So. The premise of Ep 2 is a data loss incident/kerfuffle/media strategy within DoSAC, further underscoring the department’s complete ineptitude at being able to handle even the slightest bit of responsibility. If this weren’t enough, Nicola manages to break the story herself to the press following a Guardian meetup intended to introduce “the real Nicola.” Well, they met her alright. Upon finding out what she’s done Malcolm rages against Nicola and his own seatbelt almost equally, giving me some quite serious bondage brain fodder. And then……eh, fuckit, now I just wanna look at the pretteh.

So with episode 1 we have a cabinet reshuffle, the main point of which is to formally replace the previous DoSAC MP. Whatever, I give two shits about the politics, you know why I’m there. The maniacal charm of Malcolm Tucker is adjusted only slightly in the face of a female minister but it’s fun seeing him kinda flirty and then go STRAIGHT into bollock mode. There’s certainly no will they/won’t they thing going on but at least this new chick can hold her own with him and he definitely wasn’t expecting that. Not many other changes except for Glenn who seems somewhat redesigned and more well put together (and wholly invisible to me whenever Tucker’s in the building).

Also, since last we spoke I’ve been fangirling Capaldi’s entire body of work (and yes, BODY of work is appropriate). I sat through this one absolutely shit horror movie to get to the last six minutes which were outrageously well-acted on his part. The fact that his entire backside was on-screen shimmying into a pair of boxers has nothing whatsoever to do with my appreciation of those final minutes I’m sure. Nor the fact of his chest being roused from post-coital rest by the call of one of his charges crying, “Father Steve!” Little bit of Catholic naughtiness with the farm lady. No, I think it was actually the emotions flitting about his face while sitting at the kitchen table, trying to make sense of the previous night. Like, really. He may be my latest pretty obsessive but damn the man can also act.

(ok it might’ve been the shimmy)

In the m[e]antime (and yes, it does appear that moving south has broadened my scope for MASSIVELY LAME PUNS], The Thick Of It is back and not before time. The new series is officially being called Series 3 though I suppose that makes the two Specials the whole of Series 2? Whatever, it’s fucking brilliant, all of it. Everyone’s back so far except crossest-man-in-Scotland Jamie, and this will be quite upsetting to Effbit as he was her favorite. Really, there was no way she was getting anywhere near my Scot so she had to find her own. Fair enough. If I wasn’t already so enamored I’d probably be all over him as well but them’s the breaks pally. New minister is a lady who’s just as conventionally unemployable as all the previous ministers, so par for the course. Somehow it seems that Ollie has become even younger, and HotScot has become even hotter. Also, he used the phrase “lady bollocks” in Saturday’s ep and that’s just the greatest thing ever. I wish I actually lived somewhere in Great Britain so I could drop some of these lines in conversation without sounding like a complete asshole but oh well. A laymee can dream (and she usually dreams of this):

C’mon Effbit – I defy you to find fault with this man right here.

And I’m not alone. There’s a lovely section over at The Guardian featuring reviews and talkback for each episode (among other backstage insidery pieces) and I’m not the only one drooling over Malcolm Tucker. Ok, so I’m one of three, but still. I think I could take them. Actually, I should talk with some of them because I still can’t quite put my finger on what it is about him that rocks the boat, yet doesn’t tip it over. I know Effbit can wax rhapsodic all day long about her pretty manboy and we can go back and forth on Rickman all day long (btw, we *need* to fully explain the ARRF bit one of these days, yeah? i think some fans would appreciate), but when I send her pictures of Capaldi saying “oooh look at the pretteh” and she comes back saying he reminds her of her man’s mother….well, I’m at a loss. Perhaps more disturbingly this is not affecting my lust in any way shape or form, though god help me if I ever actually meet the man’s mother. A-W-K-waaarrrdd. I fear I’ll start swearing at her in my worst Scottish accent and pacing fiercely.

Also, it just occurred to me that I think I’ve referenced ‘other things to talk about’ quite a few times in earlier posts. I suppose it makes sense to actually scan those and then explain them. Trust me, there’s some fucked up shit in there, ARRF chief amongst them. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Btw, Aiming Low, sounded like a fucking blast and I wouldn’t be Laymee if I were actually in attendance with all the other cool kids. But I wasn’t. So I am. Laymee. Thank you. I still vote that you Effbit, JJ, & STY fucking kidnap Jordan for some fun time west of the river. Mayhaps the ‘Boke?

Also, and I swear I’m only looking at the man, but sometimes it’s best not to stare directly at teh pretteh. You can see more that way. And what do I see now but DAMN dude, boxers much?