Crossroads done and dusted, I can now dive in relatively guilt-free.
Truth to tell, the main reason for watching
Brookie now is that they're time limited. If STV hadn't set the episodes to self-destruct on 31st January, I'd probably have watched a short-lived sitcom to vamp for time until all 1088 episodes of
A Country Practice landed on my doorstep. As it is, they'll have to wait a few months.
Yesterday afternoon saw a Battle Royal between me and 21st Century technology but, after much trial, error and fruity language, I have accomplished the mission of getting a television programme to play on the actual television. Which means last night I was finally able to dive in:
Episodes 1-4
2-10 November 1982
Back in the Eighties, I didn't discover
Brookie at all until the summer of '85 when a friend hyped up the siege so much a small group of us ended up watching together (imagine my delight when my inaugural three episodes were officially released on VHS a few years later, along with two other themed releases).
The only time I've previously watched most of these early episodes would be whenever they'd have aired on satellite/cable somewhere around the mid-Nineties, but they are much as I remembered them, albeit my brain had forgotten much of the detail and created a "Reader's Digest" version based on what were to me at the time some of the more memorable moments: The Collinses leaving their affluent leafy Wirral suburb (I'd misremembered their opening lines. For some reason I'd mentally added the detail of Paul resignedly saying to a dejected Annabelle something along the lines of "It's time to go" followed by a term of endearment along the lines of "sweetheart"); the Grant family struggling to get up in the morning; Damon and his friends dashing from the Collins home; and of course, the word "pissing" being used frequently by characters (well, characte
r, as it turns out, since Gizzmo seems to have cornered the market with this one).
While, back in the Nineties, young adult me was aware of the whole class system friction inherent within the show's original setup, middle aged me appreciates this a whole lot more. The clashes and awkward interactions between the downwardly mobile Collinses and the upwardly mobile Grants can't be missed, particularly with the epic first meeting between Paul and Bobby where the latter offered to spread Paul all over his wall.
What really sets
Brookie apart from its contemporaries at this point in the run is the division. Other soaps have conflict going on, but they also have a community spirit where neighbours are almost an extension of characters' own families. In
Brookie it's all very arm's length and wary - almost distrustful. This rings true for me. Although I grew up in a friendly community where people knew one another well, many doors were left open and people did indeed drop in and out of one another's homes on a daily basis, my entire adult life has been quite different. Today I know some neighbours well enough to exchange a polite hello, a "friendly wave each morning" or a Christmas card but little else. We all happily get on with our own lives and things are harmonious, but polite exchanges across the drive ring truer for me than gathering round the piano in the pub, gossip in the corner shop or heart-to-hearts between neighbours over a cuppa.
The detentes between the two have felt fairly organic, with them being almost cornered into relying upon one another: Barry obtains a black market loo from the Swan and instals it at the Collinses to replace the one Damon and his friends nicked; and when Bobby's Princess breaks down, The Grants reluctantly accept a lift to church from Paul (at Annabelle's insistence).
I really like the role the Havershams play in the class war. As yuppies and white collar (presumably university educated) professionals they seem like natural allies of the Collinses, but this is mitigated by the fact that they are currently observers. They haven't entered either of the other two occupied homes, nor have they interacted with the two families. Their knowledge of their neighbours comes from clues gained through Roger watching their neighbours and attempting to fill in the gaps himself. Seeing the two families interacting without context has led him to believe the two families have connections which tie them. There's been much pearl clutching over the deduction that the Collinses, too, might be working class, something reinforced in his mind when he sees Gordon burning the Collinses' old newspapers on a garden bonfire in the middle of the day. There's a lovely little scene where Paul, with some amusement, observes Roger warily rooting round the remains of the fire and discovering - to his relief and approval - a copy of the Guardian. They could yet become friends, but I'm worried about a package Annabelle has taken in for the Havershams which she seems to have forgotten about. I'm sensing it could be important and the delay in delivering it could strain things.
As Ome said, Bobby's discussion of political matters - mostly around work - is more easy to get on board with today.
* I'm sure it helps that there are (sadly) many significant parallels between 1982's political and cultural landscapes and those in 2023.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the character-driven, observational tone to the series at this point and since I remember very little detail about the smaller moments I'm very much looking forward to seeing what comes next
* I must confess I did briefly consider taking advantage of the SpecSavers-endorsed subtitles during a scene between Bobby and Barry where I really struggled with the dialect.
