Yes Minister - Series 3 (DVD)

...last of three series of Yes Minister. The DVD contains all seven episodes of the series, originally broadcast in early 1982, as well as Party Games, an hour long 1984 Christmas Special.

In their weekends, Anthony Jay and Jonathan Lynn used to drive down to London with a case of something in the boot, and talk to Government ministers. These ministers, who stayed secret until recently, were able to tell Jay and Lynn what politics is ...
...into the story lines of Yes Minister.

To someone who has never seen Yes Minister, the idea of a programme containing three middle-aged men in suits talking about politics would probably suggest boredom in the extreme. Ask someone who has, and the reply would be very different.

Jim Hacker (Eddington) is a new and eager minister of the fictitious Department of Administrative Affairs, determined to leave his mark. He wants ... more

This is the last of three series of Yes Minister. The DVD contains all seven episodes of the series, originally broadcast in early 1982, as well as Party Games, an hour long 1984 Christmas Special.

In their weekends, Anthony Jay and Jonathan Lynn used to drive down to London with a case of something in the boot, and talk to Government ministers. These ministers, who stayed secret until recently, were able to tell Jay and Lynn what politics is really like on the inside. They told stories which were at the time still classified, most of which worked their way into the story lines of Yes Minister.

To someone who has never seen Yes Minister, the idea of a programme containing three middle-aged men in suits talking about politics would probably suggest boredom in the extreme. Ask someone who has, and the reply would be very different.

Jim Hacker (Eddington) is a new and eager minister of the fictitious Department of Administrative Affairs, determined to leave his mark. He wants nothing more than to rise in government, and something is moral if it advances that cause.

Sir Humphrey Appleby (Hawthorne) is Hacker's permanent secretary, and is a cynical civil servant who is actually in control. He wants nothing more than for things to stay the same. He has no interest in whether Hacker keeps his job or not in this pursuit.

Bernard Wholly (Fowlds) is the minister's personal private secretary, and finds himself stuck in the middle. Hacker is officially his master, but Appleby is the person who really controls his career in the long term.

Even though their descriptions do not seem very personable, all three characters are very easy to identify with. This is mostly due to the brilliant acting, especially of Eddington and Hawthorne.

The script is nothing short of a work of art. Every sentence is very elegant, and either gently amusing or laugh-out-loud funny. It is very cynical, but not in an over the top or unrealistic way.

Even though this series is now quarter of a century old, the issues are all very relevant. Equal opportunities, local authorities, corruption and transport are just as newsworthy now as then.

Yes Minister is something that does not loose its appeal when rewatched. I have enjoyed the all of the episodes at least five times each since buying the DVD. There are too many amusing lines for them to all be appreciated in one sitting.

I apologise for the lack of balance in this review. I spent a good ten minutes trying to find some negative points, but found none. In conclusion, therefore, if you appreciate witty perceptive intelligent writing and first class acting, then this is the DVD for you.

Episode 1 - Equal Opportunities

While, in principle, Hacker's plan to increase the number of women in top jobs in the civil service seems to be supported by everyone he speaks to, Appleby is against the plan. As Appleby gets more and more devious, Hacker finds that less and less people seem to be supporting him...

Appleby, "We must, in my view, always have the right to promote the best man for the job, regardless of sex."

Episode 2 - The Challenge

Hacker is determined to cut down on local authorities' spending by introducing 'failure standards'. Appleby is wary as if it is successful it may be used in Whitehall. As Hacker is highlighting in the media local authorities' spending on defence and fallout shelters, Appleby thinks of a cunning plan...

Episode 3 - The Skeleton in the Cupboard

The 30 year rule is about to reveal a civil service mistake costing the government billions of pounds. Hacker tells the Mail that they can have the files as soon as they are released. Appleby, meanwhile, is starting to look more and more anxious.

Should he admit his mistake to the minister and throw himself upon is mercy, or let the papers be published?

Meanwhile he is trying to persuade the minister to make an example of a local authority who is doing very well, but not sending statistics back to Whitehall.

Appleby, "If local authorities don't send us the statistics that we ask for, than government figures will be a nonsense."
Hacker, "Why?"
Appleby, "They will be incomplete."
Hacker, "But government figures are a nonsense anyway."
Woolley, "I think Sir Humphrey want to ensure they are a complete nonsense."

Episode 4 - The Moral Dimension

Hacker, and a large team of delegates, are travelling to Qumran, an oil rich Arabian country. Alcohol is forbidden in Qumran, and Appleby and Hacker are horrified by the idea of a function without a little drinkie. They decide to set up a communications room, and smuggle alcohol in so they can keep adding to their orange juice.

Meanwhile, Hacker accepts a gift, and Woolley gets a forged valuation of it so that his wife can keep it, and not have to give it to the government. When a journalist sees the gift, however, it puts trouble at Woolley's, and Hacker's, door.

Hacker, "Are you saying that winking at corruption is government policy?"
Appleby, "No, no, Minister. It could never be government policy. That is unthinkable. Only government practice."

Episode 5 - The Bed of Nails

Hacker is offered a post as a Transport Supremo behind Appleby's back, which he readily accepts. When Appleby realises and tells Hacker what a disaster it will be for the department and for the minister personally, they decide to work together to try to get the dubious honour removed.

Hacker, "Clearly, the title Transport Supremo is one that is not worth having. We must endeavour to change the Prime Minister's mind."
Appleby, "Do you mean 'we' plural or do Supremos now use the royal pronoun?"

Episode 6 - The Whisky Priest

Hacker is informed in confidence that British-made bombs are in the hands of Italian terrorists. He decides he must do something, but Appleby and the Prime Minister seem desperate to not want to know.

Hacker, "Would you be surprised, for instance, if a British aircraft carrier turned up in the Central African Republic?"
Appleby, "Well, I for one, Minister, would be very surprised; it's a 1,000 miles inland."

Episode 7 - The Middle-Class Rip-Off

Hacker wants to use money raised by selling a little-used art gallery to fund a football club in his constituency. Appleby is shocked - using money taken from culture and the arts to fund petty entertainment is barbaric. Can Appleby persuade Hacker that middle class culture is something to be supported?

Hacker, "I thought these planning inspectors were supposed to be impartial?"
Woolley, "Oh really, Minister. So they are, railway trains are impartial too, but if you lay down the lines for them that's the way they go."

1984 Christmas Special - Party Games

Party Games is, in my opinion, absolutely brilliant. This is an hour long bridging episode between Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister. Sir Humphrey Appleby becomes Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet, Jim Hacker becomes the Prime Minister, and Bernard Wholly becomes his personal private secretary.

This episode shows Jay and Lynn's ability to write longer scripts with the same ease as they seem to write shorter ones. The episode stays riveting all the way through, and keeps its humour. The acting is, of course, perfect.

Of the other episodes, I preferred the Skeleton in the Cupboard (mostly because of Hawthorne's brilliant acting), the Moral Dimension and the Bed of Nails.

I found the Middle-Class Rip Off, while still good, to be less enjoyable than the others as a lot of the episode seems to be one debate between Appleby and Hacker about whether or not culture and the arts should be publicly funded. 

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