This is England 88

[FloydieFestiveDoydie]

Anyone else excited about TIE being back? I can't wait! My love for Woody (Joe Gilgun) can once again be sated

sorry Combo! - need more coffee :)

I don't think Lol and Woody will make it back. Remember in 86, she couldn't talk to him, she couldn't open up and he wasn't very sensitive. That's how she ended up sleeping with Milky in the first place, after Woody let her down. I think there is a possibility that Lol and Compo may end up together - if it all doesn't go horribly wrong for Lol first :(

Is it not Compo?

I think that is the whole point though elaine yes he was an evil bastard but he has grown up. The same way that Lol said " I am a mum now" - it shows how the characters have evolved over the years.

and was he racist as a product of his upbringing and from being in prison - not that that excuses it but if that is what you are bought up with.

I don't think it was false hope - more of a bond they will always share iykwim?

And when she said no one had ever been that gentle with her before I howled and dh sneered at me!!

Did you ever see them together or was it just a given that they had had a night together I can't remember?

yeah, and I'm not saying people can't change, but I do feel that the BNP stuff has been a bit quickly forgotten about in the show, and that it's a bit... convenient.

I can't believe the Combo (yes, sorry!) of the film would really have that many redeeming features.

Combo

Nahhh it's all there still but real life has taken over a bit more now imo.

I'm worried I'm not going to get to see this tonight as my mum's staying over. I haven't checked whether she's been watching it.... it will be agony if we have to politely turn off and wait until tomorrow, though!

I think the night together was pre-film era. So before Woody maybe.

Combo doesn't really have redeeming features though, does he? It isn't as if they have suddenly made him all lovely and inclusive and well behaved? He popped up in the last series, blind drunk and stinking, lost his mum then took the rap for Lol killing her dad. They were all in character, he might be a racist but he does love Lol and he knew he was a cunt really - wanting to do a good thing as he mostly does shitty things. Lol cares about him, for obvious reasons, doesn't mean they are trying to whitewash over his history. It just shows how well SM can do complex characterisation that we empathise with a character that we may have found despicable in the past.

I love TIE, hard but essential viewing. Probably the only good thing on TV this Xmas. I'm loving the scenes with Woody & family - bloody brilliant but surely he's gotta see Lol tonight?

Combo and Lol had a night together but she told him there wasn't going to be any more and he was gutted about it if I remember rightly. That is why he is in prison for her father's death as he still feels the same way about her. Was interesting her showing picture of the baby Lisa as he was so racist before but seems to have grown up a bit/changed his views now.

Ah, but giving him 'something to love' (Lol) inherently presents him as a more sympathetic character, no?

I think ComBo's only redeeming feature is that he loves Lol and wanted to do a 'good thing.' In fact that's what he said when he held her ' Let me do this good thing.'

Also Prison can break the hardest man so he is hardly all lovely, he just managed to squeeze a few tears out in front of the woman he loves God, it was such a good scene!!

Totally agree valiumredhead that Combo and Lol have a bond. But don't think they'll end up together. In the film Combo refered to their night together and the implication was that while he was in prison he'd thought about her but in the mean time she'd got together with Woody.
I think that's why he took the blame for her as he'd always been in love with her, and knew about her dad for a long time. (As did Milky, yet she never confided in Woody).

Was Combo being in the BNP ever mentioned again? Or was it assumed he'd left that kind of thing behind?

I think I need to rewatch the film and episodes as have forgotten - I think Combo came out of prison and straight to his mum's who had died so nothing more was said

I think the main reason he took the rap for her was that he had no where to go once his mum had died and he was almost institutionalised (sp) and the rape provided an opportunity for him to protect Lol as well.

Cant believe no-one has mentioned lol watching vintage EE on TV - that was great!!

Really looking forward to tonights ep - shame theres only 3 episodes

Oh yes Dirty Den!

Valium I saw it like that too,he didnt have much to stay out for did he?

wasnt the episode of EE long seemed to be on for hours with what was happening at the same time unless it was the omnibus ,

combo is in prison because he probably felt there was nothing to stay out for he had no family/friends and was a lost soul , and he loved Lol he knew her dad was abusing her i think he knew what kind of man he was so he felt he should do a good thing he said that , the national front thing was a product of his time , he saw other races taking jobs alot of people around that time felt that , i also think hes probably changed , and the scene was beautiful he loves Lol and i think thats whats keeping him going , doesnt mean hes a nice person he is really a bad lad , says in tv guide woody and milky meet, I dont think its going to be good woody is kinda on the edge waiting to blow ,

The EE omnibus was only on on Sunday afternoons!

Ooooo have a rare impromptu evening out so have set sky and will watch it in the morning then come on and catch up here!

Dead Man's Shoes by Shane Meddows is on Film 4 tomorrow night!

Have just been looking at an interview with Vicky McClure and she says she thinks Lol sees Combo as a big brother who knows everything about her. I'll try and do the link but it's on twitter and I don't understand these things ...

Oh fab!!!!!