Ricky Gervais in Derek Ch4HD Weds 10PM

[arista]

http://www.channel4.com/assets/programmes/images/derek/caf0a7d8-c8e5-4c6e-92bf-54d9eb3cda14_625x352.jpg



2nd series


The Retirement Home
threatened with closure.

[arista]

Tonight at 10PM.

[Kizzy]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/13/stewart-lee-comedy-offensive-gervais

''It would, doubtless, be brave for Gervais to pursue his Derek Noakes sitcom. It would be braver for him to staple his penis to a wolf. And braver still for him to run into a threshing machine, pushing children in wheelchairs in before him. But watching Gervais's Derek Noakes on YouTube, I imagined feral children trailing real Dereks around supermarkets, chanting "Derek Derek", as they doubtless would were the series to be made, and wondered if, sometimes, discretion is not the better part of valour.''

[arista]

On Ch4HD and Ch4 now

[arista]

On Ch4 now

[Kizzy]

Didn't think it could get more dire....I was wrong.

[Jack_]

There's a lot of powerful and positive messages in this show, it's very well written. I can't understand how anyone could fail to spot them really.

And it's not intended to be laugh-a-minute either.

[Kizzy]

What are they?... I don't see it jack seriously.

[Jack_]

First episode:

Lack of empathy and understanding towards the elderly and needy from councillors/MPs/people in positions of authority, who are just going to tick a few boxes, are 'looking for problems' (as Karl's character says they're doing), put financial stability over the interests, care and health of the elderly.

Assumption that because Derek is 'different', he is probably mentally disabled/has learning difficulties. Just an assumption, no consideration that he might actually just be 'different' in the sense that he doesn't act the way society believes people should act. Because he's a bit odd looking, eccentric, has differing mannerisms to most, that he should be patronised and looked down upon, and have assumptions made that he's somehow got a learning difficulty or other disability. This is especially true as Ricky has made it clear that Derek doesn't actually have anything 'wrong' with him in that sense, the point of the character is that the audience and the characters surrounding him have pre-conceived ideas about him and use stereotypes to judge him and label him at face value without actually getting to know the character. It's meant to play on how we as a society essentially see someone that's 'different' and think = learning difficulty/mentally disabled. Which is wrong.

And then how because he's 'different' is supposed to somehow impact on what he's like as a carer, as shown by the councillor's talk with the head-woman at the end of the episode. Asking if he has autism, if he's fit to work there, with her saying 'he's different because he's the most loving and caring worker you could ask for', and then him proceeding to ask Derek if he would be alright with being tested for autism, leading to Derek saying this quite poignant and powerful statement:

Derek: "If I’m autistic would it change me? Would it kill me? Would it make me a different person?"
Roger: "No."
Derek: "Then leave it."

Second episode:

Young person left behind in society, stereotypes of a celebrity-obsessed, work-shy, under-qualified woman that's doing community service, but has simply just been misunderstood and taken in by popular culture, and then begins to love the job after having all her pre-conceived ideas and beliefs about working in a care home quashed.

[Kizzy]

Young person left behind in society, stereotypes of a celebrity-obsessed, work-shy, under-qualified woman that's doing community service, but has simply just been misunderstood and taken in by popular culture, and then begins to love the job after having all her pre-conceived ideas and beliefs about working in a care home quashed.

Is that it!!?....
That has been done to death many times and 100 times better... dearie me,I thought I was missing something but no...It really was that predictable.

[Jack_]

Well the second episode was nowhere near as good as the first and after writing up the first episode's messages as quickly but as explanatory as possible, I didn't know how else to expand on the second one.

I would appreciate though if you could at least reply to the first episode's messages, there were plenty in there (did you even watch it?) and I really don't see how anybody could either miss them or argue that they weren't meaningful.

[Kizzy]

I did watch it yes, I made a very memorable thread to discuss it remember...
It had moments of poignancy, but all in all it was rather dull, and the writers attitude towards the subject matter was what made the headlines rather than his 'astute observations' or 'satirical insight'

[Jack_]

I did watch it yes, I made a very memorable thread to discuss it remember...
It had moments of poignancy, but all in all it was rather dull, and the writers attitude towards the subject matter was what made the headlines rather than his 'astute observations' or 'satirical insight'

You're thinking of last year's pilot, I'm talking about last week's (Wednesday 30th January's) first episode of this new series. As far as I can remember (and I've just checked), you've made no threads on the first episode of the new series.

This is the first episode of the new series from last week, I would greatly appreciate it if you could watch it so that you can understand the points I raised in my description of it a few posts back:

RVh2ruvL3ig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVh2ruvL3ig

I would be astounded actually if you didn't see the messages in this particular episode. Even more surprising taking your general political allegiance and views into account, I'd have thought some of the points raised would be right up your street to be honest Kizzy. Because they are certainly mine.

[Kizzy]

You're thinking of last year's pilot, I'm talking about last week's (Wednesday 30th January's) first episode of this new series. As far as I can remember (and I've just checked), you've made no threads on the first episode of the new series.

This is the first episode of the new series from last week, I would greatly appreciate it if you could watch it so that you can understand the points I raised in my description of it a few posts back:

RVh2ruvL3ig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVh2ruvL3ig

I would be astounded actually if you didn't see the messages in this particular episode. Even more surprising taking your general political allegiance and views into account, I'd have thought some of the points raised would be right up your street to be honest Kizzy. Because they are certainly mine.

