The Guest, I Fought The Law, and The Runarounds. With Guest Domhnall Gleeson

30:45It's quite poignant, the whole thing, isn't it? Because it's right on the button in terms of this is happening right now to a lot of newspapers and magazines that, you know, kind of struggling to find a way to survive. Yeah, and there's nothing funny about that. I mean, that's like the reality of that is shocking and all the rest of it. The other side of that is that people have been saying print journalism is dead or that real journalism is dying. People have been saying that since I was in college. And I'm sure we're saying it long before then as well. This is the death of journalism. And journalism has always survived.

31:17So I think concentrating through the character on the positivity of still doing it. Like when I met journalists getting ready for it, I met loads of young journalists as well as sort of older journalists and talked about what it is to work in print media and all the rest of it. And what I love was seeing young people hopeful and striving and wanting to make it better. I think that's really, I find that very hopeful and optimistic. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And in the middle of all of these kind of Americans, this big American show, did the fact that you've got people like Bemisola Camelo and Tim Key, was that kind of united together as a kind of Anglo-Irish?

31:58Yeah. Well, you're away from home together with those people, and that makes you close. And Bemi, I was new to, but I'm a huge fan of now and just think she's amazing. And Tim, I'd been a fan of for many, many years. And so it was a real delight to find out that he had been cast and that I get to share scenes with him. So, yeah, I just think he's amazing in every way. So yeah, between the pair of them, I felt like a nice little group. It was good. Yeah, because he's Psychic Simon, isn't he? And you must have seen The Ballad of Wall of Asylum, which I think is one of the films of the year, right?

32:37It's super on every level. They just nailed every aspect of that film. I was very, very proud to know him when I saw it. And I have to ask you before I run out of time, Aston Villa, you're a huge Aston Villa fan. I happen to know. I know very well. What are your feelings about Aston Villa this season? it's hard to know it's hard to know i've only seen the highlights of the newcastle game but like yeah you just you just they've got so many amazing players but they're up against it with the financial constraints and all the rest of it much like the journalism industry here see the way look i'm tying it all together this is amazing yeah but they've been up against it financially but i think as long as emory's there we're just in i think we're in incredible shape that's such an amazing boost to have over basically everybody else.

33:23So I'm, I'm, I'm optimistic, concerned a little bit as always, but really optimistic because I think they can play amazing football. Yeah. Yeah. And you've kept your kind of squad together pretty much, haven't you? So, you know, yeah, we've lost a couple and there's not much come in like, you know, there's only a couple of players have come in. So yeah, yeah. But it's, yeah, I think, yeah, it's, they've been up against it financially. Apparently that's the whole thing. And now you're part of this, of the huge behemoth, if that's the right word, of a big American show like this. This could go on for years, right?

33:52If it's a hit for Peacock and NBC, et cetera, is that something you're prepared for? That this could be, I mean, The Office itself, what, 10, 11 seasons, I think, the American version? Yeah, you only sign up for a few. So you don't sign up for that many. And I think that that means everybody's protected because it means that you can choose to go on and they can choose to go on. But like, it will always be how it's received is what will really decide how it goes along. I really hope we get to come back because I think we can make it even better. And I think we can learn from all the stuff that we did before.

34:26I'm really hopeful that we come back. So for the moment, I'm just excited about being able to do more if it happens. No part of that is like, you know, an albatross or anything like that. It's all good. Yeah. And without putting to find a point, it strikes me, I was watching, I was thinking this is such a joy because like the whole sitcom, the sitcom itself is sometimes, you know, Phil, it's possibly like withering away and there are far fewer comedies on TV nowadays than there used to be. I feel like this could be like a rallying cry, you know, to kind of keep sitcoms going because it's such a good example of them.

34:58Oh, well, I'm really happy to hear that. I think there's something special about a place you can go every week that will make you laugh. There's something really sort of sacred about that. It's one of the reasons I'm involved in acting at all is because when I was a teenager, sitting down my family i mean that was tv but to watch whatever was on that week friends or then the offices that got old alan partridge all that stuff brought us together in the most amazing way and so yes to be part of something that i hope will give that to certain people like those are those are the behemoths of the whatever but to be part of something that has the possibility of bringing people together and laughing i mean what greater privilege can you have so yeah i i hope people like us and I hope we get to go again.

35:39Oh, I hope so as well. Yeah, it's fantastic. Yeah, well, congratulations, Donal, and I hope to see you, you know, in a footballing contest. How are you feeling about Arsenal? I'm, well, I'm very optimistic, but we just found out that Kai Havertz, our striker is injured, got injured again. So we're going to be looking for, you know, a new striker all over again. So, yeah. God, the age-old problem never ends. It's unbelievable, yeah. We keep having these injuries. Yeah, so we may be coming in for one of your key players. You keep your hands off. You leave Watkins alone. I can't guarantee we're going to leave Olly Watkins alone.

