing emotion at what Malcolm's doing despite the show rarely ever calling significant attention to her.
I have this fan-theory that Malcolm Tucker is the 12th Doctor, who got there due to a bootstrap-paradox situation. He wanted to see what happened, who Mr Tucker was, and it turned out that there is no Malcolm Tucker... he had to be Malcolm Tucker, to maintain the integrity of time by ensuring that the fixed point in time that he meant to observe will have happened.
@@kutyaember I think he was also Beethoven. That example was *awfully* specific, and he kinda had the same hair in the end of his run. Or it could be a Chameleon Arc.
"This is the result of a political class which has given up on morality and simply pursues popularity at all costs." What a sad and accurate summary of where politics has ended up.
Ended up lol, how naive to think this is a modern problem and hasn't been the case since the dawn of civilisation. Actually, the world is an infinitely more secure and privelaged place than it ever was in the past.
Politics has always been this way. Always. Its just that with the internet its a _lot_ easier to see now. Just makes it _seem_ worse, when this is actually how its always been. Just couldnt see it before.
@@Moose808 In third world countries run by dictators-politicians are risking deaths and jails in order to get elected. You can try learning about Korean democratization efforts. In the western world, after the world wars, plenty of politicians came to office for what they believed is right. Whether you like or hate Corbyn or Sanders or Thatcher, they believed in socialism or social democracy or the free market respectively. Nixon, HRC, Boris Johnson, Mitch McConnell came for their own gains and worked to enrich themselves with power and ego.
"How dare you blame me for this, which is the result of a political class.. which has given up on morality, and simply pursues popularity at all costs". Looking back at this in 2017, how prophetic was Armando Iannucci? (who current working on Veep, in which the satire is less ridiculous than the reality)
JamesS Which, in turn, is the result of a populace hungry for scandals and wishing their politicians to be so awesome, to make them forget their hipocrisies and shortcomings. They set the bar so high that nobody (especially not they) can jump it, and when somebody falls before it, they of course are covered by the media, and people can triumphantly declare "I told you so", and them go to ned thinking that "I'm not that bad. At least I'm better than those fuckers."- of course entirely falsely.
It's not prophecy to reiterate millennia old observations about politics you stupid yank. You'd understand this if your life didn't consist of mindlessly consuming tabloids and daytime TV.
The funny thing about this speech is how Malcolm epitomises the idea of a "political class which has given up on morality, and simply pursues popularity at all costs". His entire thing is about compromising everything, morality included, for the sake of popular image and power. Which makes this statement, and its attempt to deflect the accusation, one last bit of spin from the master spin doctor.
Throughout this entire episode I payed attention to Sam, Malcolm's assistent and the only person he is respectfull to throughout the series. She is sitting behind him on the right, and is always in the audience. For every testimony. Watching her realize how bad her only close friend really is, is some brilliant detail and adds so much to the narritive and character. Malcolm also looks at her briefly as he walks out. It may be a detail, but it's just brilliant.
For me. Malcolm was respectful and kind to nurses, taxi drivers and so on. And Sam. I think what finished him was the leak being pursued here. He did it. Mr Tickle killed himself. Malcolm started to really hate the fucking job - which he began to realise in his speech to Ollie was all that was left of him. He'd become something he hates, so in his mind he finished himself.
Well, he shouted at Sam a few times, maybe he had less contempt for her though. And he was generally respectful to normal people for similar reasons that he could easily become a news story if he wasn't. He cussed out a taxi driver in the very last episode, remember...
Tucker's second appearance at the inquiry is artistic brilliance, as from nowhere in the middle of the episode, the viewer comes to the quiet realisation that Malcolm has dropped himself in the deepest possible shit.
I do think that Malcolm is a true Anti-hero. If we look at him objectively it's clear that he's not right every time and not all his actions are in the interest of his party, as he likes to claim. Most of the time his actions are self serving and driven by his ambition to hold power and keep his job. He's cruel, abrasive and insensitive and yes, we can argue that he's all that only to the politicians and the people who work with him-- but of course he cannot be in any way rude to the general public because he's the person who's supposed to mop up other people's fuck ups, and not cause a fuck up himself. Nicola Murray was a completely useless leader of the opposition, but what Malcolm did to get rid of her was quite evil as well. Of course one can argue that he was justified in his actions due to Nicola's incompetence, but it was also partly driven by his ambition to get back in power. He wasn't necessarily thinking of the party as much as looking out for himself. It's amazing how brilliantly the writers have created Malcolm that despite being the bad guy, he gets the most sympathy at the end. You feel bad for him, and only him (maybe a little for Glenn also but mostly for Malcolm). He's just such a brilliantly gray character. I know that if Malcolm was a real person I knew, I would absolutely hate him. But as a fictional person, he's not only the best but the most charismatic and compelling character of the show. All his actions are self serving, to keep his job, and don't always stem from his loyalty towards his party. Lets not forget when he tried to fuck up the PM's legacy project so that he could get more time to transition into Tom's favour. I think what I'm trying to say is that even though I love Malcolm, if I think about his actions objectively, he's done some really bad shit, which cannot be justified by his claim of loyalty to his party. The fact that when you see him, you forget all that and root for him to win is a testament to his brilliance as a character and of course to the magnificent performance by Peter Capaldi. I am truly in awe of Capaldi. He is just so brilliant. Love him.
I think the major reason for this is that he was only one who did his job - to keep the self-serving, self-congratulation party sycophants in line so that might divert the resources they would've otherwise used to only enrich themselves, to serve the public. His methods are questionable and outright evil at times, but his actions had the singular porpose to keep the party line intact and the government to enact its promises. His implied humble background also plays a role in keeping him sympathetic.
That's a really good write-up! I think you're right in that Malcolm is morally ambiguous and has some self-serving qualities, and we sympathise with him because he's charismatic, surrounded by incompetence and also brilliantly played by Peter Capaldi. I think Malcolm had genuinely good intentions, but he has slowly bought into (or fallen into) the trap of, "the end justifies the means". A bit of spin here, a leak there, a rant or two and before you know it, he's punching Glen and making ministers sign their own resignation speeches etc. Malcolm fully endorses the view that a shit Labour government will be infinitely better any kind of Conservative one, and he's largely right. At that point, "by all means necessary" becomes acceptable, and he'll do whatever it takes to keep the train on the tracks. The sad thing is that some of the errors that Hugh, Nicola et al make are magnified by the sheer pressure Malcolm brings. Yes, Nicola in particular is a bumbling no-hoper at times, but Malcolm lurking around every corner as an extension of the PM's authority is a constantly undermining force. It makes them behave in a jittery fashion -- there's no time to think about anything or to correct mistakes in the long game. Similarly, when Malcolm & co. are going to destroy you for making a mistake, it becomes very tempting to simply hide small mistakes until they turn into big ones. Away from herding political cats using a cattle prod, Malcolm is shown to be a decent guy. He respects the working classes, is deferentially polite to regular Joes who work in shops/hospitals etc. and is also endlessly nice to his PA. He largely reserves his vitriol for the chumps of the political system. He'll probably reflect on his forced retirement thinking, "how the fuck did it come to this?"