Ah I missed one? that makes sense... Will watch it tomorrow jack thanks for posting :).
I'm not his biggest fan and he may be inadvertantly raising awareness of conditions...or not, depending on what mood Mr Gervais is in. Do I think he has constructed this series to raise awareness of how the mentally and or physically disabled and the elderly are percieved by society?....no I don't tbh.
Is any part of it meant to be factually accurate?

[Jack_]

Ah I missed one? that makes sense... Will watch it tomorrow jack thanks for posting :).
I'm not his biggest fan and he may be inadvertantly raising awareness of conditions...or not, depending on what mood Mr Gervais is in. Do I think he has constructed this series to raise awareness of how the mentally and or physically disabled and the elderly are percieved by society?....no I don't tbh.
Is any part of it meant to be factually accurate?

No worries :D

But then if he hasn't done that, what do you believe the point of this show is? Why's he created it if it's not to make some serious points?

Well there was a statistic referred to in this episode you'll watch tomorrow regarding the rehoming of elderly people and death, I'd assume that's factually correct. And a thought-provoking statistic it was too.

[Ammi]

First episode:

Lack of empathy and understanding towards the elderly and needy from councillors/MPs/people in positions of authority, who are just going to tick a few boxes, are 'looking for problems' (as Karl's character says they're doing), put financial stability over the interests, care and health of the elderly.

Assumption that because Derek is 'different', he is probably mentally disabled/has learning difficulties. Just an assumption, no consideration that he might actually just be 'different' in the sense that he doesn't act the way society believes people should act. Because he's a bit odd looking, eccentric, has differing mannerisms to most, that he should be patronised and looked down upon, and have assumptions made that he's somehow got a learning difficulty or other disability. This is especially true as Ricky has made it clear that Derek doesn't actually have anything 'wrong' with him in that sense, the point of the character is that the audience and the characters surrounding him have pre-conceived ideas about him and use stereotypes to judge him and label him at face value without actually getting to know the character. It's meant to play on how we as a society essentially see someone that's 'different' and think = learning difficulty/mentally disabled. Which is wrong.

And then how because he's 'different' is supposed to somehow impact on what he's like as a carer, as shown by the councillor's talk with the head-woman at the end of the episode. Asking if he has autism, if he's fit to work there, with her saying 'he's different because he's the most loving and caring worker you could ask for', and then him proceeding to ask Derek if he would be alright with being tested for autism, leading to Derek saying this quite poignant and powerful statement:

Derek: "If I’m autistic would it change me? Would it kill me? Would it make me a different person?"
Roger: "No."
Derek: "Then leave it."

Second episode:

Young person left behind in society, stereotypes of a celebrity-obsessed, work-shy, under-qualified woman that's doing community service, but has simply just been misunderstood and taken in by popular culture, and then begins to love the job after having all her pre-conceived ideas and beliefs about working in a care home quashed.

..an excellent post regarding the stereotypes Jack..I haven't watched this series but I'll watch the first episode on your youtube link a bit later...

[Jesus.]

The episode last night was terribly cliched. I'm a huge fan of Ricky Gervais but this isn't anywhere near his best work.

I think he knew he was going to get **** for this, so he's deliberately set out to turn things on their head a bit. Even Derek pretending not to get a joke, just so he can end up as a lot smarter than he appears is just tired and predictable.

[arista]

"isn't anywhere near his best work."


Give it time

[Jesus.]

"isn't anywhere near his best work."


Give it time

I'll watch the whole series, but you know how this will end - if it's a one off series the home will be saved, if he gets a second series, then things will look bleak at the end of the first series with lots of poignant closing shots of all the people doing good things.

[arista]

I'll watch the whole series, but you know how this will end - if it's a one off series the home will be saved, if he gets a second series, then things will look bleak at the end of the firs series with lots of poignant closing shots of all the people doing good things.


You mean 3rd series
As this is the 2nd series on now

[Jesus.]

You mean 3rd series
As this is the 2nd series on now

Don't be silly. A pilot isn't classed as a series, and those little webisode things don't count.

Gervais will never make a 3rd series of anything. He learned his lesson after the office specials.

[arista]

On Now

[arista]

On Ch4HD now

[Jack_]

Best episode of the series tonight. Hilarious and beautiful.

Loved the 'Making Of' documentary afterwards too.

[arista]

Its the Final of this current series


On Ch4 and Ch4HD now

[Jack_]

Wow. It's not often I cry at a TV show but that got me at the end. On par with last week's I think, a beautiful episode.

I've really enjoyed this series, and a second one is confirmed by the way.

'Kindness is magic' - we could all learn a lot from that :love:

[Jesus.]

Kindness is the best shortcut through life.

[DigitalSid]

Don't be silly. A pilot isn't classed as a series, and those little webisode things don't count.

Gervais will never make a 3rd series of anything. He learned his lesson after the office specials.

*Cough* The Rick Gervais Show - 4 series and a comment in the press when he ended it that he'll never say never to doing more later in the future *Cough* An Idiot Abroad - 3 series, a just aired in the US American best bits show of it with new material, and a follow up show in a similar vain later this year called 'The Moaning Of Life'

[Jesus.]

*Cough* The Rick Gervais Show - 4 series and a comment in the press when he ended it that he'll never say never to doing more later in the future *Cough* An Idiot Abroad - 3 series, a just aired in the US American best bits show of it with new material, and a follow up show in a similar vain later this year called 'The Moaning Of Life'

Totally different vehicles, but semantically you are right and I am wrong. Neither of those shows are actually written.