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Photo credit:Andy Hollingsworth |
This is a suggestion.
Whether you’re a Ricky
Gervais fan or hater, you should watch this show
If you watch expecting
to dislike him and by extension ‘Derek’ then of course you will, but if you go
in watching with an open mind, then I guarantee you will be embraced, by the
characters, by the subject matter and by the sheer optimism of hope, in spite of
circumstances.
There is and will
always be a lingering doubt in the minds of some as to Gervais’s intentions in
his portrayal of Derek.
Irrespective of how many times Gervais
answers the disability question there will be a tiny but vocal minority who
refuse to believe him when he says not.
I just see him as a naive,
kind, gentle and vulnerable man, in a harsh, hostile and cynical world. Ricky Gervais clearly loves Derek; there
is no mocking of him, no derision, only truth.
This is a show about
kindness, told with kindness for the most part.
The show examines
Derek and his world but with a vicious bite in respect of those who Gervais
believes, deserve it. Some of the relatives of the residents do not fare
well and for me it was hard to watch these scenes. Because even if you’re not a
monster, when you place a loved one in a residential setting, you believe you
are. So do many other people.
Intellectualising it doesn’t change your mind and time doesn’t dim the pain.
Intellectualising it doesn’t change your mind and time doesn’t dim the pain.
But I had to face the
truth in the writing.
The fact is there are many, many relatives who are exactly like the ones portrayed in the show and ultimately they also serve as a conduit for the view of many in the outside world, who pass by care homes everyday, on their way to getting on with their own lives.
The fact is there are many, many relatives who are exactly like the ones portrayed in the show and ultimately they also serve as a conduit for the view of many in the outside world, who pass by care homes everyday, on their way to getting on with their own lives.
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Photo credit : Ray Burmiston |
Derek is different to
the majority of us, but I wish we were all more like him, because he’s
unerringly compassionate and irrepressibly optimistic and there is never enough
of that to be found especially now.
I’m sick to death of
cynicism if the truth be told; It’s the age ‘for’ innocence now if ever there
was one.
It’s also time for writers to tell the truth of our lives, of all our lives and Gervais has chosen not to document his celebrity status but to shine the light on millions of those who have no status at all.
It’s also time for writers to tell the truth of our lives, of all our lives and Gervais has chosen not to document his celebrity status but to shine the light on millions of those who have no status at all.
Having seen some
harsh, cynical and untrue accounts of ‘Derek’ since it aired last year, I can
only suppose Gervais didn’t read them or I suspect he wouldn’t have had the
energy or will to write a full series.
I think many people
will be so glad he did.
He’s spoken of his own
enjoyment of the creative process for this series on his blog and how
reminiscent it is of ‘The Office’ for him in terms of his enthusiasm as writer
director and lead actor.
There is a magic to it
definitely. Like, ‘The Office’ the
key lies in the performances, which unfold naturally and gradually as they
layer the stories of the lives lived, usually unobserved. As with ‘The Office’
these stories are wrought from a potentially stifling atmosphere, and laced
with the humour that exists in the place where seemingly all hope is gone.
All the characters are
so forgotten, so lost, that they have only each other to rely on and their community
draws you in gently, and rewards you admirably.
Hannah, performed brilliantly by Kerry Godliman, is like so many care workers that I’ve met and loved in my 19
years as a carer.
Hannah’s down to earth and full of compassion, quiet but with a sharp and dark sense of humour, crucial in a job, which can be as difficult emotionally as physically, whilst navigating the precarious balance between what those in power want and what her clients need.
Hannah’s down to earth and full of compassion, quiet but with a sharp and dark sense of humour, crucial in a job, which can be as difficult emotionally as physically, whilst navigating the precarious balance between what those in power want and what her clients need.
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Photo credit :Ray Burmiston |
Karl Pilkington
talking in the C4 behind the scenes documentary is typically forthright about
the upheaval to his day, by becoming involved in the show but touching when he
talks about how angry one scene makes him even after the camera stops rolling.
He needn’t have any
concerns. He is a gifted and affecting actor.
David Earl is David
Earl and nobody can ‘play disgusting’ with so much pathos and skill. He is also
not to be underestimated when it comes to drama.
There is a scene to camera in the last episode which will shore up perceptions of Earl’s abilities as a dramatic actor.
In terms of a breakthrough performance Holli Dempsey stands out as Vicky. Her arrival at Broadhill, details initially a weary, suspicious, cynicism of those working there and for the work she's expected to do; through to becoming an integral part of the home's family.
Dempsey offers a subtle, nuanced portrayal, excelling both as a comedic and dramatic actor deftly engaging us through Vicky's experiences, her acceptance and appreciation of her character strengths, for the first time.
There is a scene to camera in the last episode which will shore up perceptions of Earl’s abilities as a dramatic actor.
In terms of a breakthrough performance Holli Dempsey stands out as Vicky. Her arrival at Broadhill, details initially a weary, suspicious, cynicism of those working there and for the work she's expected to do; through to becoming an integral part of the home's family.
Dempsey offers a subtle, nuanced portrayal, excelling both as a comedic and dramatic actor deftly engaging us through Vicky's experiences, her acceptance and appreciation of her character strengths, for the first time.
But it is Ricky
Gervais as Derek who is the revelation here.
It could be argued that if you don’t like him, you will never like him, so don’t watch him, especially in
this.
For anyone however who
has an open mind and who liked the pilot, his performance in the series is stellar. He just becomes 'Derek".
There is nothing of the 'A list' star persona, as he disappears into this character, nothing of the stand up, the director, or the businessman.
There is nothing of the 'A list' star persona, as he disappears into this character, nothing of the stand up, the director, or the businessman.