36:13You please leave him alone. We love him. Before we, I mean, this is just happily turning into a football podcast interview. But as I stop that, let me say thank you very much, Donal. Hopefully see you soon. Oh, amazing to talk to you. Yeah, see you again, boys. That was Donal Leeson and it's time now for this week's news and I'm going to kick off by saying Department Q will be back for two. so Department Q2 is in development and I'm excited. Yes, I think that was the least surprising announcement of Recommission because halfway through the first series you're thinking, well, this is definitely really good.

36:50It's got to be. And what's interesting is Netflix doesn't have many returning shows like that. It doesn't have a whole load of crime dramas that could come back any time with a different case. This is the first one they've got for ages. So it makes total sense. I think as soon as we met Akram, we knew there was going to be a second series because we need to know what's happening with him at all times. Yeah, we do. That's not surprising. What is surprising, they've renewed the Institute. Stephen King's The Institute has been renewed for a second series. That is surprising. Yeah, because A, the book doesn't have a sequel.

37:23So they've just said they're going to, it's going to be the characters sort of set free but hunted. New dangers await the escapees from The Institute. and Stephen King's apparently very excited about the money he'll receive from it. No, sorry, very excited about them continuing the story. My mistake, misread that. No, true. And they just said, we've been so gratified by the response to our first season, which is a testament to the dedication of fantastic cast and crew. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We thought there'd be much more story to tell as our brilliant characters continue to navigate their way, etc., etc.

37:51I watched all of The Institute and actually really enjoyed it, so I'm in no way disappointed by this. I thought everyone in it was really good and I thought it was fun. That said, I feel like it ended in a place that I was relatively happy with. I'm not sure we need a second season, but, you know, I'll reserve judgment. I'm not opposed to it. So they don't all die then? I give them my permission. No, spoiler, they don't all die. I do want to carry on watching it because when we first watched it, I didn't realize that the main young guy is played by Martin Freeman and Amanda Hamilton's son, Joe, who was very good in it, right?

38:26He's very good in it. So I want to go back and watch the rest of it. Yeah, it's good.

38:34I wasn't a fan, but sound the Harlan Coburn klaxon because there is news of a new series that is heading to our screen soon on Prime Video. It's called Lazarus, and it's based on an original story starring Bill Nye and Sam Claflin. So the little blurb reads, Joel Lazarus, Claflin, returns home after his father, Dr. Jonathan Lazarus Nye dies by suicide and begins to have disturbing experiences that can't be explained. He quickly becomes entangled in a series of cold case murders as he grapples with the mystery of his father's death and his sister's murder 25 years ago. And that will arrive on the 22nd of October.

39:14I'm excited. I love a Harlan Coben. Well, what's interesting is this is the first, kind of the first fruit, at least when it comes to adult Harlan Coben, because there have been prime video adaptations of his YA stuff. But this is not from a novel, is it? This is a whole new idea. No, it's an original story. And non-Netflix. And non-Netflix, exactly. So do Netflix then only have rights to the novel adaptations? What's the legality of it? You're mates with Harlan Boyd. Yeah, I think that's the case. I can't remember when we saw it, where we interviewed him, where you were holding the mic very kindly.

39:45That's right. I was your mic man. You were. I think that is the case, yeah. I think Netflix buy up the rights to have bought up the rights to various novels and he can still, and he's got another deal where he creates stuff for Prime Video. It is extraordinary, really. That man is printing money. He really is. He's very busy. I'm excited by the fact that filming has started on Series 2 of Death Valley. Do you remember that? Yes. That's with Timothy Spall. And, yeah, they've apparently started filming. No news of when it will be out, but obviously they've only just started. But there was a photo of Spall and his co-star, Gwyneth Keyworth, with a clapper board, which is always nice to see.

