This Is England ’86 Review
2006’s brilliant This is England cemented Shane Meadows’ reputation as one of Britain’s most unique and exciting directorial talents. A story of coming of age in Thatcher’s Britain, it vividly captured the vibe of this bleak era, touching on such themes as the Falklands war and the rise of the far right. With its ensemble cast and ambitious attempt to capture an epoch, This Is England lends itself well to this spin-off miniseries.
Set three years after the original feature, we rejoin the old gang: Woody (Joe Gilgun) is now working in a factory and about to marry Lol (Vicky McLure), Milky has survived the beating that left him nearly dead at the end of the first film and Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) is sitting his O-levels. The 1986 World Cup provides a historical backdrop to the four episodes.
As with the film, all of Meadows’ hallmarks are present and at their best here: the 80s is a decade that lends itself particularly well to his penchant for kitchen-sink situations, with his dry wit never far from the surface. The locations are spot-on: the council estates and tower blocks that backdrop the series have a palpable hopelessness and illustrate a quintessential desolate northern town under Thatcher.
Developing interesting and complex characters is something Meadows does superbly and he doesn’t disappoint in crafting brilliantly ambiguous characters, sympathetic and realistic enough to keep the viewer emotionally invested in their stories. Turgoose, who was a revelation in his starring role in the movie, is less central to the plot, which allows Meadows to explore his other characters. McLure is excellent as Woody, boasting talent well beyond the remit of a soap actor. Even Combo, the violent skinhead portrayed so well here and in the film by Stephen Graham, exudes a profound vulnerability that fleshes out what might otherwise be a stock character – his semi-redemptive story arc is one of the most moving of the series.
Meadows has said he’ll make a second series if this one is well-received. It seems inevitable and if he can recreate the magic of his burgeoning franchise to date, I wouldn’t write off a third.
Adam Richardson