There is nothing
except quietness and a sweetness of delivery, so all encompassing that even
when he wrestles people to the ground, because that is what he does, it’s
utterly unthreatening and endearing.
It’s an incredibly
moving, and centred performance. His ability to disappear in scenes, to be
forgotten, as people who are vulnerable in real life, are so often forgotten
whilst those around them direct their lives, demonstrates that his acting
ability is the most under appreciated of his talents.
He’s simply extraordinary
as Derek.
In any event with
whatever agenda you take with you when you watch “Derek” you’ll find great
performances, honest stories, believable characters and heartbreaking truth.
This as ever is the
stock in trade of someone who after more than a decade at the height of his
profession has earned the right to
be evaluated on his talent, not his Twitter feed.
You have to love an actor who can make us believe that he is someone else for 30 minutes. Shalhoub as Monk is one that springs to mind, and now Gervais as Derek. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI've no doubt that Gervais had no malice at all when it came to creating Derek and I think the pilot showed that. Unfortunately your 360 turn around has come from recognition from the man himself just before the first episode aired. You yourself were one of the naysayers so don't come with the 'open-minded' comment because you judged it without seeing it. If Ricky hadn't of reached out to you, you would still be putting it down. Never mind your paper thin principles, you can be bought for a retweet to 3.9million people!
ReplyDeleteNo offence but you really are as stupid as you are abusive "Anonymous"
DeleteI did a review of the pilot of Derek before it aired on this blog and got a ton of abuse for it because it was positive
If you're going to insult people at least get a brief grip of the facts. An apology at your earliest convenience will be most welcome.
Surely if you turned a 360 then your back facing the same way I.e. your veiw remains the same, anything but a 360 makes more sense...Oh and by the way Nicky you managed to put into words everything I know I'm going to feel when Derek airs on the 30th Jan so thank you, although its just made the anticipation harder to bear.
DeleteHahahahahaa a 360 turn would face you the original direction! now a 180 turn would be a turn around LOL
Deletedumb and ignorant!
I LOVE this show already!!
ReplyDeleteWho cares what you think of anything Mrs Clark,certainly not me, you've got your retweets off Ricky, because he wants a quiet life and no more of your crocodile tears ,that made him decide to apologise to you in the first place.
ReplyDeleteYou have to laugh at this woman, she is so in awe,love and almost a stalker in her obsession of Ricky ,she retweets nearly every tweet his gf Jane tweets and now has n'that(ala KP) ,at the end of her twitter bio, I worry for her and ricky doesn't help by retweeting her rubbish too
ReplyDeleteSorry I was laughing so hard I could barely type so I'll redo that *coughs* I didn't know 'n'that' was a Karl Pilkington invention you clearly know much much more about them all than I do. in fact than anyone does...
DeleteAre YOU the stalker perhaps is that why you won't stop posting on this blog?
Recent tweet by Nicky Clarke "Stop posting abuse on my blog "denis" don't doubt your reason for doing so is you probably have a tiny penis, that's not the world's fault"
ReplyDeleteSo if indeed this Denis does have a tiny penis, is it okay for people to laugh and discriminate at him for it? isn't he born with it, surely that's the same as laughing and taking the mickey out of someone with a deformity etc?
The problem with this lady is that she doesn't practice what she preaches
Hi Denis hope all well, except the obvious. best Nik
DeleteWell written and very well said!
ReplyDeleteGood to read such a review from someone with your insights as a carer. I know I watched the pilot with expectations of RG getting cheap laughs at the expense of the defenceless. I don't know why I thought so because I have always found his writing to have hidden depths and profundity. I was amazed how well observed his character was, portraying a beautiful innocent who elicited fear for his well being in a world full of the sort of evil people that have besmirched your blog. X
ReplyDeleteI never watched the pilot as it didn't attract me. But I will watch the series, mainly because of what I heard of it afterwards. And this review has reinforced my desire to watch it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBTW I am anonymous cos I didn't understand the other options (not much of a blog person) not hiding behind anonymity like some of the prats above.
Hilary
Good write up Nicky. It's pretty obvious to me that Gervais is someone with a big heart who cares deeply about the human condition; it shows in all his work.
ReplyDelete"Irrespective of how many times Gervais answers the disability question there will be a tiny but vocal minority who refuse to believe him when he says not."
ReplyDeleteThat sentence doesn't make any sense. Dreadful writing! Spelling and grammar are all over the shop. All over it!
However, it's nice to read a positive review of 'Derek'.
Thanks...I think :0) best Nicky
DeleteGervais can lie through his teeth as much as he likes, but anyone that has followed his career knows exactly what Derek was and the purpose of the character. Gervais and Merchant as good as admitted it in interview at the time. Gervais was called on this by many comedy fans, indeed many of those had been fans of Gervais' earlier work. And lo Derek did magically turn from figure of fun spastic, to something else entirely. Could Nicky Clark have picked a more unpleasant, bullying man to hitch her wagon to?
ReplyDeleteEven in its new 'not disabled' guise, Derek shows Gervais to be about as out of touch with the real world, the NHS and the private care industry as it's possible to be. Fifteen years with the NHS and I can tell you that the banjo has well and truly missed the cows arse.
"Figure of fun spastic" ?
ReplyDeleteMy you're a nice person aren't you. Your mention of comedy fans is interesting as is the 'Hitch her wagon' comment. When will you and your friends accept that just because you loathe someone not everyone else has to.
Re the NHS I've no idea what that point is supposed to be.
Don't post here again please.
Nicky Clark
Couldn't agree more with this post.
ReplyDeleteSome folk don't get Gervais as they don't understand that the underpinning of the comedy IS the mocking of bigotry and ignorance.