40:23That's really popular. Yeah, I liked it. I really liked it. People really liked that. There's a huge thirst. I didn't get on with it particularly. For me, it was a bit like Ludwig. Yeah, it had the Ludwig vibe. Those two shows, old guy solves crimes in a kind of quasi-cosy fashion with a nice visual backdrop or whatever. People love that. People love that stuff. So it was inevitable, really. I had a couple of trailers this week. there's been a trailer for fallout season two which made me remember that i don't remember anything about fallout season one ended so i need to go back on wikipedia and find out because i've forgotten everything about that show maybe when i go to the horror house tomorrow night it will refresh my memory who knows oh yeah um but uh so that was a trailer that went out that so i'm i guess i'm interested to see that i do remember i only is massive hit fallout was which surprised me because i did watch the whole thing but it was a slog for me like i didn't love it so I don't know I'm curious to see what the pacing is for season two there was also a trailer for season two of the pit which will of course mean nothing to those of you who have not stop taunting us you're so annoying James you are in the know for those of us who've seen it it's very annoying you know what's annoying is I did a whole session I did a whole session at the Edinburgh Tea Festival hosted with Sky Sky Bwigs and I forgot to ask them are you kidding me I'm not kidding your one job we've been banging on about it for like a month two months yeah oh god you are the pits very much so first look pics of series 2 of Dreaming Whilst Black I don't know if either of you saw that but I'm excited for this yeah we reviewed it on the part diligently I believe did we?

41:57yes we did no I was asking if you saw the pictures before you jumped down my throat yes I did see the pictures which looked funny because it cast in period costume yes exactly and also he was a Jani Salmon was wearing a very nice jumper with clouds on which I'm going to hopefully interview him soon for the second series I'm going to ask him where he got it from You're going to gratuitously try and steal his jumper. Oh, yeah. Do you think he'll give it to me? Maybe, maybe not. Well, it's something to aim for. You might, if you ask. So, yeah, those pictures look great, and that will be coming soon.

42:26Also, some monkey business news. Literally, bad monkey news. Yeah, bad monkey news. John Malkovich is joining Series 2. Now, this is the Bill Lawrence comedy-drama starring Vince Vaughn, if you recall. Do you know what? I had to try three times to get into this, but I'm happy I persisted because I really did enjoy it. and with John Malkovich. This is Bad Monkey, right? Yeah. Yeah. Why did I call it something else? No, you were kind of dancing around. No, no, I just wanted to be sure that I remember the name of the show. Yes, no, it is Bad Monkey. It's a monkey business, but it is Bad Monkey. Yes, yeah, yeah.

43:01Yeah, so Malkovich is joining Series 2, so exciting. For me, this is one of the interesting stories of the week is the first look images for, and the premiere date confirmed for the new Monster series from Ryan Murphy of... Yeah. Yes. And this is Ed Gein, Gein? Gein? I think it's perhaps Gein. Okay. I think it's Gein. Oh, you think it's Gein? Is it? I always thought it was Gein. Unlike you two to take opposite sides. We were never friends. No, let's call it all. Stances. Anyway, this is... They issued these kind of poster-like images of Ed Gein, played by Charlie Hunnam. Or Gein. Or Gein, exactly.

43:41Or Charlie Hunnam. and they Charlie Hunnam exactly and it's quite it's quite interesting because they've been quite controversial already I mean the whole this whole strand that Ryan Murphy's created of telling the stories of true life serial killers through the medium of quite shall we say I don't know over the top classic Ryan Murphy style storytelling and dramatization and the posters literally say stuff like they quote Psycho and the Science of the Lambs and these other films that have been based loosely on the actual real case of Ed Geingein and it does leave a slightly I do feel guilty for being as interested in this show as they've made me interested in it via the use of these images there's no way I'm not going to watch this show but at the same time I do feel it is there is something inherently tacky and questionable about the whole thing.

44:43Ick, exactly. It's an Ick situation. But the cast of this thing... Gives me the Ick. It gives us the Ick. But this is the cast of this show, right? The Ed Gein story, Gein Gein. Tom Hollander, Vicky Creeps, Olivia Williams, Leslie Manville. Just really good actors are happy to do these shows. And these are smart, intelligent people. And, you know, I don't know, I find the whole thing fascinating. The whole world of the Ryan Murphy serial killer drama. But we've had this a little bit recently. with the Amanda Knox thing. Do you remember? We were like... Yeah, oh yeah, but... You know, in terms of...

45:16But that was literally... Great cast. ...co-created and produced by one of the people involved in the story. This is just effectively exploiting these incredible stories of serial killers for TV entertainment, for our entertainment. Sorry, I meant more that, you know, like a esteemed cast willing to sign up. Yeah, oh, and it was... Do you know what? But why I totally agree with you is that that series could have been made by Ryan Murphy. It was so over the top and frankly, you know, kind of almost kitschy. which is very much his wheelhouse. So, yeah, I know what you're saying. I'm going to call it on news here, just because you're running rapidly.

45:47Well, I'm running out of time. You two aren't running out of time. You've got loads of time. But I'm running out of time. So I'm going to move us on to this week's reviews. And we're going to begin with The Guest on BBC One. And this is a show that I feel confident in saying will score reasonably high on Kay's Cuckoo Bong-O-Meter. So this is set and filmed in Wales. It's a four-part psychological thriller. And she's a young woman called Ria, played by Gabrielle Creevey, get a job as a clean-up for a wealthy businesswoman played by Eve Miles. And their relationship, I think it's fair to say, takes a turn for the toxic.