I imagine people love Malcolm Tucker because, aside from the edgy humour, it resonates with what we believe really happens in politics. I’ve been involved in politics, and this is not far off the mark! The writer (Armando Iannucci) is also heavily involved in politics and did not create this from ‘his imagination’, rather this was based on experience (despite what Campbell might say)! You have bullies, lots of swearing (sometimes funny), incompetent people (some of whom the sweary people are trying to direct), you have policies made on the hoof, policies introduced because of a media story or media pressure. You have government departments fighting each other (usually to the detriment of overall outcomes to the country). It REALLY is this fu##ed up! Believe me when I say Armando Iannucci did not make this sitcom up from thin air or from his over-active imagination, this was based on real-life experience and ‘funnied up’ a bit.
Alistair Campbell is actually pretty open about the fact that he was very much like Tucker during his time as New Labours press secretary/director of communications. Campbell swore alot and admits he was pursuing his role with a similar level of passion and aggression as Tucker, trying to keep Blairs ministers in line while also trying to control the press. He says the main divergence from himself and Tucker was that Tucker was alot more machiavellian. Campbell says he was far more open than Tucker, he didnt really scheme
This scene genuinely sounds so much like the closing soliloquy in the final act of a Shakespearean tragedy. The only difference is that the tragic hero is not Malcolm, it’s humanity.
teclo1 his character and title is THE DOCTOR. Why is it called Doctor Who? The Doctor: I am The Doctor Some Dude: Ah, Doctor Who? Bottom line is everyone knows him as his title but not by his name.
i’m in 2024 and this is poetic. fantastic dialogue, delivered wonderfully. the placement of sam (5 tucker’) secretary to the back right of him is brilliant too.
By this logic, you could argue the same for Breaking Bad's 'Ozymandias'. The climax doesn't always have to come right at the end- more often than not fiction is worse off for it.
“Are you finished?” How dismissive of Malcom they are when he’s the reality they hate to accept or even acknowledge. Everyone knows nothings going to change, Malcom’s just insulted they’re even acting like it is.
This makes me wonder if Malcolm should have resigned when his party had lost the election. I remember Ben Swain telling him at one point that Malcolm's time had passed, and there was a new generation of young politicians (himself included) taking over. But Malcolm had retorted that he could not resign while his party was in shambles. Even Ollie, in the last episode, says something on the same lines. I don't think anyone other than Malcolm himself is responsible for his eventual fate. He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, and it was just plain bad luck. He's not wrong when he says that he was just doing what everybody does in politics and everyone is very much aware of the fact that this is how things work. He has just been used as a scapegoat, and blamed for Mr. Tickle's suicide, when the entire political machinery is responsible for it. I really feel bad for Malcolm here. Time after time his party leaders have used his expertise and influence to get ahead in the game and now he has been ditched by the seemingly 'holier than thou' political machinery-- the same people who have exploited his talents for their own gain time and again.
Yes, Malcolm had his faults and his underhanded ways, etc. But I truly believe he did not leak the medical records. He was genuinely stunned when the panel calls it to his attention that Mr. Tickel's NHS number and file number are in the papers he is carrying. I agree with whoever said earlier that the master spin doctor he is would have had some kind of plan in place to explain that. I think someone threw him under the bus, possibly figuring that no one would doubt that he would do something like that. And no, I don't believe Sam did it to him - she's loyal to him before anyone or anything else. Personally, I think Steve Fleming did it. Before the inquiry, he threatens Malcolm that he (Steve) can get rid of Malcolm any time he wants. Everyone has issues with Malcolm to one extent or another (except for Sam), but Steve harbors an intense, out-and-out hatred of him. It's always there, barely under the surface, always smoldering away. He would do anything, ANYTHING, to take Malcolm down.
Probably the most truth you'll ever hear from a political figure. The two faces of politics are the theatrical popularity contest, which we call elections and democracy, and the real decision making (which most of us never see)
This reminds me of the scene in The Big Short where they go to the rating agency woman at S&P. They're trying to cast blame or fault a specific individual or institution when in fact its the whole system that's gone tits-up. Everyone is trying their best to save their own skin and it's so flawed to find a singular person as the scapegoat.
i love how after his rant the old fucker just goes "are you finished?" with a smug look on his face, and malcolm realises that he couldnt make them change their minds, they already had it out for him from the start. he realises that the loop will continue and his time is over.
As much as the inquiry tries to paint him to be the villain, Tucker is completely correct in his analysis. Bourgeois politics has made an entire industry out of dispensable and disposable "content" that feeds off of the predatory ideology of individual success and importance at all costs. Even with the inquiry of Tickel himself, it's evident. Bourgeois capitalist society has no interest whatsoever in addressing the systemic diseases within modern society that create the material circumstances thousands of people, just like Tickel, live in everyday. Tickel is just content for them, a packaged piece of media to divert attention from the actions of those who hold real, actionable power. The inquiry is as phoney as Stewart Pearson's buzzword-politik. Malcolm is completely correct that all they are interested in acquiring is a public face onto which they can pin a tragic event that will nullify any discussion of bigger problems within the political and socio-economic society. Tickel is an object, a name to throw around. The point of the show, and the whimper of its ending, is to paint a picture of the political elite who do absolutely nothing for the working class and the poor. The inquiry drives this home. Not one single person other than Tucker even mentions Tickel or the consequences their actions had on him (and others like him). They are all spineless husks out to save their own asses, and it doesn't matter who they have to fuck over to do it (Ollie is the primary example here). Tucker's acquisition of Tickel's medical records was troublesome, but he remains the only central character in this narrative who had an interest in the public good. He consistently pointed out that Tickel's homelessness and death were the direct result of the government's corruption and incompetence (particularly Nicola's). Malcolm is, in all actuality, the only person (other than Glenn and that was only in retrospect) who gave Tickel--and the social class he represents--any consideration at all.
You realise that the writers heavily imply that Malcolm's leaking of Tickel's medical record contributed to Tickel's suicide. Also, when confronted about how harmful leaking can be during the inquiry, Malcolm's response is "Nobody died!", to which the presiding panel member responds, "Somebody DID die!" - alluding to Tickel. This callous response from Malcolm, "Nobody died!", I think, is meant to suggest how little he cared about Tickel; how little he cares about the personal cost to others of his actions. He only cares about his own crusade (however righteous he may deem it). He didn't give a shit about Tickel. Tickel was just another pawn for him to use, just as he used many people during the duration of the show - Ollie (forcing him to endure a miserable relationship), Nicola (not allowing her to leave politics and go to the US and then sabotaging her leadership (although she herself contributed to that)), Glenn (assaulting him and then leaving him put in the cold, after the latter helped him oust Nicola). I wouldn't go as far to call Tucket a sociopath, but he comes pretty close.
