Trigger warning: This review delves into various aspects of Prima Facie, including its depiction of sexual assault and rape.
One the plays that has had theatregoers talking this year is Prima Facie. Suzie Miller’s legal play follows the story of a criminal defence barrister, Tessa (Jodie Comer), whose world is turned upside down after she is raped as she experiences the injustice of the system in the way it treats victims of sexual assault. It is a one-woman play with BAFTA and Emmy-winning actress Jodie Comer making her West End debut in the role and she delivers a powerful performance. It’s no wonder that the play has been so successful that it is being transferred to Broadway with Comer reprising the role of Tessa. This live screening of Prima Facie was arranged by the National Theatre.
The play is written by Suzie Miller and her legal background is evident given how detailed and precise the writing is. The play premiered in Sydney in 2019, but what is nice about this production is that Miller has incorporated Comer’s Scouse background and added touches of Liverpool throughout the dialogue. Prima Facie is a play that explores the serious issue of sexual assault and how it is currently dealt with in court as victims as made to appear at fault and picked apart by defence teams. It is also a play about class as Tessa’s working class background and outlook contrasts greatly with the people she socialises with. Where Tessa has had to work extremely hard for her career, it seems almost expected of her privately educated peers that they would fall into a similar line of work.
The play starred Jodie Comer as Tessa and she completely embodies everything about the character from the moment she steps on stage. Comer has blown the world away thanks to her impeccable acting on film (The Last Duel and Free Guy) and television (Doctor Foster and Killing Eve) and now she dominates the stage. Tessa is an ambitious woman who works her way up to a successful career and along with it, finds herself socialising with the middle and upper classes. This is a far cry away from the character’s Scouse working class upbringing. What is nice about Comer’s portrayal is that it gives the actress the chance to embrace her natural accent throughout. Although the play is a one-woman show, the scene in which Tessa is raped feels extremely explicit and graphic because Comer’s performance is so intense.
The music by Self Esteem, credited as Rebecca Lucy Taylor is exceptional and feeds into the claustrophobic nature of the courtroom and the tragic assault that Tessa experiences. Before the live screening began, we were shown an exclusive performance of Self Esteem’s song “I’m Fine”. The message of the song runs through the play and is a fitting anthem for the play. Taylor’s unique sound and style is evident throughout the score for Prima Facie. The opening track “The Winner” backs
Prima Facie is a play that is difficult to watch due to the subject matter, but it is an extremely important play for the same reason. Miller’s play provides insight into the injustice in how the system deals with sexual assault cases and how wrongly the victims are treated. We see Tessa at both sides of system, starting in her role as a criminal defence barrister and using the techniques that the law permits, but in the second half of the play, she is victim to those same tactics and realises how the justice system does not deal with these cases in a fair manner.
What did you think of Prima Facie? Let me know in the comments below!
There are a lot of comedy sitcoms around nowadays that serve to shock and push boundaries. One such comedy series is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia which has been shaking things up since 2005. Following the owners of Paddy’s Pub, the Gang consists of brother and sister Dennis and Dee Reynolds (Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olsen), their father Frank (Danny DeVito), “bouncer” Mac (Rob McElhenney) and cleaner, Charlie (Charlie Day). The episodes follow their day-to-day lives, showcasing their offensive and ridiculous behaviour. A simple setup but what makes this show so great and iconic is the writing which is a shared collaboration between its stars, particularly Howerton, McElhenney and Day.
Now preparing for their 15th season and showing no signs of showing down, Always Sunny has become one of the household names in American comedy for its fearlessness in tackling taboo subjects whilst managing to maintain a charm. The cast are all perfect in their roles and the strength of the show has only improved throughout the years. What is so brilliant is how terrible the characters are but you still root for them anyway. The writing is done perfectly and flawlessly, giving a variety of memorable moments that is going to make it difficult to narrow down to five episodes. In true Smaller Pictures fashion, however, I have decided to pick my top 5 episodes from the 154 episodes that have aired so far.
