Oh Jesus. I just saw two episodes of The Thick Of It, a BBC comedy from a few years back upon which the film In The Loop is based, and I’m dying. First off, the show is brilliant. I know I want to see the film but right now I just want to watch all of the original series plus two specials. Evidently there is a second series being hashed out this year? Whatever, get it done now because I need to watch it yesterday.

The basic setting is Number 10 Downing and it’s a sort of British West Wing, focusing more on the staffers than the PM. The role of Director of Communications (my beloved Toby, now called Malcolm Tucker) is here played by Peter Capaldi, whose filthy Scottish tongue curls around the most decadent obscenities I’ve heard since Swearingen passed those stones. God DAMN the man can curse, and that’s been a thing for me since I was in the third grade. I specifically recognized him from Fortysomething (when I mainline a nom, I do NOT fuck around) but I know I’ve seen him in other things and damn if he isn’t just a year older than Mr. Laurie. And damnDAMN but when his character flies off the fucking handle he is retardedly sexy. He can even pull off the raging quiet-but-you-know-he’d-rather-be-ripping-your-eyes-out smile, and that’s when you’re dragged into some side departmental closet to be ripped clean through. Oh, sorry…got to dreaming a bit there…

Working in conjunction with Tucker is Press Officer Jamie MacDonald, played by Paul Higgins. Impossibly more foul-mouthed than Tucker, or at least somewhat more creatively so, he has even more of the eminent threat of violence when he rages. And again, the accent. And I am NOT usually one for the Scottish accent but daaaamn it works well here. And these two together? Christ.

Britcom nerdalert – the potential recipient of the iCock is Chris Addison, one third responsible for The Department, a program I’m only aware of after obsessing over John Oliver for a good long while, but one that hasn’t left mypod since. Oliver co-wrote most of The Department with Andy Zaltzman, his partner and cohort on The Bugle, a weekly podcast you should damn well be listening to. With headphones. Because I WILL cop to getting the warm and tinglies to an English accent all the damn day long, even if they are literally reading the news and giggling like schoolboys. And occasionally busting a 90s rap. Truthfully, the fact that the show is incredibly funny is a bonus.

Ok, gotta get back to work and seeking out the episodes I haven’t seen because I’ll be damned if I’m letting In The Loop leave the theaters unseen.

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