Anyone who has seen In The Loop would know that Malcolm is indeed a villain. He is pretty much shown to manufacture evidence so that the Americans can start a war, all because a war was what the Americans and his boss (the PM) wanted. Does that sounds to you like something done in the interest of people of Tickel's social class? Does that sound like the public good?
@@jamesclement8985 Okay in the context of In the Loop, you're right, he's absolutely more villainous, but In the Loop doesn't take place in the same canonical universe as The Thick of It. The Thick of It's version of Malcolm is indeed far more interested in the public good, even if you have to step over boundaries to get to it. In the Loop is a spinoff with some of the same characters as the show but it's not the same story. But, as I said, you're completely right that In the Loop Tucker is a bastard.
@@nebraska124 He illegally obtained and leaked a private citizens personal contact numbers and NHS information to the media, to try and create pressure for the opositon, the extra attention because of this very likely pushed him even closer to his eventual suicide, he was absolutely as bad if not worse than the rest from the moment he made that decision. Pre season 4 sure, Malcom was just looking after the animals, but Season 4 he fucked himself, you actually see him realise it the second they show the enlarged picture in the enquiry, he knows he is fucked, so tries what he is best at and spin his way out of it with these hypocritical speeches.
JoelJoel321 Just because they're a great actor doesn't mean they need Hollywood. He's already done a few big movies (World War Z, Paddington), but I think his personal interests have always been elsewhere, which I think is better, as actors have a bigger chance to develop characters through the likes of television
Maybe, maybe -- but I would really like to see him taking some larger supporting roles as a Christoph Waltz type for example. For me, he's one of the world's best working actors.
I don't think Tucker leaked Tickel's info. He earlier said he would not target civilians, and when confronted with a photo of him with Tickel's info he was stunned, at a loss. The master spin doctor would have prepared for that eventuality, you could call it hubris but I think not. I rewatched season 4 episode 2. He picks up some folders from Nicola's aide in the shadiw cabinet meeting, I think her name has Hannah. For the entire tine he was rifling through those files showing them "Quiet batpeople" she was panicked, nervous and shitting bricks. She got Tickel's info, malcolm accidentally took it. Malcolm said you should ask who gave him the folder, he does not know who gave him the folder because he took the folder, from a nobody. He did not give everything back. Either that ir Sam did it and Malcolm refuses to allow himself to believe it because she's pure in his eyes. He stood up for her when he was getting sacked, he always treated her without any contempt. Or it was Ollie and he gave him his job as a prize/revenge.
watching again in 2023, wonderful writing and acting and all the same in real political life now only possibly worse. It's the UK that's finished unfortunately.
His speech doesn't justify what he did. A suicide happened as a direct result of his actions & he's ranting about what people do on Facebook. Just because he's right over his observations on the political class has no connection to leaking medical records..
That was kind of the point though right? This show was to poke fun at and show what some/most politicians are actually like and just this clip alone shows that they did a good job at it. This is what some politicians do. Blame the victim to save their arse.
And also he didn't leak the details because his boss or anyone had actually asked him to do so. Infact Nicola was against the idea of using Mr. Tickel's mental history leak to criticise the government (not that I'm a fan of Nicola. Her inactions and lack of teeth in criticising the govt was the reason why Malcolm was so desperate to take things in his own hands). But the fact is that Malcolm leaked the information due to his own reasons..and not as part of an "official job" that he was asked to do. So what is he actually talking about? He sabotaged Nicola to help Dan Miller become the leader of the opposition..but only because he felt that with Dan he'll finally have some power, as he could control him more easily. He wasn't doing it out of any loyalty, but for gaining power. I think Peter Capaldi just performs this character so brilliantly that you just feel sympathetic to Malcolm. You feel bad when he's at a loss of words to defend himself...when his entire career was built on spinning words to defend his party workers.
I think he knows he fucked up, but I think the point of his argument is that it could have been anyone who leaked the information that led to Mr Tickel's death, he made a mistake, and he was clearly in the wrong for it, but he is not the only person who commits leaks and there will be many more Mr Tickel's in the future, which is why he says that you can't arrest a landmass, because people will continue to leak illegal information long after he is gone, and the people who lead the inquiry know this, which is why he gets so pissed off at how leaking is just sort of the elephant in the room, that everyone knows about but how he's the only one taking the blame for it, simply because he happened to be caught.
When it comes to a long running series ending, most people are disappointed & think everything was mishandled (think of lost, 24, breaking bad, luther, dexter, game of thrones, line of duty...whatever you care to name). How the thick of it was ended was almost close to perfect in my eyes.
This is as relevant now as ever, and will continually be so. Politics is a popularity and soul-selling contest, nothing more. And to prove the rule by an exception, Corbyn. Who I rarely liked but who is popular because of his refusal to bend.
I think the ending is unsatisfying because, where Tucker is supposed to be a reflection of Campbell, despite his hypocrisy and wrongdoing, he is entirely correct. There’s no wiggleroom in this speech, it’s a perfect and incisive critique of the system, and includes criticism of himself - something of which Campbell has never proven especially capable. Malcolm’s rage at the political machine is too well-rounded, and too reasonable. And so it just ends up as bleak. Obviously that’s the point, but still.
I cant believe so many think malcolm comes across as sympathetic in this rant. The whole thing is dripping with hypocrisy, he is the cause of all the problems he describes but he's too narcissistic to take any accountability. It reminds me a lot of how Alastair Campbell laments the changes in british politics since his time, the dominance of spin, the lack of focus on policy, etc. All of this is *his fault*, more than any other single person, but he can't bring himself to see it
I love this ending. It reminds me of Rorschach. Never compromise. Live or die by your ideals. Nobility in defeat is a redemption all of its own. Malcom would rather go out swinging than weasel and grovel his way out. Walk out upright and principled. Well done Malcom. And well done Peter Capaldi for bringing such a divisive anti hero to life. And of course Armando Ianucci for penning this brilliance.
He couldn't answer that question head on, 'cause there's always the chance that people involved in the "leakage" would testify and prove that he did in fact leak the information to them. And since things went this far, he was finished anyway.
This was one of the funniest shows on TV at the time and l loved it, but because of the state of british/World politics at the moment I feel we've entered a time where real life has replaced satire and comedy is now redundant😭
A lot of people find the ending unsatisfying, as do I, but i think that's the whole point. There was no change, no redemption or progress... the absolute madness that is British politics is a never ending cycle of lies, and the lack of a monumental ending, or even an ending at all, emphasises that there is NO ending.