Here are my top 5 episodes:
5) “The Gang Desperately Tries to Win an Award”, Season 9
Kicking off my countdown is this gem from the shows 9th season. One of the things Always Sunny does best is bringing in the outside world and incorporating that into the narrative. To go even further, “The Gang Desperately Tries to Win an Award” goes meta as it reflects the fact that Always Sunny has never been nominated for an Emmy. This fact in itself is outrageous but the result of the episode gives us one of the best songs of the whole show thanks to Charlie Day’s hilarious songwriting. This episode shows the gang trying to win an award for Paddy’s Pub so they decide to host an event for local critics. Charlie had prepared a lovely song to sing on the piano but as usual, he takes some drugs and starts to sing about spiders inside his soul before bursting into a chorus telling the audience to “go fuck” themselves. It’s the perfect response to the awards bodies in reality and is done with that amazing Always Sunny creativity. What better way to address your critics than by grabbing their attention and annihilating them? Always Sunny has never been the type of show that follows the crowd anyway so this episode is the perfect response that reflects this.
4) “A Very Sunny Christmas”, Season 6
In America, this episode is released in two parts but on Netflix UK, “A Very Sunny Christmas” is released as one long episode so I will be referring to both parts. Taking on the structure of A Christmas Carol, “A Very Sunny Christmas” shows the Gang’s attempt at getting Frank to get into the Christmas spirit. When growing up, Dee and Dennis would be subject to Frank’s pranks as their father would wrap up empty boxes and pretend they have gifts in. What tips the siblings over the edge is when Frank buys himself a designer handbag and Lamborgini which is what Dee and Dennis always wanted, respectively and it drives them insane. They recruit an old friend of Frank’s, Eugene, to act as Ghost of Christmas Past in a bid to get him to change his act with hilarious consequences. What puts this episode in my top 5, however, is a musical stopmotion animation sequence that is gory, crude and absolutely hysterical. Showing Frank being tortured and mutilated by the Gang for his behaviour, it helps him come to terms with how he treats them.
3) “McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century”, Season 11
Sometimes there are episodes that only focus on one character and then there are those that bring everyone together. This episode is amongst the latter and is a hilarious conclusion to the Ponderosa-McPoyle wedding fiasco. Bill Ponderosa is being sued for spiking the punch with bath salts by Liam McPoyle who lost an eye during the wedding. Charlie’s Uncle Jack agrees to be Bill’s lawyer and it is Jack who delivers my personal favourite moment in any Always Sunny episode. Ever. Uncle Jack has an obsession with large hands and wears giant fake hands over his own so no one knows that his hands are small. When interrogating a witness, Jack dramatically points to the McPoyles and one of his hands flies off to which he shrieks “NOBODY LOOK” repeatedly and runs to collect the hand. It is truly one of the funniest moments in comedy and had me in stitches long after the episode. The episode also features the unnamed Lawyer, representing the McPoyles who is one of my favourite side characters in Always Sunny for his deadpan sarcasm.
2) “Mac Finds His Pride”, Season 13
One thing about Always Sunny is that it is able to balance its comedy and seriousness well. This episode is a prime example of that. In “Mac Finds His Pride”, we see Mac trying to find comfort in coming out publicly with the help of Frank. Throughout the episode, Frank states that he doesn’t understand it but he accepts Mac but Mac struggles with how to come out to his dad, Luther, who is in prison. The result is a dance sequence where Mac performs with a professional dancer in a piece that explores his journey to acceptance. It’s a beautiful routine that would have taken a lot of practice to perfect and it also shows Rob McElhenney’s dedication to the character. Doing this dance would have seemed so out of character for Mac a few seasons before but the way McElhenney has developed Mac’s character through the years, it is the perfect way to let him come out. It’s a bittersweet ending to a season that has seen Mac really come to accept himself for who he is.
