Well.. this is really wrecking my reviewing rules. This is down as being part of season two here, but in truth the release schedule doesn't really work like that, as this episode first appeared, in isolation, around Bonfire Night of 2021 - which makes sense given the story. I really liked the first two episodes that appeared at Christmas of 2019. Last Christmas' special, "Saucy Nancy" wasn't quite as good and I'm afraid I felt here than the downward trend continued.
With the 5th of November fast approaching, the village of Skatterbrook set up their bonfire, which is then topped by Worzel Gummidge's (Mackenzie Crook) cousin, Guy Forks (Paul Kaye). Forks firmly believes that his role is much more important than anything Worzel does and an argument between the two causes them to swap jobs, the consequences of which Worzel hasn't thought through. Meanwhile Susan (India Brown) and John (Thierry Wickens) clash with the Village Committee (All Toby Jones) as to what can and can't be burned on a bonfire.
I appreciate that again I'm reviewing what is primarily a children's story as a 40-year-old man, and the principle compliant of mine will be, it's not written for me. I know how that sounds, and I probably wouldn't make the complaint (or have kept watching these) had the first two episodes not been so surprisingly witty and funny that they entirely won me over. Whilst the show is still charming, still a beautifully shot loving ode to English countryside life, that wit was almost entirely lacking in this one. There was a nice little joke about how much Wickens has grown since the recording of the first episode, but unfortunately most of the business with Guy Forks and with the village committee left me a little cold.
The combination of Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook together again naturally brings up fond memories of their sitcom "The Detectorists" that ended a few years back and there is a smart nod to that show in the background of one of the scenes. That said, the stunt of Jones playing all the various members of the village committee didn't really work for me, as they had to be too broad for my taste.
I don't want to sound too negative, as it's a truly heartfelt and lovely show, if it could just recapture a bit more of the wit, that would be great.
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