The Irish R.M. – Series Two (British TV)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: B
Peter Bowles returned in The Irish R.M. for a
second season (called series in the United Kingdom) in 1984, after the success
of the initial shows. Playing the
British gentleman retired from their Army who decides to take a job as a
Resident Magistrate in Ireland, this went over well commercially and
artistically. Mayor Sinclair Yeates is
an honest man, still insecure by these next shows, which keeps them interesting,
as he is still suffering somewhat of an adjustment disorder.
Hoping to have companionship in his life and make a better
community for all, Ireland still has much new to offer. The episodes in this 2 DVD set, each running
about an hour staring with the seventh on the series, are:
1) A Horse!
A Horse!
2) The
Dispensary Doctor
3) Holy
Island
4) Oweneen
The Sprat
5) A Royal
Command
6) The
Aussolas Martin Cat
Roy Ward Baker and Peter Sykes took over directing and
that kept the series fresh and going, keeping it on par with the first
shows. Rosemary Ann Sisson continued
the teleplay adaptations of the Somerville & Yates’ works, which kept
things consistent in the face of any changes.
This shows once again shows that “quality TV” can have much life and
spark without being too stuffy and restrained.
Bowles helps make that possible as the title character, again in one of
his best roles.
The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on either analog PAL video
made to look like film, or more likely 16mm film. Either way, this shows its age, but is nicely shot and has a feel
that offers a side of Ireland that is uncommon for British TV. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound again takes the
original monophonic sound and gives it a boost to simple stereo that makes it
clearer and the combination is pleasant to sit through. Extras include new cast filmographies, four
Irish food recipes with stories, a text profile of Somerville & Yates, and
text on Bowles himself on DVD 1, aka Volume The Irish R.M. – Series Two
is a solid follow-up to the first set, reviewed elsewhere on this site, which
we suggest you start with first.
- Nicholas Sheffo