Truly one of the greatest TV series of all time, an amazing script beautifully delivered by every actor in the show. Seriously underrated this is.
Perfectly said
This is like the Shawshank redemption, only with more tunneling through shit and no fucking redemption
@@memorekz he literally says it himself doesn't he😂😂
how wonderful that such potent symbolism can be found in such a line
I do recall at the time Armando said it was getting increasingly difficult to write ahead of politics of the time. There was always something out doing what they had written before they could film and air it. Plus a lot of what they had already wrote still covered things politicians stl used.
If anything it's a miracle Malcolm was brought to justice for his actions.
I'd say the ending is pretty satisfying. In the end the one to take down Malcolm Tucker was Malcolm Tucker and his hubris. Ollie played his cards well enough to rise in ranks and find himself in better position but far less stable one. Glenn unstuck himself from a dead-end job by rage quitting and telling the real clowns what the audience has probably been thinking for the past 5 years. Nicola flip-flopped out of the game, probably for good. Robyn had a moment of few jabs at people who were treating her like trash. Stewart Pearson has been moved to some obscure think-tank. In a way, this is like "How it should've ended" UA-cam series fully realized for this show.
"I'm finished anyway. You didn't finish me."
What a fucking badass.
The most basic use of innuendo with the word 'finished', but strikes like a hammer blow.
Tucker never gave a fuck, but never did he give less of a fuck than in his final moment in the spotlight. Almost relieved that is is finally over, like one of those monks who has self-immolated in a packed market square.
I think its also a reference to the end of Nicola murrays inquiry.
Nicola: Finished?
Malcolm: Your finished.
Lonestarr1337 hey anyone wanna fill me in on what that means plz pardon my ignorance but i dont understand what that quote means...
It means that he could easily get out this situation if he wanted to, but hes choosing not to.
If had to guess. In his words. "I really cant be fucking asked to deal with this shit" Sorta thing.
Niall Quinn thanks!
'The exchange of private information, that's what drives this economy.'
I quoted this scene in my university dissertation about Ethics in Journalism - helped me get a first.
Awesome!
MrSpirograph did you mention where you got it from?
Proof, or it didn't happen.
***** yeah but I meant it would be funny to see the teacher react
MrSpirograph if your type are who's going to run the country then no wonder we've been fucked
It's amazing after all Malcolm did in series 4, particularly to Nicola and Glen, that we can still feel sympathy for him at the very end.
Peter Capaldi is terrific actor and Armando is a great writer.
Because it was *HIM* who had to clean up the fucking royal mess from those fuck ups at DoSAC. I think I really understood what he feels like when he told that little fuck what is like to be a Malcolm F Tucker and I've remembered the scene where first Minister asks him "Do you ever get lonely?" and he answers with a long pause and "no". Anyway I would love to know what he was about to say at the very end.
I think his final words: "It doesn't matter", is simultaneously not what he wanted to say while also being exactly what he wanted to say.
He was tired, and he knew that no matter what he said it wouldn't matter. That's how he felt, and that's the point he wanted to make. The fire in him had gone, and had it remained he would have been ever more grandiose in making that statement. Instead, you see a man who's given his all into his career and sacrificed himself so that the system could keep running, who then resigns to having done his job and not being able to do more.
The same goes for his last words here: "I'm finished anyway, you didn't finish me"
It's an excellent last bit of character development, and gives an amazing amount of insight.
What did he do?He swore a lot, yes. He yelled at people who deserved to be yelled at and who were, frankly, morally bankrupt. Yet he's the ONLY regular person who treated "normal" people well - without a hint of being patronising. He also apologised when he lost his temper and he A) hit Glen and B) ranted at Terri. He said he was sorry and make no excuses for what he'd done and asked for forgiveness whilst showing genuine contrition.
When he threatened people - he typically did so in such a comedic way that it would be quite clear the threat was not literal and he generally gave them a dressing down and left it at that, unless previous dressing down's hadn't worked. He was not vindictive.
The woman sat behind him is his PA, Sam. She came to his enquiry and sat in the gallery, every day. Not in her official capacity but as a member of the public and - presumably - in her own time.
Malcolm Tucker was actually the only decent person in the whole department. And was so utterly pissed off because of this fact.
That's my view, anyway.
Glen was always fairly decent.
He actually was pretty horrible to members of the public. When talking about Julie, who has come to party conference to talk about genuine injustice, when she is no longer useful to him he say's 'put her on the train back to shit town or wherever the fuck she came from'. Also, he does leak a member of the public's mental health records, which became a factor in Tickel's suicide. I don't think Malcolm is the good guy, he's a bully who actually perpetuates and causes a lot of the problems in politics, I think Ianucci has said something to this affect as well. The conflict in the programme for me, is between the view of an obviously incompetent minister like Nicola Murray, who doesn't like conflict at all, to the point of agreeing with the government to avoid it. And Malcolm, who is violently abrasive. He controls Nicola through intimidation, knowing she is afraid of him. When I first watched the thick of it, I really liked Malcolm and saw him as solving all the problems and being really funny, which he obviously is. But the more I watch the Thick of It, the less I see Malcolm as the good guy, and actually the cause of a lot of the problems, without any clear ideology of his own, other than we need power, because 'opposition is boring'. He certainly doesn't have policy ideas, he goes along with the same 'fourth sector' bullshit as everyone else.
Also, with the Sam thing, is it possible she came here to observe the proceedings on his behalf? It's quite clear he attempts to destroy the inquiry by compromising it's members and releasing news stories such as the coalition talks between the unnamed liberals and labour as a distraction. Perhaps he wanted her to observe everything and report back, while he is doing these things? I'm not saying this is what happened, but I certainly think it's an ambiguity, although we can say that Sam feels deeply concerned for him.
Love the multi-layers of this scene, Malcolm Tucker's rant is correct technically but it doesnt take away from the fact that he's deflecting away from his own responsibility... haunting episode.
"I am you and you are me" - that doesn't mean you are innocent. On the contrary..."
Except he's not, he's admitting *collective* responsibility. *Every* person in the political system makes it what it is (including the public). It's easy to judge Tucker for choosing to be a part of it, but nobody starts off corrupt. His failings and frustrations developed *because* of the system he probably joined with good intentions. This is why most politicians (except the very worst) are corrupt *because* of their positions.
A last 'Fuckity Bye' would have been nice.
Alex Phillips 😩
Alex???
Malcolm is actually the guy who does the dirty work behind the scenes to make sure government simply doesn't fall apart - for the sake of the people. He's the anti-hero of the series - pretty much the only character you care about, despite the immoral actions he is often driven to. Malcolm is a fantastic creation because he simultaneously embodies the public's anger towards a ruling class and the cost of a society who is politically apathetic. He has to deal with what we can't bring ourselves to, which is why we identify and sympathise with him. His final relinquishing of power and responsibility to the younger, selfish and inexperienced Ollie reflects society's disillusionment with politics and foreshadows the rejection of restraint in favour of rhetoric. Something that can be seen very clearly in recent political events and personalities.
