Andrew Lincoln is at last back on TV after stealing everyone’s hearts as the loveably impressionable Egg from This Life. Although he plays largely the same character again, the crucial differences lie in his friends and location. Instead of a bunch of neurotic, self-obsessed twenty-something lawyers, he is with a bunch of still neurotic, but generally more relaxed and self-assured teachers. He is still laddish, but laddish mates and attractive women make for a much more ’stable’ surrounding.
Simon is, as already explained, largely Egg, but abused much better by the writers. He is thrown into no end of embarrassing moments and last-minute situations. This isn’t helped by the abject lack of preparation, although this endears us to him further. His drinking habit is also wonderfully regular, and this provides quite a grounding for him and the other characters. These include Gavin and Kurt, who allowed Simon to stay at their ’’bachelor pad’’ for a few episodes. Throughout the series these two develop further. Gavin ends the first series expanding from PE into real teaching, whilst Kurt gets a girlfriend, to the infinite amusement of the rest of the group. All three men lust after Jennie, another English teacher infinitely better than Simon is and with a much nicer arse. Susan befriends Jennie despite them fighting for the same Head of Year job. She is a Psychology teacher that Simon runs to for advice at least twice a week. Like all the characters, throughout the series she gets her chance to shine, in her case through a messy separation. Through all this development, interspersed with excellent comedy, Simon ends the series just as confused as he started it.
The comedy is suited to the setting, being, as it is, schoolyard. Still, there is something about supposedly respectable guardians of our future being no better (or even worse) than the students they guide and teach. There is considerable use of dream and fantasy sequences to show the rediculousness of his fears. Although these sequences may seem false and contrived when they are tried elsewhere, the completely mad setting of the normal narrative helps make it seem more realistic. The obsession with women that Simon & co. share also gives something for every male to identify with. You don’t have to be a complete pervert to agree with their rating schemes.
The editing work is interesting in this series. Self-conscious filming is not particularly popular, mostly because it appears abnormal to those who (like most of us) watch a lot of TV. However, the entirely ridiculous nature of the entire series means that these moments aren’t as silly as normal. After an episode or two, we all end up spotting where the day is going to come into the opening shot. Add in some hot 16-year-old students and a shocking end of series, and everyone should be impatiently waiting for a second series!