The End of This is England

I've just written a little something over at The Daily Heckle about the end of the This is England saga, which finished on Sunday night with the last episode of This is England 90.

I've spent the last maybe six or seven years using This is England as an example of how films use specific techniques to create emotional response, while teaching A level Film Studies. That means every year, I get to watch some of the most powerful scenes with my students again and again.

In the meantime, This is England 86, 88 and 90 have all now come and gone, and while I'll truly miss catching up with the gang, I hope this is where it ends. It was simply phenomenal television.

You can check my article at The Daily Heckle here:

This is England 90 and the End of an Era.

New series: This is England 90 Gets Air Date, Poster, Trailer

The definition of mixed emotions? The joy of seeing the This is England cast reunited at the same time as knowing things are going to get mighty bleak for them. It's been a four year wait since This is England 88 screened in December 2011. We've had four years to prepare for the fact that Shane Meadows is bringing his intimate drama to an end with This is England 90.

But you know what, never say never. I still reckon there might be more from Woody, Lol, Shaun, Combo, Gadget and the gang. More pressingly though, the cast have to make it through TIE90 before we can even begin to think about talking about further spin off sequels to the original This is England.

Meadows mentioned way, way back that that in 1990, the Madchester scene was underway and everyone was getting into ecstasy. It wouldn't be This is England though if they all just ended up hugging one another, having random in-depth conversations with strangers as if they are best mates and the worst thing that happened to any of them was a 24 hour comedown. No Meadows, stated 'I'd seen a lot of friends get into heroin off the back of that, so in a kind of way, Shaun's journey, if there is to be a second series, will continue in 1990.'  

Does this mean Shaun becomes a junkie? I bloody hope not. Still, it can't possibly get more harrowing than the racism and sexual abuse of previous installments of the series.

Even though Combo, Wood and Lol are all back, it looks very much like the focus on squarely on the younger characters this time round. Digital Spy asked Meadows about the themes of TIE 90 and he gave a great little insight into what the characters will be up to when we see them this time around. "The younger members of the crew, it becomes their time. In This Is England '90 it becomes about Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) and Kelly (Chanel Cresswell) and Trev (Danielle Watson) and Gadget (Andrew Ellis) actually getting into the Roses and getting into that scene and going clubbing and going raving and all of that. They sort of go off on that journey. Combo comes out of prison, he's served his time for manslaughter, and actually starts working in the community and the rehabilitation of his character begins. Woody and Milky set up a scooter shop. Woody finally gets out of that awful Mr Squire's factory that he's been working at, and him and Milky become really strong again. Everyone starts to do slightly separate things, but it's still got that beautiful unity that the others have all had. So, I've got the stories all lined up in my head, but I just need to get them down on paper."

Here's the trailer:


It all kicks off on September 13th on Channel 4.

Shane Meadows talks This is England 90 at Svengali Premiere

This is England 90 can't come soon enough and though there hasn't been much word on it recently, Shane Meadows has answered some questions on the upcoming series while attending the premiere of new film Svengali starring Vicky McClure.

He assures us that This is England the saga is (definitely, hopefully) going to 'go out with a bang' so it sounds like this one will be the last for sure. He also recently told the BBC recently that "The stories that we've got lined up for this one I think could top it all... there'll be a lot of births, deaths and marriages".

Watch the video of director Shane Meadows talking to Red Carpet News TV about This is England 90 below:



I cannot wait to see how it all ends for Shaun, Milky, Combo, Woody, Lol and the rest of the This is England gang. The above video may not tell us much but it does suggest that filming might begin at the tail end of this year and that can only be a very positive step in the right direction.

More news on This is England 90: The Story, the Themes, the Musical, the End?

Those lucky buggers over at Digital Spy have been chatting to Shane Meadows, no doubt doing the rounds in order to promote his Stone Roses documentary Made of Stone. But the wonderfully naughty folks at Digital Spy managed to sneak in plenty of questions and got some juicy bits of info about This is England 90, the follow up to the This is England and the two TV series TIE 86 and 88.

Meadows confirmed in the interview that TIE 90 will likely be the end for the troubled youths on screens with no more plans to continue their stories. Meadows wisely says "I don't want to end up ruining it, but I love the cast." Hopefully he is joking when he added "This Is England the musical? Who knows!"