You took that right out of Wikipedia.
@@HolyMackerel490 nonetheless it's true
@@Excalibur-je5pk yes, but don't think I'm gonna let this comment sit here without due credit.
@@HolyMackerel490 true xD
With you on most of that bar Ollie - i think the whole point of his character arc is by the end he's basically become the next Malcolm, and over the course of the show he becomes more ruthless as Malcolm (unknowingly) grooms him for the role. The end is just continuity, the game carries on with a new spin doctor. Just like it did after Alastair Campbell retired.
A note for Sam, who's in the background clearly showing emotion at what Malcolm's doing despite the show rarely ever calling significant attention to her.
Actually, as I recall his last words on the show were
"It doesn't matter anyway"
They're his last words as the real Malcolm Tucker I think is the point of the title. Symbolically his last words if you like.
David Ellis I agree but I suppose that was the point
The Trial of a Time Lord.
Beautiful. It's my Christmas tradition to watch that and I'm happily working my way through it now.
Bruh
I have this fan-theory that Malcolm Tucker is the 12th Doctor, who got there due to a bootstrap-paradox situation. He wanted to see what happened, who Mr Tucker was, and it turned out that there is no Malcolm Tucker... he had to be Malcolm Tucker, to maintain the integrity of time by ensuring that the fixed point in time that he meant to observe will have happened.
@@kutyaember I think he was also Beethoven. That example was *awfully* specific, and he kinda had the same hair in the end of his run.
Or it could be a Chameleon Arc.
@@maskedmallard537 That would explain 12's love for music.
Malcolm tucker vs Gordon Ramsay in a swearing contest
Wow, what did Ramsay ever do to deserve the death penalty?
Trinate Martinez we'll just falsely accuse him makes it easier for everyone involved
The Doctor please let's fucking go!
Boiling Point Gordon Ramsay however is a other type of beast.
"This is the result of a political class which has given up on morality and simply pursues popularity at all costs."
What a sad and accurate summary of where politics has ended up.
Can you shed some light on what politics was like before this?
"ended up" 🤔
Ended up lol, how naive to think this is a modern problem and hasn't been the case since the dawn of civilisation. Actually, the world is an infinitely more secure and privelaged place than it ever was in the past.
Politics has always been this way. Always. Its just that with the internet its a _lot_ easier to see now. Just makes it _seem_ worse, when this is actually how its always been. Just couldnt see it before.
@@Moose808 In third world countries run by dictators-politicians are risking deaths and jails in order to get elected. You can try learning about Korean democratization efforts. In the western world, after the world wars, plenty of politicians came to office for what they believed is right. Whether you like or hate Corbyn or Sanders or Thatcher, they believed in socialism or social democracy or the free market respectively.
Nixon, HRC, Boris Johnson, Mitch McConnell came for their own gains and worked to enrich themselves with power and ego.
God the eloquent and almost poetic way that he just freestyles bullshit. It's fucking brilliant. American politics could learn a lot from Malcom
If its freestyling bullshit I think American politics has learnt too much. Though not the poetic and eloquent bit.
With good reason, you say? That sounds like a load of shit.
I wish I could freestyle bullshit with that much eloquence.
He's a spin doctor and you're a clown for swallowing his bullshit
it’s called “acting”
2023 and it’s even truer today than ever.
"How dare you blame me for this, which is the result of a political class.. which has given up on morality, and simply pursues popularity at all costs".
Looking back at this in 2017, how prophetic was Armando Iannucci? (who current working on Veep, in which the satire is less ridiculous than the reality)
JamesS Which, in turn, is the result of a populace hungry for scandals and wishing their politicians to be so awesome, to make them forget their hipocrisies and shortcomings. They set the bar so high that nobody (especially not they) can jump it, and when somebody falls before it, they of course are covered by the media, and people can triumphantly declare "I told you so", and them go to ned thinking that "I'm not that bad. At least I'm better than those fuckers."- of course entirely falsely.
JamesS
Honestly I look at this and realise how much those words resonate in our modern world
Prophetic? No. Politics is no different now than it has ever been. Why do you think "Julius Caesar" is such a popular play?
Not just this scene but actually most of the show was wayyyy way way ahead of its time.
It's not prophecy to reiterate millennia old observations about politics you stupid yank. You'd understand this if your life didn't consist of mindlessly consuming tabloids and daytime TV.
Rewatch this and just watch Sam in the background. She's so proud of him and so heartbroken at the same time.
Who is Sam?
@@quitethevoyeur His loyal assistant.
The funny thing about this speech is how Malcolm epitomises the idea of a "political class which has given up on morality, and simply pursues popularity at all costs". His entire thing is about compromising everything, morality included, for the sake of popular image and power. Which makes this statement, and its attempt to deflect the accusation, one last bit of spin from the master spin doctor.
Throughout this entire episode I payed attention to Sam, Malcolm's assistent and the only person he is respectfull to throughout the series. She is sitting behind him on the right, and is always in the audience. For every testimony. Watching her realize how bad her only close friend really is, is some brilliant detail and adds so much to the narritive and character. Malcolm also looks at her briefly as he walks out. It may be a detail, but it's just brilliant.
Watch Sam in the background, the only person that Malcolm never showed any kind of contempt for.
I always liked the fact that he was so compassionate for her as well as protective.
For me. Malcolm was respectful and kind to nurses, taxi drivers and so on. And Sam.
I think what finished him was the leak being pursued here. He did it. Mr Tickle killed himself. Malcolm started to really hate the fucking job - which he began to realise in his speech to Ollie was all that was left of him. He'd become something he hates, so in his mind he finished himself.
Well, he shouted at Sam a few times, maybe he had less contempt for her though. And he was generally respectful to normal people for similar reasons that he could easily become a news story if he wasn't. He cussed out a taxi driver in the very last episode, remember...
@@MrBannystar He has shown a care for Sam to a point where some fans started shipping them
They really took him down, down to funky town. Funky town centre, there he went. Choo fucking choo.
Tucker's second appearance at the inquiry is artistic brilliance, as from nowhere in the middle of the episode, the viewer comes to the quiet realisation that Malcolm has dropped himself in the deepest possible shit.
What is it about Peter Capaldi and kidneys?
He doesn't like the colour.
