Hacker attempts to improve diversity within the civil service by promoting a female staff member to a senior role.
This is a strong episode that not only makes an effective commentary on positive discrimination but satirises the boys club that is the senior civil service.
The plot is very relevant, particularly as we live in an age that practices equal opportunities with tick box processes and quota systems. It succeeds in telling a story of how women are both excluded and patronised by men who think they are not capable of carrying out certain roles. In doing so it presents a female character who is a high achiever and rejects the help of men to fulfil her ambitions.
As a comedy it succeeds in typical 'Yes Minister' style by ridiculing the civil service and its senior figures. When Hacker says the "The country's run by a bunch of tired, cynical, 55 year olds who just want a quiet life" and we see what happens at the permanent secretaries meeting, it all rings very true. Sir Humphrey, as ever, embodies everything that Hacker is trying to reform.
I like the fact that it doesn't lay the blame entirely at the door of the boys club for the lack of equal opportunities. In an interesting few scenes we see Mrs Hacker have a change of heart about him providing an opportunity to a female civil servant when she learns the female is attractive and likely to be working closely with her husband. Although it is for the intent of comedy it is an interesting take on the lack of solidarity between sections of society when feelings of jealousy and resentment come to the surface.
The usual cynicism and self-serving politics are on display with all individuals involved having devious motives for everything they do. This for me is the strength or 'Yes Minister' as it shows the selfish nature of people and makes it humorous and very relatable to real life. I say that as 20+ year Civil Servant. This episode is not quite the bog standard standard Hacker v Humphrey square off as the outcome is ultimately decided by someone else.
Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne and Eleanor Bron are all on great form.
This is a strong episode that not only makes an effective commentary on positive discrimination but satirises the boys club that is the senior civil service.
The plot is very relevant, particularly as we live in an age that practices equal opportunities with tick box processes and quota systems. It succeeds in telling a story of how women are both excluded and patronised by men who think they are not capable of carrying out certain roles. In doing so it presents a female character who is a high achiever and rejects the help of men to fulfil her ambitions.
As a comedy it succeeds in typical 'Yes Minister' style by ridiculing the civil service and its senior figures. When Hacker says the "The country's run by a bunch of tired, cynical, 55 year olds who just want a quiet life" and we see what happens at the permanent secretaries meeting, it all rings very true. Sir Humphrey, as ever, embodies everything that Hacker is trying to reform.
I like the fact that it doesn't lay the blame entirely at the door of the boys club for the lack of equal opportunities. In an interesting few scenes we see Mrs Hacker have a change of heart about him providing an opportunity to a female civil servant when she learns the female is attractive and likely to be working closely with her husband. Although it is for the intent of comedy it is an interesting take on the lack of solidarity between sections of society when feelings of jealousy and resentment come to the surface.
The usual cynicism and self-serving politics are on display with all individuals involved having devious motives for everything they do. This for me is the strength or 'Yes Minister' as it shows the selfish nature of people and makes it humorous and very relatable to real life. I say that as 20+ year Civil Servant. This episode is not quite the bog standard standard Hacker v Humphrey square off as the outcome is ultimately decided by someone else.
Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne and Eleanor Bron are all on great form.
