Marcella's wayward brother, Billy, is coming out of rehab and it isn't long before their sibling squabbles start up again. Her life-coach is on hand to help her work through their differences using some new, questionable methods. Meanwhile, Marcella finally has an audition for an acting role but there's a hitch, she needs to cry in it and no matter what she tries the tears won't come.
Brrriliant! Funny and magical and just wonderful to watch!
Damien was in this ep more than i thought he might be.. and the scenes were satisfyingly juicy!
Tinder King! Gratitude journal! Not the TV Licence Guy! And they almost ...
It was good to see Jon a little more away from the car. Damien looks bloomin gorgeous in that suit.
In less than half an hour Roisin Conaty packed in so much.. the scenes with her therapist are becoming more brilliantly bonkers! Clever writing again, 5 stars from me!
You're very welcome Rosie! Lots of this episode made me laugh out loud! and at the same time I was really moved.
This episode is as strong as the first two in getting that balance between comedy one liners and deeper emotion, with a growing and ongoing investment in the characters. Perhaps the name 'Onion' refers to the show and characters' many layers, not just a crying device! Roisin Conaty is not just a clever writer and great comedian, she is also a great actor, she almost couldn't pull off the bad acting / crying bit in the audition, she's too good!
Karl Theobold is also becoming more hilarious with each episode. The whole 'talk to your brother' bit . It's clever how each ep is interspersed with Marcella in that therapist's office. The flashbacks and flashforwards are a fab device for getting a lot packed in and for fleshing out Marcella's story in a funny and cool way.
It's not just Marcella who is putting on her Gameface while her world continues to be in chaos. Jon is constantly being challenged (in a different way) to put on his GameFace by Marcella, it makes for great tension and comedy at the same time! Love how in this ep an invisible line was crossed between him and Marcella. Jon is trying to maintain, but that ship sailed with the I've got a date thing and the diary. Oh.. and the kiss / lingering looks!
Thanks to E4 for sharing a clip of the whole first scene between Marcella and Jon (posted above). Here's another clip from this ep (not Damo but hilarious)
So much to love in this episode, including how Jon has the last word...
exactly! Graham the therapist - sorry, life-coach - is beginning to unravel before our very eyes! In this episode Marcella looked the more together of the two!
Loved this - it just gets better and better every week! Her ex - my goodness, she went out for 12 years with that plonker? Best thing that ever happened to her, them finishing! He's horrible to his poor wife - and was obviously just as bad with Marcella. The therapist - fantastic, all the better for being such short clips. It's fantastic, watching his progress over the weeks - I think he needs to see a therapist himself, Marcella's getting stronger while he's unravelling. I'm even starting to like the weird neighbour - her thinking Jon was the TV Licence Man was just class! Anyone else yell "No!!!!" at the screen when Jon said he had a date. I was momentarily devastated! Then I thought it could have been worse - the wedding he was going to might have been his! With Marcella's luck, Jon (sweet, thoughtful, caring, plain old-fashioned nice) will probably turn out to be gay! (No, I don't really think that).
We're halfway through the series and I'm really going to miss it. Is it too soon to hope for a series 2? Say, this year 😉?
-- Edited by EllieForster on Sunday 22nd of October 2017 11:50:54 AM
Ha ha! Ellie, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this ep and voting in the poll. That whole scene was hilarious! I felt Jon was pretending to have a date, because he thought Marcella was seeing her boyfriend! I've said this a few times but do think there will be a twist with regards to Jon.
I have also given 5 stars. I just love it. The series, Roisin and Roisin / Damien. It is so funny and yet important topics are not excluded.
I laughed most at the audition. And the scenes with Damien are just great. In the first moment he said that he is going to a wedding, I also thought it is his wedding, like Ellie.
Is Jon a little bit curious? Look into her diary, play with the lamp. But too sweet that he brings the things to her home. However, I also somehow fear, like Domino, that with Jon something is wrong and something else is coming. he's just too nice!?
I am loving Damien's great comedic timing and loved his "awkwardness" in trying to change the date for the driving lesson but his under the breadth remark that it's for a date, not a suit date but a date date was just plain cute. The last scene with his dejected "I'm not the TV license guy" to me was just priceless.
Hello forum!!! It's been too long!!! I am loving Game face, it's my fave thing that Damien has been in since Being Human!!! It is just so funny and cute, but with a story that keeps you interested. 5 stars for me on all 3 episodes so far, but this episode is the best so far. Already hoping for series 2!!! xx
-- Edited by HalGal on Monday 23rd of October 2017 05:13:58 PM
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My name is Ciara and I've been on the Kia-Ora!!!! :D
Thanks for joining the discussion and sharing your thoughts and votes Susan and HalGal
This episode is definitely looking to be the most popular of the series so far, with 100% voting 5 stars!
I'm with you on Damien's comedic timing Susan, he's also a great comedic contrast to Roisin C's verbose and bubbly Marcella, almost like the comedy straight man, his often times deadpan expression (or GameFace?) is sometimes funniest of all, his humour is less obvious but Jon is turning out to be very funny indeed!
HalGal, wow, that's no small statement! I had not thought of it in terms of favourites of Damien's work, but now you mention it I am developing a very big soft spot for GameFace and might almost go so far as to say I think I might be enjoying it a teeny tiny bit more than Crashing ...
oooh! I'd speculated on whether Jon may already be married. but the getting married theory works better...obvs not in that scene, at least that is not how I saw it, but as a general thing Jon might be hiding...that would be a hellova secret to be keeping! Maybe he's getting cold feet! Lolling at my own cynicism here!
Agree Rosie, it would be a mega come down if Jon was a baddie... but a bit of bad would add an interesting layer... Perhaps it won't be as black and white as good or bad... we really don't know anything about his life, unlike Marcella, and he is a mysterious character to us so far.. only seen him in his interactions with Marcella and only in a car or on a pavement! ( I think that is going to change..) Not complaining mind you, the delicious tension that is building up.. and the suspense!
I wasn't thinking it was his wedding because didn't he say the reason to switch the appointment the following week was for a date and then he clarified it was a non-suit date. Hmmm, now I'm even more intrigued.....
Yeah, I didn't think he was referring to his wedding in that scene either Susan, but Ellie and Rosie mentioning it made me think about what Jon's possible story might be... as I'd speculated earlier in another topic about him hiding something like being married.. which led to the idea that he might be getting married. It could be anything really, some complete surprise!
To go back to this episode, when Jon mentions he is going to a wedding I thought he may have just been saying that, when he was actually wearing the suit, all dressed up and smelling nice, to look good for Marcella.