46:18And if you think you know where this is going by the time someone is getting lipstick smeared across their lips, let me tell you that you absolutely do not. Kay, please open this particular packet of banana crackers for us. Yeah. So, as you know, I love Eve Miles, and I'll watch anything that she's in. And she is brilliant in the role of Fran, who is this sort of very successful, charismatic businesswoman who employs Rhea, Gabrielle Creevy's character, as her cleaner. And they come from very, I was going to say they come from very different backgrounds. They both had humble backgrounds. But the point of it is, is that Fran's elevated through her business and she's living a life that Rhea really would like to if she considered it.

47:01But she doesn't have that headspace because she's trying to make ends meet. She's got a good-for-nothing boyfriend who's just a gamer, makes no effort to get a job. Anyway, so she is employed by Fran to clean her house. And over time, Fran begins to make her see that actually there's so much more to her life that she could have all the things that Fran has and that she's got so much untapped potential. And they cultivate this sort of toxic friendship, which is an unusual dynamic. I'm quite intrigued by this dynamic but I think what James is basically referring to is that suffice to say Fran gives Ria some advice which she acts upon and the consequences of which are absolutely banana crackers it goes off in a direction that you wouldn't expect very melodramatic extreme but do you know what like I said I'll watch anything that eaves in so it is bonkers and the first episode certainly confirms that it does potentially belong on the batshit-o-meter that I'm creating.

48:05But I don't know. I enjoy it. It's just entertaining. It joins that spate of shows that go off in random tangents and are a little bit mad, but are very... It's such a spate. It's not just a spate of that. It's a spate of female-led thrillers with two women battling each other. Costage. Hostage. Sirens. Do you remember Sirens? Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I like Sirens. Do you remember the better… Behind her eyes. Behind her eyes. The better sister. Do you remember the stolen girl? Do you remember the au pair? These are all women against women. Little disasters. And by the way, the ones I've just listed are just this year alone.

48:46And you've got coming up the girlfriend, which we'll be doing next week, hopefully, barring, what's it called? Embargoes. Embargoes. It's a flood. of these shows about women at least one of whom, if not both are psychotic and you know what, I'm here for it I'm here for this bad shit I have to say this one starts out quite soberly and almost quite kind of it lures you in and you think this is all fair enough and I actually was watching it thinking this is actually plausible and it's not particularly flashily made or, you know, it's kind of very, very solid, good entertainment. And an interesting story, as you say, that main, the two of them, having an interest, there's one bit where she's applying the makeup and it's like you have very beautiful lips from the Mike Lee play with Alison Stedman, Thing is Party, what was it called?

49:43Abigail's Party. Abigail's Party, thank you. Anyway, then the ending happens, right? And the climax of episode one, I think it makes the whole show even more batshit crazy than all those others I think this is now Really? No, Boyd No, no, no Let me consult the batshit-o-miter You have to think about it because if you think about it and you're going Wait a minute so she did that? Why did she do that? Why did she decide to do that? Why did he decide to do this? And if you think about it for more than half a millisecond it is more insane No Not more insane than smoke I think it's more insane than smoke No Boyd Honestly You're insane You're more insane than smoke fucking nuts.

50:21You are fucking nuts. That is crazy. You can't say that. No, no, no. I'm fully on board. Tell me. I'm fully on board. Am I the arbiter of Cuckoo Bong? Yes, come on. Yeah, come on. It's Cuckoo Bong to the max. James, come on. Do you think this is more mad than Smoke? I might not think it's quite as mad as Smoke, but it is definitely mad. Yeah, it's up there. I totally get what Boyd is saying. And he's right. It is in this sort of grand tradition of these absolutely batshit, sort of weird sort of female relationships, often cross-generational female relationships, sort of like weird dueling dramas, these psycho thrillers.

50:52I mean, it's just a lot of fun. All of this whole genre is just immense, pulpy, ridiculous, stupid fun. I'm so happy you think it's fun. I thought you were going to get all highbrow and like snooty-magooty about it. No, no, not at all. I had a really good time with it. You can never be snooty-magooty about Cuckoo Bong. Yeah, I mean, it's just, it's batshit. It's absolutely batshit. And I was giggling away watching it. It's like, what the fuck is going on? I actually rewound the last thing because I wanted to watch it again instantly. and it's fucking hilarious. Yeah, yeah. It's so funny. But those two are immensely watchable, right?

