The Street - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...I died - and quickly. The cash machine swallowed my card. So... made penniless and sentenced to death - just an average day really. Still, I can withdraw money tomorrow, and I doubt Mr. Atzel will be able to track me down and murder me, so all's well that ends well. Sometimes, there is a happy ending. Which brings me on to 'The Street', written by the legendary Jimmy McGovern, where there is generally a happy ending in each episode.

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...home-made Bailey's cheesecake; Derek on the other, a writer who tells me to turn my music down if I throw a party. But I don't know what goes on inside their houses - do I really want to? Yes, if its anything like 'The Street'.

Each episode of this 6-part drama, tells the story of the inhabitants of one household on 'The Street'. Each story kind of intertwines with other stories, so some characters appear in more than one episode, ... more

I had a horrific day today. In work, one of my customers said he hoped I died - and quickly. The cash machine swallowed my card. So... made penniless and sentenced to death - just an average day really. Still, I can withdraw money tomorrow, and I doubt Mr. Atzel will be able to track me down and murder me, so all's well that ends well. Sometimes, there is a happy ending. Which brings me on to 'The Street', written by the legendary Jimmy McGovern, where there is generally a happy ending in each episode.

How well do you know your neighbours? I like to think I know mine fairly well. Bill and Vera on one side, who I got pissed with my home-made Bailey's cheesecake; Derek on the other, a writer who tells me to turn my music down if I throw a party. But I don't know what goes on inside their houses - do I really want to? Yes, if its anything like 'The Street'.

Each episode of this 6-part drama, tells the story of the inhabitants of one household on 'The Street'. Each story kind of intertwines with other stories, so some characters appear in more than one episode, but each one has their 'main' episode, if you get my drift. They are very intense, and it does feel like a film more than a one-hour piece of excellent drama. Which is good, as my intention span is minimal, and I tend to let my mind wander off, if I am slightly uninterested about something. If you have read other reviews of mine, you are probably aware of that.

I will give a brief synopsis of each episode, so as not to spoil any viewer enjoyment or create a situation as confusing as the Newcastle United backroom.

Episode 1 - The Accident (Jane Horrocks, Daniel Ryan, Shaun Dooley)

Angela begins an affair with neighbour Peter, but when he runs down her daughter whilst gazing at her house, both families' lives fall apart. This episode really brings across the strains an extra-marital affair can have on a family, as well as a tragedy suffered by Angela's daughter.

Episode 2 - Stan (Jim Broadbent, Sue Johnston)

A wonderful episode in which Stan is forced into retirement by his employer, weeks before his 65th birthday. He discovers his pension is practically worthless, unless the doctors tell him he won't live long past retirement or dies before he is 65. His unsympathetic doctor (who incidentally reminds me of a previous doctor - I was removed from his practice when I told him I'd get more sympathy from a doctor with a bone through his nose than one the NHS churned out) tells him there is nothing wrong with him, so he decides to take his own life, by hanging himself from the chandelier, promptly taking the chandelier down with him, in upsetting, yet humorous scenes. After his wife, Brenda, has him sectioned, it is only the outcome of the previous episode which determines his choice of action. The episode really reflects how the retired generation are portrayed in modern society.

Episode 3 - The Flasher (Neil Dudgeon, Lindsey Coulson, Lee Battle)

Brian, a well-respected teacher, finds his world crashing down around him, when a young girl, who is the sister of one of his students, sees him feculating in a park. As rumours escalate, a minor conviction as a youngster sees him ostracised by all who know him, apart from his son (wonderfully portrayed by Battle). However, it is Coulson who excels, as she has done in every portrayal, as wife Ann, in my favourite episode of the show. This episode explores how a seemingly-innocent incident can progress to destroy a man. I will never wee in a park again, and I already don't poo in the woods, because there might be bears about.

Episode 4 - Football (Jody Latham, David Schofield, Ciaran Griffiths)

Billy, a youth academy football player, is sacked from his club for stealing a pair of trainers for his friend. Struggling to maintain an image he had previously enjoyed, he unwittingly enters a world of drug-trafficking, to the despair of his blind father. After threatening to grass up his dealer colleagues, due to a friend being beaten up, Billy suffers a horrific attack, which may prevent him from ever playing football again.

Episode 5 - Asylum (Timothy Spall, Jamiu Adebiyi, Ger Ryan)

A kind-hearted taxi driver, Eddie, picks up an asylum seeker, unaware that his destination is closed for the weekend. Despite his wife's concerns, he allows Ojo to stay for the weekend, while his wife packs her bags. But Ojo may be hiding a secret of his own. A wonderfully heart-warming episode, which displays kindness to humankind, despite the negativity often shown to asylum seekers in this country. It reminds me of the time I let a tramp stay on my couch when I was drunk.

Episode 6 - Sean & Yvonne (Lee Ingleby, Christine Bottomley, Ruth McCabe, Joanne Froggatt)

An explosive end to the series which covers the tense subject of domestic violence, and its effects on the family. With 2 deaths, one which is rather surprising, this is an especially gritty episode of the drama, with and ending that shocks despite its justness.

This series of 'The Street' is a BAFTA-winning drama, and cost me £7 from HMV, which is the best £7 I ever spent. Each episode brings tears to the eyes, as it draws the viewer in and takes him on a twisting tale into each household. I would recommend it to everybody, except Mr. Atzel, who would probably be inspired from it to cause my death. 

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