1) “The Nightman Cometh”, Season 4
Probably the most iconic episode to date, “The Nightman Cometh” accumulates everything we love about Always Sunny and puts it into a 20 minute masterpiece. Charlie enters the bar and announces that he has written a musical which he and the gang will be performing. Incorporating characters created in the previous season, the musical tells the story of a boy’s journey to manhood by defeating a troll and the evil Nightman thus becoming Dayman. It’s bizarre and is full of dark undercurrents but the songs are catchy and hilarious. It shouldn’t work but it absolutely does and will have you falling on the floor with laughter. From songs such as “Tiny Boy, Little Boy, Baby Boy” to “Troll Toll” to the iconic “Dayman”, the musical is filled to the brim with innuendo but what makes it funny is that Charlie doesn’t intend for it to be rude at all. He is confused by the Gang’s concern over the lyrics and becomes irritated when they decide to take creative control over their characters. Even if you haven’t watched Always Sunny, I would definitely recommend giving this episode a watch. It’s hilarious, bonkers and shows what the Gang does best which is ruin everything.
So there you have it! My top five Always Sunny episodes. I think each choice perfectly shows a different reason as to why I love this show and there were so many that didn’t make the list that would be just as deserving. With the 15th season due to arrive in 2021, now is a perfect time to rewatch all of the seasons on Netflix in time.
What do you think of my list? Which Always Sunny episodes are your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!
The 21st century has seen an abudance of TV shows that have garnered iconic status such as The Sopranos (first aired in 1999 but majority was released this century), Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. These shows are known for their big budgets and award sweeps season after season. It comes as no surprise that among all of these huge shows that a few are swept under the rug. None have gone under the radar so much as the brilliant animated Netflix series Bojack Horseman. Set in an alternative universe where animals have human characteristics, the show follows the titular Bojack, a “has-been” actor living in Hollywood who is wanting to make a comeback as he deals with his fading star status. Spanning six seasons with the final season split into two parts, Bojack Horseman was nominated for several Emmys but was never the winner which is a huge shame, particularly for its later seasons.
As I have recently decided to start writing on some TV shows I enjoy, I thought it makes sense to write about one my favourites. Bojack Horseman isn’t afraid to discuss heavy topics such as sexism and assault in the entertainment industry and abortion. It’s relevance to real life is what makes it fantastic considering it is an animated show that incorporates a universe populated by humans and human-like animals. The main cast consists of Will Arnett in the titular role, Aaron Paul as his housemate Todd, Amy Sedaris as agent Princess Carolyn, Paul F. Tompkins as celebrity Mr Peanutbutter and Alison Brie as writer, Diane Nyugen and each character is developed brilliantly through the show’s run.
Here are my top 5 episodes:
5) “Fish Out of Water”, Season 3
Kicking off the ranking is this fun episode from the third season. We see Bojack venture underwater for a film festival where Secretariat is showing. The world underwater differs to Hollywood and Bojack as usual struggles to adhere by their rules and regulations, quickly finding himself lost in the process. After successfully returning a lost baby seahorse to his father, Bojack feels jealous that he wasn’t afforded a normal family life as he ventures back to the festival. He tries to rekindle a friendship with director, Kelsey, but his note is blurred and ruined due to being underwater. One thing that the writers do well is incorporating outer social problems into the show so in this episode, seeing how different cultures are to be respected is brought in. In a great move, the episode is predominantly silent because Bojack can’t talk with his airtight helmet on. At first, Bojack doesn’t understand what to do and is frustrated that he can’t communicate but by the end of episode he does understand and it is all capped off with a brilliant gag at the end where there is a button on his helmet that allows him to speak.
