Paul Merton in China (2007– ) User Reviews

Travel through China with first-time visitor, comedian Paul Merton

[thud-5 · 9/10 · 26 June 2007]

Well, let's start with a comparison: Michael Palin has had a good lock on these "travel with me" documentaries for a number of years, but as refreshing as his were in the beginning, they have become a predictable and seem to be a bit "I can do this but you probably never will"; Paul Merton — probably best known for his work on Have I Got News For You and Room 101 — provides a fresh look and feel and one more in line with what the average traveler can experience. Paul has never been to China, doesn't speak the language, and has a look of perplexity about him when hit with new situations. But, the man is a very intelligent comedian and puts a good skew on everything that happens to him or in front of him. He seems to know when to be serious and when to make light of a situation.

His six-week travels are compressed into four 1-hour programs, each fairly well paced and full of interesting things. The sort of things and experiences that I imagine I would have if I were to visit China. With the same amount of "I'm loving what I'm seeing, but I feel a bit uncomfortable and slightly out of place" that most people would experience. And, he tends to go the same sort of places I would go — and you would too (probably) on your first visit.

All in all this series is a good bit of fun. It isn't as magnificently photographed as a Palin epic, but it is well worth your while to search it out in repeats or when it comes out on DVD.

Cynical and ignorant

[Jnw412 · 1/10 · 28 January 2021]

Commentary is full of subtle and ignorant jabs at Chinese society. Paul says that Chinese people speaking to foreigners draws the eyes of authority is gives more of an insight into his own ignorance than the actual state of China. Painful to watch