Jasmine Sahu is well suited with this new American drama exclusive to Dave.
Lois Cameron explains why this series is much more than your average cosy period drama.
The last episode of this series sees Sherlock and Moriarty attempt to solve the final problem with devastating consequences.
With major cast changes afoot, Jacob Martin ponders whether Being Human can live up to its own scarily high standard.
As with far too many comedies these days (perhaps they’re on 3 for 2?), Trollied arrives with the customer announcement/warning that it has been filmed in the mockumentary style of The Office. And while this, along with its Sky origins, does little but set off alarm bells, it’s not the urgent case for the in-store janitor that you might expect.
The series kicked off with a double bill… well, due to the number of adverts, it was more like a 1½ bill. As with The Office, there isn’t really a plot making up each episode; instead, each one follows a day in the working lives of the staff at Valco supermarket (a hybrid of Asda and Sainsbury’s, with a Tesco Clubcard scheme), led by deputy interim manager, Julie (Jane Horrocks).
In-store this week, we were introduced to a wide range of characters who were, for the most part, well drawn, if more like Sainsbury’s Basics than Taste the Difference. Margaret (Rita May) was the particular standout, being at the centre of the best bits of both episodes – the plum tomatoes scene in the first was wonderfully excruciating, and her tannoy announcement in the second was woefully accurate.
There were also a few double acts hiding among the shelves, with the foul-mouthed Customer Services assistants being the most successful; they will need to develop, and become more outrageous, in order to maintain that success, though. The two butchers are also likeable, but their wonderings lack that off-the-cuff irreverence to make them truly memorable.
Somewhat unfortunately, Trollied has its own Tim and Dawn saga, but the writers (oh, so cleverly) swap it round, so that it’s Tim who has the controlling partner, while Dawn looks on forlornly. Someone obviously made a quick visit to the Ready-Made Characters section on Aisle 17…
Initially, Trollied’s biggest selling point was not its impressive recycled characters initiative, or its 2 for the price of 1 double acts, but the presence of the brilliant Horrocks. However, she did seem a bit wasted in the undemanding role of Julie, which lacked that third dimension to make her a true comedy villain in the shape of… oh, I don’t know, David Brent? That said, she’s still amusing, thanks to her misconceived sense of her own importance, and her instant unlikeability. The only person that seemed to like her was her manager, Gavin (Jason Watkins), but he was a rather confusing character: he seemed besotted with her in the first episode, but displayed little more than resentment towards her in the second. I suppose that’s what you get for playing a resurrected vampire, a Nazi toyshop owner (just look at that ambiguity), and a supermarket manager all in one year. I’m not sure which is more terrifying…
Despite its evident wonky wheels and sloppy labelling (sketch show would have been more befitting than sitcom), Trollied is an entertaining comedy. It may lack the spark and warmth of The Office, but it’s a great idea, and a well-executed one at that, with some very wry observations. Trollied is therefore not that gold quality bargain that you boast to all your friends about having found, but it’s far preferable to a trip to Asda.
Trollied continues tomorrow 9pm Sky1.
You must log in to submit a comment.
