This is England 88

Television in December often includes adaptations of classic Victorian Literature, dramatic storylines in popular soaps, and of course the favourite Christmas-y films that we have all seen many times and nevertheless still love. However, director Shane Meadows goes against the stereotypical seasonal television and gives viewers some of the most captivating and harrowing scenes to end the year, with the third instalment of his franchise set two years after his character Lol (pictured below) has an affair with her fiancé, Woody’s, best friend Milky, and then murders her serial rapist father. Yes, it can only mean one thing, Meadows has done it again, it’s This is England 88.

Lol played by Vicky McClure

The opening of the show instantly puts you smack in the context of England in 1988, similarly to the prior series and film before it, there is a montage of archive footage which gives just enough period detail to let the plot unwind. As like the shows predecessors, a lot of focus is paid to the trials and tribulations of growing up. We see how Gadget, Kelly, and the like are still together, but there is a huge absence due to other circumstances of Lol, played by Vicky McClure, Woody, played by Joseph Gilgun, and Shaun (pictured below), played by Thomas Turgoose, which enable these actors to give some of the most mesmerising television performances of the year. There is an instant element of heartache where each of these characters appears on the brink; now raven-haired Lol with the constant haunting of her murdered Father, loveable Woody who is struggling with his immersion in the 80’s new wave of middle-classes including a new “posh” girlfriend, a potential promotion at work, and suffocating parents, and finally Shaun who has enrolled at drama school and bored with his relationship with Smell, played by Rosamund Hanson, risks everything for a fumble with his middle-class co-lead in the school play.

Shaun played by Thomas Turgoose

The climax of the show occurs after continuous mental torment for Lol from her deceased unsettling Father, and in these final chilling and torturous moments there is some of the most haunting scenes that have been on British Television in 2011. However, there are some light-hearted moments which also enforce Meadows’ fantastic use of realism by creating the unique dynamic of friendship which is hard to succeed in doing on television.

With a final hug which sees reunited two of our favourite characters from the franchise, it feels like everything is finally going to be okay. But, then again, This is England, is never going to be that simple and we can only hope that sure enough there will be another few episodes which will divulge more into the lives of our favourite “youths” of 1985.

Woody played by Joseph Gilgun and Lol (McClure)