I do think that Malcolm is a true Anti-hero. If we look at him objectively it's clear that he's not right every time and not all his actions are in the interest of his party, as he likes to claim. Most of the time his actions are self serving and driven by his ambition to hold power and keep his job. He's cruel, abrasive and insensitive and yes, we can argue that he's all that only to the politicians and the people who work with him-- but of course he cannot be in any way rude to the general public because he's the person who's supposed to mop up other people's fuck ups, and not cause a fuck up himself. Nicola Murray was a completely useless leader of the opposition, but what Malcolm did to get rid of her was quite evil as well. Of course one can argue that he was justified in his actions due to Nicola's incompetence, but it was also partly driven by his ambition to get back in power. He wasn't necessarily thinking of the party as much as looking out for himself.
It's amazing how brilliantly the writers have created Malcolm that despite being the bad guy, he gets the most sympathy at the end. You feel bad for him, and only him (maybe a little for Glenn also but mostly for Malcolm). He's just such a brilliantly gray character. I know that if Malcolm was a real person I knew, I would absolutely hate him. But as a fictional person, he's not only the best but the most charismatic and compelling character of the show.
All his actions are self serving, to keep his job, and don't always stem from his loyalty towards his party. Lets not forget when he tried to fuck up the PM's legacy project so that he could get more time to transition into Tom's favour.
I think what I'm trying to say is that even though I love Malcolm, if I think about his actions objectively, he's done some really bad shit, which cannot be justified by his claim of loyalty to his party. The fact that when you see him, you forget all that and root for him to win is a testament to his brilliance as a character and of course to the magnificent performance by Peter Capaldi. I am truly in awe of Capaldi. He is just so brilliant. Love him.
I think the major reason for this is that he was only one who did his job - to keep the self-serving, self-congratulation party sycophants in line so that might divert the resources they would've otherwise used to only enrich themselves, to serve the public. His methods are questionable and outright evil at times, but his actions had the singular porpose to keep the party line intact and the government to enact its promises. His implied humble background also plays a role in keeping him sympathetic.
That's a really good write-up! I think you're right in that Malcolm is morally ambiguous and has some self-serving qualities, and we sympathise with him because he's charismatic, surrounded by incompetence and also brilliantly played by Peter Capaldi.
I think Malcolm had genuinely good intentions, but he has slowly bought into (or fallen into) the trap of, "the end justifies the means". A bit of spin here, a leak there, a rant or two and before you know it, he's punching Glen and making ministers sign their own resignation speeches etc.
Malcolm fully endorses the view that a shit Labour government will be infinitely better any kind of Conservative one, and he's largely right. At that point, "by all means necessary" becomes acceptable, and he'll do whatever it takes to keep the train on the tracks.
The sad thing is that some of the errors that Hugh, Nicola et al make are magnified by the sheer pressure Malcolm brings. Yes, Nicola in particular is a bumbling no-hoper at times, but Malcolm lurking around every corner as an extension of the PM's authority is a constantly undermining force. It makes them behave in a jittery fashion -- there's no time to think about anything or to correct mistakes in the long game. Similarly, when Malcolm & co. are going to destroy you for making a mistake, it becomes very tempting to simply hide small mistakes until they turn into big ones.
Away from herding political cats using a cattle prod, Malcolm is shown to be a decent guy. He respects the working classes, is deferentially polite to regular Joes who work in shops/hospitals etc. and is also endlessly nice to his PA. He largely reserves his vitriol for the chumps of the political system.
He'll probably reflect on his forced retirement thinking, "how the fuck did it come to this?"
I imagine people love Malcolm Tucker because, aside from the edgy humour, it resonates with what we believe really happens in politics. I’ve been involved in politics, and this is not far off the mark! The writer (Armando Iannucci) is also heavily involved in politics and did not create this from ‘his imagination’, rather this was based on experience (despite what Campbell might say)! You have bullies, lots of swearing (sometimes funny), incompetent people (some of whom the sweary people are trying to direct), you have policies made on the hoof, policies introduced because of a media story or media pressure. You have government departments fighting each other (usually to the detriment of overall outcomes to the country). It REALLY is this fu##ed up!
Believe me when I say Armando Iannucci did not make this sitcom up from thin air or from his over-active imagination, this was based on real-life experience and ‘funnied up’ a bit.
Alistair Campbell is actually pretty open about the fact that he was very much like Tucker during his time as New Labours press secretary/director of communications. Campbell swore alot and admits he was pursuing his role with a similar level of passion and aggression as Tucker, trying to keep Blairs ministers in line while also trying to control the press. He says the main divergence from himself and Tucker was that Tucker was alot more machiavellian. Campbell says he was far more open than Tucker, he didnt really scheme
cool story bro
This scene genuinely sounds so much like the closing soliloquy in the final act of a Shakespearean tragedy. The only difference is that the tragic hero is not Malcolm, it’s humanity.
that wasnt tucker that was dr who, he didnt swear once
teclo1 Not that he talks anything like that
"You don't like your species" only someone who wasn't human would say it like that
teclo1 his character and title is THE DOCTOR.
Why is it called Doctor Who?
The Doctor: I am The Doctor
Some Dude: Ah, Doctor Who?
Bottom line is everyone knows him as his title but not by his name.
no everybody says his name DOCTOR WHO..then he dropped the who...
they put that for comedic effect
i’m in 2024 and this is poetic. fantastic dialogue, delivered wonderfully. the placement of sam (5 tucker’) secretary to the back right of him is brilliant too.
One of my heroes....
He is actually what a hero looks like in the modern world.
+izdatsumcp
He really is a hero. He's The Doctor :)
He really shouldn't be
@@izdatsumcp No he fucking isn't
@@MondySpartan he's better than that
Anyone who knows anything about British politics will concede that Malcolm was never the the villain. Never.
Man was he right. Everyone is spewing their guts out onto the internet. The pursue of popularity at all costs.
He was not right. this is the pathetic dying words of an evil man blaming everybody but himself
Peter Capaldi, delivering that performance of deception and spin with conviction
Malcolm... I let you go.
Look at Malcolm trying to censor himself. I’m amazed
one of THE best charecters and performances i have ever seen. Tuckers makes me happy any day.
Not actually his last words. There was another episode after this one. gre6at scene though. Capaldi is class
Johnny Martin10 agreed, but the guy in that episode is not Malcolm anymore, this is the real Malcolm's last words
These should have been his last words though and this should have been the last episode as the following one was a bit of an anticlimax
That was the point to show how faces change but government doesn’t change, there was no redemption or change because there isn’t one in real life.
uh hello? what was this last episode? the GQ magazine easter egg message?
Should have ended on this. Last Episode was strangely unsatisfying
Belisaur It was supposed to show that everything went on as normal and nothing actually changed
By this logic, you could argue the same for Breaking Bad's 'Ozymandias'. The climax doesn't always have to come right at the end- more often than not fiction is worse off for it.
"You don't like your species" that line confirms he is actually the doctor here
"Well guess what, neither do I" and that kills that illusion
@@grovepark7983 I don't know about that. For all he tried to save them, the Timelords were kinda d*cks.