51:23Oh, yeah. Because I've always loved it in miles, but even Gabrielle Creevy is, yeah. Oh, no, she's brilliant. She actually, one of the things that is so good about it is she's very naturalistic. And that really helps the whole, you know, yeah. It grounds it in the madness. It grounds the madness. So when the madness arrives, it's even more brilliant. Listen, when I'm back from my holiday, I really mean it's, I am going to make a barometer for us. Good. Because there's a lot now to add to it. You can chart the constellation of... Yeah, I'm going to get my felt tips and cardboard out. Yeah. Standby.

51:50That seems fair. When's this on, Boydie? This is on Monday, today, the 1st of September, 2025, BBC One, 9pm. And I think the whole thing is on iPlayer as well. And I personally am going to devour it as soon as I get home tonight. We should get Darren to create some kind of cuckoo bong gong. Yes. And bang the cuckoo bong gong every time something is cuckoo bong. Yes, please, Darren. Yes, I'm here for that. I really want to hear the vibrations of it as well. Yeah. It's either that or take a hit from the cuckoo bong, and I think that would just be inappropriate. No, come on, just say no. Next this week we have I Fought the Law on ITV1.

52:25This is another four-part sort of drama, but this has a very different tone, because it's the story of Julie Hogg, who was murdered in 1989 by a violent serial offender, who was ultimately acquitted of the crime. Now, that obviously sounds like a spoiler for this, but the point of this series is it follows this kind of relentless campaign by her mother, Anne Ming, who fought to have this 800-year-old law, this double jeopardy law, meaning people can't be tried for the same crime twice overturned which it was famously uh so her daughter's killer could finally be brought to justice uh and this i must you know i've got to say i found an incredibly difficult watch like it's really really just profoundly sad and profoundly upsetting like obviously it's a sheridan smith crime thing on itv so you know i was prepared to come in with a bit of snoot but that was that was dispelled instantly because this is actually really, really hard-hitting.

53:15But boy-dee, boy-dee, boy-dee, this fought the law, crucially. Did the law win? The law did win, yeah. Or at least in the show. Well, famously didn't, in fact, in the courts. You set him up for a fall there, James. Well, the law was changed. I did, it's true. Spoiler alert. Yeah, that is true. Yeah, the law was at least changed due to this extraordinary woman and Ming's diligence and the power. Perseverance, right? And never giving up, yeah. Years and years and years it took. But you're right. But you know what? As you say, this four-part show reminded me a lot of Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office and Toxic Town in that they're campaigning shows, showing you what people can achieve if they absolutely stick with what they're doing and if they single-mindedly.

54:02And in this case, the real Anne Ming, who's very much still with us and was consulted throughout the whole creation of the show, the scriptwriting stage, etc., spoke to Sheldon Smith a lot. and it's all about, you know, she talks about how she annoyed, you know, people in her own life, you know, her husband to some extent got frustrated with her, and, you know, the police, and the law, and the lawmakers, and the politicians, because she wouldn't give it up, she wouldn't let it lie, but that's, that is, and so in the end, there's something inspirational about it, because as James alluded to, it's the actual murder element of it that has to be dealt with first, because you have to know what happened because it's really is really grim and moving and startling um how you know her mother found the body etc all of that which is all in there obviously it sets the emotional stakes yeah it really exactly it really sets the emotional stakes so that when you get to the stuff that happens in court that's devastating initially but then by you know if you watch the whole series and and then it explains why you know but this guy got acquitted due to various reasons and various flaws in the law and then when you get to dealing with this 800 year old double jeopardy thing it's it's just extraordinary and fascinating and it's a story i kind of knew the edges of this story but i didn't really but i definitely didn't know the detail and it's the detail that makes it so fascinating i just think it's it's up there with those those brilliant shows and i think you know the way it's written um adapted by jamie cry and adapted by from ann ming's own book for the love of julie the way it's directed the way it's acted it just feels so authentic and real um it's very very well judged i thought it was excellent and sheridan's performance excellent as always right these gritty roles based on real life the fact that she um consulted with amin and amin was you know she's delighted with um sheridan's performance she said it was very hard to watch um because it felt like sheridan had got into her mind um because she you know it was so accurate a portrayal and yeah it's heartbreaking and devastating to watch and of course it's like distressing because it's a mother's love um well you know the whole family how they are moved by this tragedy.

56:07But so inspiring that in spite of her pain, you know, she found purpose in that, i.e. not just to get justice for Julie, which is obviously at the centre of all of this, but for the future, the people that were to come, for, you know, like other cases that would be affected by this rule, this 800-year-old rule being changed, historic legal reform because of this one woman. And she should be celebrated, even though it's in incredibly sad and tragic circumstances. And such a crucial thing to change, given the sort of the time frame that we're in, because we're in an age where new evidence, because of forensic advances and whatnot, comes to light all the time.

