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Saxondale - Complete Series 2 [DVD] [2007]
![Saxondale - Complete Series 2 [DVD] [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eMPcJXfmL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £6.13 (subject to change)
Pure Gold
Review date: 2010-04-26 Rating: 10 out of 10
With every series, Tommy Saxondale grows and becomes more caustic and hilarious. Overshadowed by Alan Parsons, this character is really coming into his own. I applaud Steve Coogan. Well done, son. Keep them coming.
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Reviews
Disappointing
Review date: 2010-03-22 Rating: 6 out of 10
If you enjoyed series one and want to see more of Saxondale, I recommend watching the first series again because series two is not in the same league.
It lacks the subtlety and charm of the original.
Neosorexa for the funny bone
Review date: 2010-02-24 Rating: 4 out of 10
On this evidence, it's not much wonder that the BBC didn't commission a further series.
Original director Matt Lipsey's work on the first series was outstanding - it had its eye as much on the characters' environment as on the action itself. When Tommy and Raymond were in the van, or when they were being subjected to Vicky's 'humour' in the office, you felt that you were right there with them, even if you didn't want to be, which was fairly often, given the comedy of embarrassment that often resulted from the situations the characters found themselves in. Series One was, in short, a minor classic.
Seconds into Series Two, and it's immediately apparent that the magic has gone. The production values are up, but the realism has been sacrificed for more expensive sets and lighting that are unnecessary. The scripts are flabby and tedium sets well before the end of each one.
The genius of Saxondale was the central character's place in the rock world, ie nowhere, and how he dealt with it. He dealt with it by running a pest control business and not working for The Man. It was funny stuff, and clever in that it wasn't a parade of rock clichés. All that had been done in the mid-80s by Spinal Tap.
Until series 2 - it's painful. We've had the Tap, we've had The Comic Strip's 'Bad News', we've had Wayne's World, Wayne's World 2, Harry Enfield's underrated 'Celeb', and so on. Saxondale 2 is just all of this old stuff recycled. Along with some storylines/secondary characters that wouldn't be out of place in a 1990s Robson & Jerome sitcom.
Series one: Buy.
Series two: avoid.
The owner of the yellow peril returns
Review date: 2009-11-28 Rating: 10 out of 10
I found watching this series on DVD much funnier than I did when it was first broadcast in BBC2 but I don't know why. Anyway, this series is the second outing for Steve Coogan's pest controller and former roadie, Tommy Saxondale and it doesn't disappoint. The characters from the first series, girlfriend Magz (Ruth Jones), employee Raymond (Rasmus Hardiker), Vicki (Morwenna Banks) and anger therapist (James Bachman) all return with the addition of Jonathan, the annoying neighbour, played by Darren Boyd. The best episode in this series tends to include a number of scenes with Vicki, such as the private school one, where Tommy is glued to a chair and has to exit the grounds in his underpants; Vicki is a hilarious creation and steals every scene she's in. The courtroom episode is also particularly well crafted and it was good to spot Christopher Ryan from The Young Ones playing the ticket inspector.
In some ways it was a shame that the BBC decided to curtail this show after two series but it does mean that the quality was never compromised. The extras which feature on this disc include an interview with Coogan and co-writer Neil Maclennan and are worth watching. Saxondale was a fantastic series which really underlines the unique comic talent of Steve Coogan.
where's that music from?
Review date: 2009-10-23 Rating: 8 out of 10
A definite case of 'that difficult second series' here. There's a different director, a grainier look, and Coogan even plays the character slightly differently - as if his druggie past has caught up. It's more formulaic, with a number of ideas re-used from series1. The 'residents committee' character, for one, doesn't add much, besides being a bit out of place in a 21st century cul-de-sac. After all, everyone's a Saxondale nowadays - Margot Leadbetters are thin on the ground.
It's still fun, especially the poisonous Vicky (Mummy Pig was never like this); but you feel there wasn't actually much more to say about this character. They probably stopped at the right time.
Somebody help me out - what TV show originally used that theme music?
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Ruth Jones
Steve Coogan
Morwenna Banks
Rasmus Hardiker
James Bachman
Creators:
Steve Coogan (Primary Contributor)
Rasmus Hardiker (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5051561027727
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2008-09-22
Aspect ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 168 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007
Language: English (Original Language)