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)

And motherFUCK if I wasn’t actually predicting this would happen not three months ago, and when it finally does like two weeks ago I remain completely oblivious. I was probably even home doing something useless like sleeping or some bullshit. Goddammit. But here it is and they’re both beautiful.

And yeah, I know, long time no FUCK YOU we’ve been busy, alright!? Tonight airs the first of the two-part finale of The Thick Of It and I’m already on the edge of my seat (partially because I’m half out the door to work, but the image remains and quite the powerful one it is at that). Not to mention a few episodes of House to catch up on? I’ve been neglecting my nom duties and for that I apologize. But only half-assed, because quite frankly I’ve far too many hot men to catch up on. And when I say catch up on, well…

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?

I’m a wee bit excited. My pre-Effbit grocery list contains the following: booze, tea, & cheese.

It is so on.

And also also, once all these shenanigans have been shanned and I’m alone again (naturally), my new favorite greatest show ever will be picking back up with new episodes airing on BBC2. The Thick Of It begins airing a new series of 8 sometime towards the end of October. Now, I don’t actually get BBC2 but I am confident I can finagle something in the way of viewing this future masterpiece, for I refuse to be separated from my sweary hotscot dreamboat for longer than it takes some enterprising young Brit to rip and post. If I could watch the show live when it airs, I would, just as I would buy the original series and two specials on Region 1 DVD if they in fact PRODUCED SUCH AN ITEM. Ahem. I know it’ll happen eventually, just not fast enough for my liking.

Please please please, let me, let me, let me, let me, get Malcolm Tucker on Region 1. kthxfuckityBYEEEEEEEEE

Then of course, I gather myself and envision this fantasy.

I want more please, kthxbai. Now I’m going to have to get into Doctor Who, and Torchwood, and…what else…Fortysomething again? I predict a vicious Laurie-Capaldi circle in my immediate future, and I’m kinda ok with that.

So here it is – the one bit of video I will let myself watch before this movie comes out on disc. I can think of five scenes just off the top of my head that I want to watch into the ground and I’m crafty enough to find this film out there somewhere, but I am restraining. If this montage doesn’t make you run right out to see this film, well then God, Jed, I don’t even want to know you.

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.