// Index
Chalk
Now some of you may know that Steven Moffat, now Doctor Who supremo extraoirdinaire, is not only the author of some of the best episodes of the revived series, but is also an acclaimed writer in other fields too. (Some of you may not know this, but consider yourselves educated at last.)
His previous credits include the creation and writing duties on Press Gang, a series I must confess I never quite got into (possible ITV snobbery there), but also three acutely observed, painfully funny and intricately plotted farce-led comedy series: Joking Apart, Chalk and Coupling.
The latter of course is a deservedly huge success known to many, the former a bit of a cult hit but certainly fondly remembered, but “Chalk” is an oddity in that not only was it panned horribly at the time by the critics and died a huge death, but also that Moffat himself won’t even acknowledge its existence.
Why? Well, who knows. Only Moffat would be able to tell, but I suspect the mauling he got for it cut deep. But in any case he is as wrong to disown it as the critics were to pan it because it’s as brilliant (arguably more so) than the other two works.
And you can now judge for yourself because the first series has been put out on DVD by independent company ReplayDVD. And I urge you to support them and buy a copy so that they make enough to put series two out.
A second series? Even with the reaction it got? Oh yes… The second series was commissioned before the first had aired based purely on the reaction of the studio audience who lapped it up. It seems that it was the BBC’s idiotic decision to compare it to Fawlty Towers that angered the critics to the point they turned the audience against it before it had even been seen.
Now in the cold light of day you can see it for the magic it really is.
Buy it. You won’t regret it. It may have been a critical and ratings failure but the fact of the matter remains that anyone who sees it loves it.
Posted on January 10, 2009 | Filed Under Film, TV, Theatre
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