56:44And then if someone has been acquitted, but then suddenly they are clearly guilty, not naming any names, but let's just say there was a very famous murder case in America where the person who may or may not have killed the person then pretty much admitted they did it after they'd been acquitted and nothing could be done about it. It's like that's clearly a massive miscarriage of justice. And this guy boasted about having done it after he's done it. Right, exactly that. Do you know what? Yeah, I got confused about how it came to light because I thought he was in prison when he admitted to it. But apparently, according to Ann Ming, he was in a...

57:15She says, this man killed my daughter and was bragging in a local pub that he got away with a perfect murder. Yeah, great. Horrific. Which is very difficult to watch. Friend of the pod, Rufus Jones, pops up as well. Yeah, at the beginning. Is he an attorney general? He's something like that. Yeah, some bigwig. but I love that bit actually because he sort of says to her because it's in I think that bit was in 2003 and they were the House of Lords and he was sort of was saying to her have you got notes you know because people often dry up and she was just like listen I know what I want to say I've had 13 years to think about it and I loved that moment I thought it was great yeah it was great and this is ITV1 isn't it Boydie yeah started yesterday Sunday and carries on today Monday and it will be Sunday Monday next week as well and there's a documentary about the real case next week.

58:03Which I see we do a lot, which I think is great. Yeah, absolutely. Okay, right. Finally this week we have The Runarounds on Prime Video, Prime Video, which is, which has been dubbed, an original musical teen drama series that sees a group of recent high school graduates start a rock band to chase their musical dreams. At least, that is what Google told me. I wouldn't know, seeing as I was never sent screeners for it and was generally given The Runaround instead of, you know, The Runarounds. Still, still I'm A. Hoping one of you at least one of you has seen it but also I have to go now I've run out of time because I have to go and catch a boat to Epic Universe which is a new park here at Universal where I can ride my roller coasters all day which is of course clearly essential business for the podcast.

58:44This is outrageous. You just have a lovely time. We'll be fine we'll do the run around. Do you know what you know I was joking last episode about having to call like the podcast social service about being abandoned and neglected by terms but I mean this is a perfect we've now got audio evidence of this but anyway alright well have a nice time. Off you pop. I will, I will. I'll scream to you from the roller coasters. We need footage, right? We need footage for Instagram, please. I'm going to spend the rest of this podcast impersonating James. Oh, yes. That's fine. Do it. Be as smug as you possibly can.

59:14James out. Right, now that he's bugging off to go on a roller coaster, what did you think of it? Of the runaround? Yes. I quite enjoyed it, basically, in the end. I was not looking forward to watching this show at all. it's co-created by the guy who wrote Outer Banks which is a very Jonas Pate there you go or is it Jonas Pate I don't think it's Pate no I'm joking that's one name I can get right he's got an accent on his E that would be great if it was Jonas Pate I would love it can you get a slice of Pate yeah no he created have you ever seen Outer Banks it's a very very glossy slick teen thing populated by unfeasinably beautiful people.

1:00:00No, I haven't. But my niece is really into this. So when I watched this, I texted her and said, listen, get ready for this. Because I think she'll really like it. Did you watch it with her? No, no, no. Because there's a lot of adults. There's a lot of adults. And also that would have been a legal void because as you know, the screen is a very top secret. Exactly. I'm about to go on holiday with her tomorrow and I'm going to tell her all about it. Because I texted her. Would you let her watch it though? I actually am fascinated by this because this is a teen drama, which back in the day, you know, say in the day of Dawson's Creek or the OC or whatever, would have been much more anodyne.

1:00:34This has got MFing and Fing and Jeffing all the way through. Just language stuff. Is that what you're all getting foodish about? Well, yeah, and then there's drug action as well. Oh, yeah. How many things we forget? Oh, my God. You're like, oh, whatever. Yeah. Crack the bong open or whatever, you know. Crack the bong open. You're fine with it. You're a cookie bomb. I'm fascinated by that. No, I didn't find it like anything that I would say to her, oh no, you shouldn't watch this. I mean, to be fair, listen, this is the girl who watches Strange Things and Euphoria. I mean, like... Oh, Euphoria?

1:01:04Yeah. I mean, that's frankly inappropriate. You should be changing an intervention. I don't like to get involved. But yeah, so anyway, I really, I actually really enjoyed this. I was also a little bit dreading it because I thought, oh, you know, is it going to be too young? It is young. Look, it's not aimed at me. However, I know that my teenage self would have absolutely lapped this up because even actually as an adult now, I was watching and I was like, it's fun, it's entertaining, it's got, you know, we should say it's about a group, a band, who actually I think featured in Outer Banks. So I read up a little bit about this, and I think this band, The Runarounds, I think they formed to audition for Outer Banks Series 3, and then Jonas Pate, Pate, created this drama around the band.

