Didja see it, didja - but didja understand it?

I refer, of course, to the final episode of Apple Tree Yard which has (sort of) entranced the British viewing public with a taste for back-street bonking and murder.  Being, as I am, a well-qualified dirty, old man, I have been glued to 'the box' for the past few weeks watching every episode and I have two complaints.

First, the bonking didn't come up to standard.  The BBC, for reasons beyond my ken, seem especially fond of what we used to call, er, back in the day, 'knee-tremblers'.  They had one in The Night Manager and they repeated the exercise in this production.  Personally, I never went in for them, far too uncomfortable and why would you do something standing up when you can lie down?

But I have a bigger complaint, I could only understand about half the dialogue!  Unfortunately, that half of the mumbled dialogue came from the main characters who were shown up for their appalling delivery by the smaller actors, particularly those in the courtroom scenes who were as clear as a bell.  Not only were Emily Watson and Ben Chaplin 'mumblers' of the first order, but Mark Bonnar added to his incomprehensibility by having a strong Jock accent!  In fact, I am watching Mr. Bonnar in another series and I can't make out what he's saying in that either!

And yes, before you ask, I am an old codger whose hearing isn't quite what it used to be - and, no, that's not as a result of too many 'knee-tremblers'! - which is why I usually wear a set of earphones when watching TV but, alas and alack, they were of no assistance in making out the dialogue in this production.

 

Comments

[mike fowle]

The first episode of the new Tracey Ullman show (Friday) had quite a funny skit on mumbling actors.

[Whitewall]

knee-tremblers, aka showing off?

[Andra]

Did you ever get "Rake" - an Aussie series over there (over anywhere)?
Hell of a good show - made me laugh - although on second thoughts maybe you
have to be Aussie to appreciate it.
I'm not sure that you lot have the wit and sophistication.
Jest sayin'.............