“Are you finished?”
How dismissive of Malcom they are when he’s the reality they hate to accept or even acknowledge. Everyone knows nothings going to change, Malcom’s just insulted they’re even acting like it is.
Magnificent script delivered perfectly
you didn't finish me, I'm off to play a different type of doctor.
1:22: When The Doctor tells the showrunners of Dr Who that they have gone too far XD
Notice how Malcolm's words don't affect the people judging him.
This makes me wonder if Malcolm should have resigned when his party had lost the election. I remember Ben Swain telling him at one point that Malcolm's time had passed, and there was a new generation of young politicians (himself included) taking over. But Malcolm had retorted that he could not resign while his party was in shambles. Even Ollie, in the last episode, says something on the same lines.
I don't think anyone other than Malcolm himself is responsible for his eventual fate. He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, and it was just plain bad luck. He's not wrong when he says that he was just doing what everybody does in politics and everyone is very much aware of the fact that this is how things work. He has just been used as a scapegoat, and blamed for Mr. Tickle's suicide, when the entire political machinery is responsible for it.
I really feel bad for Malcolm here. Time after time his party leaders have used his expertise and influence to get ahead in the game and now he has been ditched by the seemingly 'holier than thou' political machinery-- the same people who have exploited his talents for their own gain time and again.
Yes, Malcolm had his faults and his underhanded ways, etc. But I truly believe he did not leak the medical records. He was genuinely stunned when the panel calls it to his attention that Mr. Tickel's NHS number and file number are in the papers he is carrying. I agree with whoever said earlier that the master spin doctor he is would have had some kind of plan in place to explain that. I think someone threw him under the bus, possibly figuring that no one would doubt that he would do something like that. And no, I don't believe Sam did it to him - she's loyal to him before anyone or anything else. Personally, I think Steve Fleming did it. Before the inquiry, he threatens Malcolm that he (Steve) can get rid of Malcolm any time he wants. Everyone has issues with Malcolm to one extent or another (except for Sam), but Steve harbors an intense, out-and-out hatred of him. It's always there, barely under the surface, always smoldering away. He would do anything, ANYTHING, to take Malcolm down.
This and the big brother speech in extras were so good and even more relevant each passing day
This is so fucking relevant today its absurd.
Christ, 8 years ago - I'm not sure we realised the truth pf this.
He is bullshitting to distract from the issue.
Probably the most truth you'll ever hear from a political figure. The two faces of politics are the theatrical popularity contest, which we call elections and democracy, and the real decision making (which most of us never see)
"je ne remember rien" at least he's got his french grammar right.
Why, is his English grammar wrong?
Malcolm Tucker is my hero
Thank God someone said it.
Malcolm Tucker... the most honest human in Westminster.
The library better be open
This reminds me of the scene in The Big Short where they go to the rating agency woman at S&P. They're trying to cast blame or fault a specific individual or institution when in fact its the whole system that's gone tits-up. Everyone is trying their best to save their own skin and it's so flawed to find a singular person as the scapegoat.
a Political class that has given up on morality for popularity... yes. YES
i love how after his rant the old fucker just goes "are you finished?" with a smug look on his face, and malcolm realises that he couldnt make them change their minds, they already had it out for him from the start. he realises that the loop will continue and his time is over.
As much as the inquiry tries to paint him to be the villain, Tucker is completely correct in his analysis. Bourgeois politics has made an entire industry out of dispensable and disposable "content" that feeds off of the predatory ideology of individual success and importance at all costs. Even with the inquiry of Tickel himself, it's evident. Bourgeois capitalist society has no interest whatsoever in addressing the systemic diseases within modern society that create the material circumstances thousands of people, just like Tickel, live in everyday. Tickel is just content for them, a packaged piece of media to divert attention from the actions of those who hold real, actionable power. The inquiry is as phoney as Stewart Pearson's buzzword-politik. Malcolm is completely correct that all they are interested in acquiring is a public face onto which they can pin a tragic event that will nullify any discussion of bigger problems within the political and socio-economic society. Tickel is an object, a name to throw around. The point of the show, and the whimper of its ending, is to paint a picture of the political elite who do absolutely nothing for the working class and the poor. The inquiry drives this home. Not one single person other than Tucker even mentions Tickel or the consequences their actions had on him (and others like him). They are all spineless husks out to save their own asses, and it doesn't matter who they have to fuck over to do it (Ollie is the primary example here).
Tucker's acquisition of Tickel's medical records was troublesome, but he remains the only central character in this narrative who had an interest in the public good. He consistently pointed out that Tickel's homelessness and death were the direct result of the government's corruption and incompetence (particularly Nicola's). Malcolm is, in all actuality, the only person (other than Glenn and that was only in retrospect) who gave Tickel--and the social class he represents--any consideration at all.
You realise that the writers heavily imply that Malcolm's leaking of Tickel's medical record contributed to Tickel's suicide. Also, when confronted about how harmful leaking can be during the inquiry, Malcolm's response is "Nobody died!", to which the presiding panel member responds, "Somebody DID die!" - alluding to Tickel.
This callous response from Malcolm, "Nobody died!", I think, is meant to suggest how little he cared about Tickel; how little he cares about the personal cost to others of his actions. He only cares about his own crusade (however righteous he may deem it). He didn't give a shit about Tickel. Tickel was just another pawn for him to use, just as he used many people during the duration of the show - Ollie (forcing him to endure a miserable relationship), Nicola (not allowing her to leave politics and go to the US and then sabotaging her leadership (although she herself contributed to that)), Glenn (assaulting him and then leaving him put in the cold, after the latter helped him oust Nicola). I wouldn't go as far to call Tucket a sociopath, but he comes pretty close.
Anyone who has seen In The Loop would know that Malcolm is indeed a villain. He is pretty much shown to manufacture evidence so that the Americans can start a war, all because a war was what the Americans and his boss (the PM) wanted. Does that sounds to you like something done in the interest of people of Tickel's social class? Does that sound like the public good?
@@jamesclement8985 Okay in the context of In the Loop, you're right, he's absolutely more villainous, but In the Loop doesn't take place in the same canonical universe as The Thick of It. The Thick of It's version of Malcolm is indeed far more interested in the public good, even if you have to step over boundaries to get to it. In the Loop is a spinoff with some of the same characters as the show but it's not the same story. But, as I said, you're completely right that In the Loop Tucker is a bastard.
@@nebraska124 He illegally obtained and leaked a private citizens personal contact numbers and NHS information to the media, to try and create pressure for the opositon, the extra attention because of this very likely pushed him even closer to his eventual suicide, he was absolutely as bad if not worse than the rest from the moment he made that decision.
Pre season 4 sure, Malcom was just looking after the animals, but Season 4 he fucked himself, you actually see him realise it the second they show the enlarged picture in the enquiry, he knows he is fucked, so tries what he is best at and spin his way out of it with these hypocritical speeches.