However if that makes you feel ever so slightly sad or suicidal, do not despair just yet as Meadows is clearly going to have a hard time letting these characters go (as I'm sure all us fans are) "It's really hard to put down when you have so much fun doing something, so I hope I don't push it too far and I hope '90 is maybe a full stop, but I daren't say forever."

Digital Spy also asked Meadows about the themes and he gave a great little insight into what the characters will be up to when we see them again in 1990. "The younger members of the crew, it becomes their time. In This Is England '90 it becomes about Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) and Kelly (Chanel Cresswell) and Trev (Danielle Watson) and Gadget (Andrew Ellis) actually getting into the Roses and getting into that scene and going clubbing and going raving and all of that. They sort of go off on that journey. Combo comes out of prison, he's served his time for manslaughter, and actually starts working in the community and the rehabilitation of his character begins. Woody and Milky set up a scooter shop. Woody finally gets out of that awful Mr Squire's factory that he's been working at, and him and Milky become really strong again. Everyone starts to do slightly separate things, but it's still got that beautiful unity that the others have all had. So, I've got the stories all lined up in my head, but I just need to get them down on paper."

 

Anyone else notice the glaring exception here? What about Lol? Meadows either didn't mention her or Digital Spy are holding something back from us (I doubt it's the latter). Vicky McClure has become something of the star of TIE 86 and 88 with a heartbreaking, BAFTA winning and brilliant performance as Lol. Hopefully two years on from TIE 88, Lol and Woody have managed to stay together or is that too much to hope?

If the younger characters are going raving, will it be all smiles, pills and happiness or do any of the characters go too far and get deep into addiction and misery? Combo's arc continues to be the most potentially interesting. Going from racist, messed up thug to saviour of Lol and sympathetic prisoner, will he now become a real hero to the youth and maintain that bond with Shaun? It's certainly going to be a fantastic watch with astounding performances but will it really be the end?

 

All I know is I can't wait. Are you excited for TIE 90?

 

More on This is England:

This is England 90 Update from star Vicky McClure

This is England 88

This is England 90 Update from star Vicky McClure

What is the status with Shane Meadow's long awaited TV sequel and final entry in the This is England saga? This is England 90 is still going ahead and should start swinging into action soon now that Shane Meadows has completed and released his documentary on the reunion of The Stone Roses, Made of Stone.

This is England 88 offered the best bit of British TV for years in 2011 with Woody, Lol, Shaun, Milky and the rest of the gang returning for the first time since the harrowing This Is England 86 aired in 2010. Following on from the events of Shane Meadow's 2006 film This is England, fans of the film have been treated to a heartbreaking and depressing series about the trials and tribulations of the Midlands youths as they have grown up in Thatcher's Britain.

Dealing with racism and the rise of the National Front, sexual abuse and incest, depression, motherhood and growing up facing the prospects of unemployment and misery, it has never been an easy watch from the film to the most recent This is England 88. But the strength of the characters and the performances has been nothing short of astounding and fans would happily welcome back the gang to our TV screens.

The question is, when will we see This is England 90 and what will it tackle?

BAFTA winning Vicky McClure has said about her character “Lol is definitely the role of a lifetime”. She will no doubt jump at the chance of returning to the series, saying “I know how lucky I am to work with Shane, play Lol, have that sort of part. As an actress, if I was to watch that show and that character, I’d be desperate for that kind of work.”Her role has grown and grown since the film with Lol taking centre stage in This is England 88 and McClure giving the performance of her career. She recognises the importance of the character to her whole career adding, “Lol is what created me, I suppose. I worked on that character in very different ways to how I’ve worked on other characters. It is Method on This is England, it is. But it can’t be Method on every job because it just doesn’t work for everything.”

This is England 90 is set to emerge next year with shooting no doubt beginning sometime in the near future. Set (obviously) in 1990, the rave scene and prominence of recreational drugs are likely to be significant with perhaps the now grown up Shaun falling prey to addiction and despair. Whatever happens, Meadows is unlikely to make it easy for fans so brace yourself for what This is England has in store. I will be keeping an eye out for more news of the progress of this one so stay tuned!