4) “The View from Halfway Down”, Season 6
The next entry on my ranking is the penultimate episode of the show’s final season. As Bojack has to face the consequences of his actions, he finds himself in a near-death situation and spends the episode in purgatory where he is faced with various important figures from his past. The result is a surreal half hour filled to the walls with symbolism and realisation as Bojack goes back and forth on whether to go through the white door that lingers on a stage, waiting for him. One by one, each person performs on the stage and goes through the door. The episode feels like closure of this chapter in Bojack’s life as he has to choose whether to go through the door or wake up and face his punishment. Rounding up six seasons of the show seems like a heavy task in just half an hour but this episode is so bizarre and deconstructed that the writers don’t have to follow the rules and instead the audience delves deep into Bojack’s conscience. The standard of Bojack Horseman has been so high and this episode does such a good job of saying farewell.
3) “That’s Too Much, Man!”, Season 3
The third entry in this list is the second episode from the third season. Up to this point, the show doesn’t really delve into a serious tone of darkness but the penultimate episode of season 3 is a turning point. Sarah Lynn, the child star of Horsin’ Around, has been sober for 9 months and her career is thriving. Bojack calls Sarah Lynn up and invites her on a bender where he provides her with alcohol and drugs. The two of them go down a rabbit hole of blackouts and flashbacks. It seems as though the drug use and drinking will never end, even when they begin to snort heroin. What then follows is a brilliant changing of pace as the two friends go to the Planetarium and Sarah Lynn succumbs to a heroin overdose and dies. As Bojack repeatedly says her name and the screen goes black, the seriousness of what has happened changes the entire show for the following seasons as Bojack’s actions have finally resulted in death. It’s an episode that always leaves me speechless because of its horrifying ending. As Bojack and Sarah Lynn look at the cosmic display in the Planetarium, it feels as though they have their whole lives ahead of them and that they may change, the way we see Sarah Lynn slowly die is heartbreaking.
2) “Free Churro”, Season 5
My second place on this list goes to the midpoint episode of season 5 that sees Bojack delivering the eulogy at his mother’s funeral. That’s literally what the episode consists of. Bojack at the podium delivering a monologue. What puts this as second on my ranking is how brilliant the script is. Will Arnett’s performance is fantastic as we watch Bojack pick apart his mother’s last words as he tries to discuss various meanings as well as his usual rambling. With its use of one location and one shot, it would have been easy to assume that this episode would be boring and full of exposition but it is actually the opposite. The brilliance of the writing comes from what Bojack doesn’t say as the audience is forced to read between the lines. Much like the “Fish Out of Water” episode, the best joke in this episode is that Bojack has been delivering his eulogy in the wrong room and has opened up about his past to a room full of geckos.
1) “Time’s Arrow”, Season 4
To fans of Bojack Horseman, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise. Season 4’s penultimate episode rounds up the story on Bojack’s mother, Beatrice, who has been battling with dementia throughout the season. In this final segment, we see Beatrice meet Butterscotch, an aspiring writer and run off with him, much to her father’s despair. Finding herself pregnant and excited to see what a new life in San Francisco would bring the couple, Beatrice’s dreams are soon crushed as we fast forward some years to see her and Butterscotch evolve into the bitter, heavy drinkers that the show has portrayed them to be. What this episode does is conclude Beatrice’s journey as her dementia begins to deteriorate and actually ties together the background story in a way that isn’t forced. What comes through in this episode is Beatrice’s resilience which slowly turns into anger and regret. Sadly, we see her turn into the person she never wanted to be as she takes out her frustrations on Bojack. She also blackmails their maid, Henrietta, to get an abortion after she falls pregnant with Butterscotch’s child by giving her the money to get into nursing school. It’s a difficult episode to stomach but that’s because Bojack Horseman is a show thay dares to look into the dark side of the human (or animal) condition.
It goes without saying that Bojack Horseman is not the easiest show to watch and has not been without controversy for Alison Brie’s performance as Diane Nyugen, an American-Vietnamese writer but it is a show that isn’t afraid to push the conversation. Having watched the show through several times, I find that I notice new details and joke pay offs each time that makes it a fun and rewarding watch. It is definitely one of my favourite shows and I would recommend anyone to give it a go.
What do you think of my list? Which episodes of Bojack Horseman are your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!