One of Britain's finest working actors. After Doctor Who, I hope Hollywood awaits!
JoelJoel321 Just because they're a great actor doesn't mean they need Hollywood. He's already done a few big movies (World War Z, Paddington), but I think his personal interests have always been elsewhere, which I think is better, as actors have a bigger chance to develop characters through the likes of television
Maybe, maybe -- but I would really like to see him taking some larger supporting roles as a Christoph Waltz type for example. For me, he's one of the world's best working actors.
Capaldi is not a Hollywood guy.
God why?
Why put him in American crap?
@@LeonheartDelta The Suicide Squad.
Absolutely spot on
I don't think Tucker leaked Tickel's info. He earlier said he would not target civilians, and when confronted with a photo of him with Tickel's info he was stunned, at a loss. The master spin doctor would have prepared for that eventuality, you could call it hubris but I think not.
I rewatched season 4 episode 2. He picks up some folders from Nicola's aide in the shadiw cabinet meeting, I think her name has Hannah. For the entire tine he was rifling through those files showing them "Quiet batpeople" she was panicked, nervous and shitting bricks. She got Tickel's info, malcolm accidentally took it. Malcolm said you should ask who gave him the folder, he does not know who gave him the folder because he took the folder, from a nobody. He did not give everything back.
Either that ir Sam did it and Malcolm refuses to allow himself to believe it because she's pure in his eyes. He stood up for her when he was getting sacked, he always treated her without any contempt.
Or it was Ollie and he gave him his job as a prize/revenge.
What a Great Scot❤
Malcom Tucker is my favorite character ever
watching again in 2023, wonderful writing and acting and all the same in real political life now only possibly worse. It's the UK that's finished unfortunately.
i mean... spot on with Bo Jo really
I think a Brexit special should occur
je ne remember rien (I don't remember anything)
See.. Edith Piaf - Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
He probably had to take off metal objects at the door.
I don't think he can leave his balls at the door.
it's so true about how we complain about our privacy being breached, when we post our intimit life details for the world to see.
words of a genius of our time
We were warned ...
Great stuff.
I miss this show so much
Gallifrey has really worn down the Doctor's patience.
His speech doesn't justify what he did. A suicide happened as a direct result of his actions & he's ranting about what people do on Facebook.
Just because he's right over his observations on the political class has no connection to leaking medical records..
That was kind of the point though right? This show was to poke fun at and show what some/most politicians are actually like and just this clip alone shows that they did a good job at it. This is what some politicians do. Blame the victim to save their arse.
he knows this and hence "I'm finished anyway"
Well yeah that's the point.
And also he didn't leak the details because his boss or anyone had actually asked him to do so. Infact Nicola was against the idea of using Mr. Tickel's mental history leak to criticise the government (not that I'm a fan of Nicola. Her inactions and lack of teeth in criticising the govt was the reason why Malcolm was so desperate to take things in his own hands). But the fact is that Malcolm leaked the information due to his own reasons..and not as part of an "official job" that he was asked to do. So what is he actually talking about? He sabotaged Nicola to help Dan Miller become the leader of the opposition..but only because he felt that with Dan he'll finally have some power, as he could control him more easily. He wasn't doing it out of any loyalty, but for gaining power. I think Peter Capaldi just performs this character so brilliantly that you just feel sympathetic to Malcolm. You feel bad when he's at a loss of words to defend himself...when his entire career was built on spinning words to defend his party workers.
I think he knows he fucked up, but I think the point of his argument is that it could have been anyone who leaked the information that led to Mr Tickel's death, he made a mistake, and he was clearly in the wrong for it, but he is not the only person who commits leaks and there will be many more Mr Tickel's in the future, which is why he says that you can't arrest a landmass, because people will continue to leak illegal information long after he is gone, and the people who lead the inquiry know this, which is why he gets so pissed off at how leaking is just sort of the elephant in the room, that everyone knows about but how he's the only one taking the blame for it, simply because he happened to be caught.
What's Baby Spice doing there?
The true political correctness. It's correct about the state of world politics
Malcolm tucker one of the best charecters of modern tele, BBC will never produce this kind of show now. It is going downhill really fast.
No swearing, no shouting, no effing and jeffing. Just sad resignation.
KIDNEYS!
Class ❤❤
As true now as it was when it was written. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose :(
I can't recall... I'm watching the post office inquiry....scary accurate
When it comes to a long running series ending, most people are disappointed & think everything was mishandled (think of lost, 24, breaking bad, luther, dexter, game of thrones, line of duty...whatever you care to name).
How the thick of it was ended was almost close to perfect in my eyes.
Long live the King
This is as relevant now as ever, and will continually be so. Politics is a popularity and soul-selling contest, nothing more. And to prove the rule by an exception, Corbyn. Who I rarely liked but who is popular because of his refusal to bend.
I'm finished, you didn't finsh me.
I think the ending is unsatisfying because, where Tucker is supposed to be a reflection of Campbell, despite his hypocrisy and wrongdoing, he is entirely correct. There’s no wiggleroom in this speech, it’s a perfect and incisive critique of the system, and includes criticism of himself - something of which Campbell has never proven especially capable. Malcolm’s rage at the political machine is too well-rounded, and too reasonable. And so it just ends up as bleak. Obviously that’s the point, but still.
that was kne hell of a show
Oh cool! Is that like a play on words with the song "Je ne regrette rein" I regret nothing?
Timothy O'Flynn no it's just how to conjugate French correctly
Shakespearean.
He does have a point about privacy
The Covid Inquiry at the minute:
Honestly never noticed it
Malcolm rules 👍
I cant believe so many think malcolm comes across as sympathetic in this rant. The whole thing is dripping with hypocrisy, he is the cause of all the problems he describes but he's too narcissistic to take any accountability.
It reminds me a lot of how Alastair Campbell laments the changes in british politics since his time, the dominance of spin, the lack of focus on policy, etc. All of this is *his fault*, more than any other single person, but he can't bring himself to see it
I love Capaldi!
I love this ending. It reminds me of Rorschach. Never compromise. Live or die by your ideals.
Nobility in defeat is a redemption all of its own.
Malcom would rather go out swinging than weasel and grovel his way out. Walk out upright and principled. Well done Malcom.
And well done Peter Capaldi for bringing such a divisive anti hero to life. And of course Armando Ianucci for penning this brilliance.
He couldn't answer that question head on, 'cause there's always the chance that people involved in the "leakage" would testify and prove that he did in fact leak the information to them. And since things went this far, he was finished anyway.
Beautiful acting
this just got real
This was one of the funniest shows on TV at the time and l loved it, but because of the state of british/World politics at the moment I feel we've entered a time where real life has replaced satire and comedy is now redundant😭