1:01:50And so they are real musicians, they are a real band, And so this is a dramatization of them because some of them are actors, I think. William Lipton, for example. And yeah, it's just like, I think it's fun. It's, you know, there's romance drama, friendship drama. You know, some of the band members are deciding if they will go to, is it college? Some of them are thinking of dropping out. There's like, you know, there's like all this kind of like angst, teenage angst and drama about it. And obviously the cast are good looking. yeah I thought it was fun and I think definitely teenagers will like it and anyone who likes what's it called the summer I turn pretty and things like that which are very glossy and American we did one recently I can't remember the name of the one you know didn't we?

1:02:38Did we? Yeah we did and we also did Cruel Intentions remember that? Yes. On Prime Video I think this is better than that this is 100 % better I mean it's like it could not be I mean it's just this is superior way way way superior also I was concerned when I went into this I thought oh god it's going to be super cheesy and you know I've had my fill of cheese recently with was it the terminal list this isn't you know there's a there's a couple of moments that are a little bit you know close to the cheese wire shall we say but overall you like your cheese metaphor don't you hello you admitted the terminal list was just the grand fromage it was yeah fondue as I said but there are scenes in this where I mean I enjoyed it I did enjoy it There are scenes in this which go on way too long, which are basically two dudes, two bros, kind of like, you know, swearing at each other.

1:03:25There's a scene, I'm going to call it the rock gods motherfucker scene, where they literally, these two guys literally shout rock gods motherfucker at each other for about 10 minutes. At least felt like 10 minutes. But you have no objection to doing that when it's us doing that chant before we record a podcast. Oh, well, that's different. Podcast motherfuckers, when we're shouting that out, screaming together as a rallying cry. Yeah, we have to get ourselves excited. Psyched up. Yeah, psyched up. That's fine. Especially when James is away. You just don't like it when it's in a drama. No, that's true.

1:03:53Okay. No, I did enjoy it. I was very surprised to the extent to which I enjoyed it. I thought it was... It had a sense of humour that was not forced or embarrassing or too cheesy. And I think that was the key to it. That, for example, a lot of the storyline... This is going to sound really banal. But a lot of the storyline in the first episode is to do with the drama. and whether or not they're going to keep the drummer or not. A la Ringo Starr in the creation of the Beatles, of course. I think that's going back to those days, famously. They got rid of their drummer to bring in Pete Best, to bring in Ringo, quite rightly.

1:04:27And in this one, the drummer is just a shit drummer. I mean, he's just awful. And there's a funny scene where they do a cover version of, I want to say, a White Stripes song, I think. Perhaps. It's that kind of music, by the way, that they play. So they're not playing bland, banal. remember the OC back in the day Do not come for Are you coming for Imogen Heap and the OC sounds like A little bit This is more like you know that kind of stuff like Nirvana it's kind of more grungy more rocky more kintar based stuff that they do and they do their own songs as well and I thought that was that was a good I thought the music was pretty decent you know for this kind of show as he says slightly patronisingly and the whole all the stuff about the band and whether to sack the drum or not I thought was really was well very well done and quite funny because the character the drummer character is an absolute gigantic doofus I also like the element with the guitarist who has anxiety and is a bit shy yeah yeah I thought that was very sweet as well that was good I agree yeah I think the romance is a bit is a bit it's like come on just get on with it you know it's one of those where it's like will they won't they and they tell obviously will that to stretch it I know that's the formula of these shows and almost they have to do it but equally it would be like wouldn't it be refreshing if she just goes yeah let's just you know I think the thing that saves that is actually William Lipton.

1:05:47So that's the guy who's trying to pursue this girl. Because he does it in a variety of different ways. It's quite amusing and he's quite determined in a consensual way. Steady. You hasten to add. No, it's fun. It's fun. All I would say, as well as that scene I was talking about, which goes on too long, they do surprisingly actually they do a full performance of a song towards the end and I'm like it's like a five minute song yeah I could live without the full version yeah you're like I'm not sure we need that when you consider that I've seen lots of shows where they'll have you know needle drops songs right accompanying I don't know a sequence or a montage right that happens in the bear for example and even in the bear they'll only play like half the song and then they'll you know cut to the scene and I'm talking about classic songs that are featured in those shows to have a kind of four or five minute full performance of a i think it's a new song was quite a lot i thought and i think i think in general it was too it was a bit windy it was a bit kind of like you know went on a bit no wind instruments there boy no no wind instruments in that way but i enjoyed it and you know if i have the time i might actually go back to it's not that's how i feel do you know what it's on my long list i mean there's things that take priority but if i just wanted an easy watch this is definitely one i'd go back i think it's a very while it hasn't particularly got any great dramatic tension that forces unlike The Guest right at the end of The Guest when that infamously coo-coo-bong scene happens and you're like oh my god I've got to see what happens next there's nothing in this to warrant you going I have to see what happens next No, unless you're infested the romance and stuff like that I mean that's painfully obvious what's going on there apart from the only thing that is keeping you watching for me is it's a kind of hang out with these characters who are fun and it's a fun vibe man That's what I'm saying.

1:07:36You said it. Yeah. That's the runaround, Kay. Yes. Prime video starting today, Monday the 1st of September, 2025. Wonderful. Do you want to know what else is on this week? Yeah, tell me. Let me just have a look. Scrunch through those pages now that James is not here to worry about the audio. Exactly. So we've got the paper, the aforementioned paper that I interviewed Donald Gleeson for. He is the lead in this show set in the same universe as the American office. and that starts on Sky Max and now on Friday, the 5th of September, 9 o 'clock, 2025. It's worth saying that the, and this is reality TV, but James isn't here.

1:08:14The Inheritance started last night, carries on tonight. And this is the show that's very much like Talk about Cookie Bomb. Cookie Bomb format. It's very much like The Traitors except their fictional character played by Elizabeth Hurley is dead and the real-life competitors are competing to win money from her estate. and yeah, it is cuckoo bong but quite entertaining. Rob Brinder is like the kind of host slash he's the executor. He's the executor. Thanks very much. Yes, I think we mentioned Michelin Web Channel 4 Friday. Bake Off starts on Tuesday, Channel 4. Get on it everyone. Get on it at 8 o 'clock which you wouldn't be allowed to say if James was here and I think, I'm just checking flicking through the magazine as I do.

1:08:57Oh, there's The Stranding on Honeymoon 9 which is another reality show hosted by Davina I'm only mentioning it because it's Davina and we like Davina. Yeah. And that is about it. Friend of the pod. That is about it, yeah. So, what's your pick of the week? Oh, it's got to be The Guest, doesn't it? I'm going to go I Fought the Law because I think of the importance of it and the performances. I momentarily forgot that we just reviewed The Guest. Well, if you just want an easy watch, a wackadoodle-doo watch, then I would definitely go for The Guest. But I think, yeah. Yeah. I want to champion the I Fought the Law.

1:09:27Cuckoo Bong, Light Relief, The Guest. Yes. I mean, even though actually it has quite intense situations in it and absolute important and very good drama, I For The Law. I've changed my mind. It's just I For The Law. Yeah. That's the pick of the week. He's done a reverse ferret, guys. Yeah. Sometimes you just got to reverse that ferret, Kay. What a way to end. How does he end this? Go on. Over to you, Boydo. He goes something like, next week he'll talk about what we might be reviewing next week. I can deal with that. The aforementioned Girlfriend, which is the Robin Wright drama, of which you're intimately aware.

1:10:00Yes, I am. I don't know whether it's embargoed or not. It probably is embargoed. Task, which is the new Sky Atlantic HBO show, which is very interesting, from the guy who created Mayor of East Town. Okay. Yeah, and I think we can review that. I don't think that is embargoed, so that will definitely do. The Rumour is a Channel 5 show with Rachel Shenthal that we might end up doing because there's nothing else on. Only Mergers in the Building, new series, the fifth season, Kay, believe it or not. I'm excited because it sounds good. we did a news story on it and it sounded like I've watched a couple of episodes already FYI thumbs up or thumbs down I'm not going to say that'd be that'd be breaking all the rules you know we can't say that the newsreader do you remember yes I really like this Australian newsroom drama exactly it's actually one of the most probably underrated shows is that series 3 it is series 3 and there's something called Playing Gracie Darling on Paramount Plus which is like a kind of crimey show about a girl who disappeared doing a seance and then years later later the kind of people who knew her are doing their own dodgy stuff.

1:11:02That's an inane description of what that show is. Anyway, one or more, some or more of those shows we shall review next week and it'll be a reunion, won't it? Because I think you're back from your jaunt to Malaga hopefully. James will be back for his outrageous freebie to Universal Studios in Florida and we'll all be back in the same place. Group cuddle, guys. Tear our hair out about the fucking technical problems of this that we had before this podcast started. Anyway, it's done and does it now. We can relax. And we'll just say goodbye in the way James does. Pilot out.