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Anyone watching Cucumber?

214 replies

FamiliesShareGerms · 05/02/2015 21:49

Bit risqué!! Definitely not one to watch when the kids might wander into the lounge...

And definitely a Russell T Davies series - Queer as Folk's little brother

OP posts:
Yikesivedoneitagain · 28/02/2015 14:48

What stuck with me, and I am keen not to take away from the really serious issue of 'gay panic' that RTD talked about in the RT article, is that women fear male violence every single day. I am probably projecting my own extensive experience of violence here - but it just resonated with me so deeply.

You see the signs of aggression, but he wouldn't really hit you, would he? I mean, you wouldn't hit someone, so why would he? And then he does. But he wouldn't go as far as strangling you, would he? I mean, I would never do that! And then he does... It's just all so fucking textbook, it's so everyday, it's so devastating.

I commend RTD on making something so accurate, so awful and so gritty and real.

drigon · 28/02/2015 15:22

Still slightly obsessed with this episode-sorry!There's good review and comments in Boyd Hilton's article in the Guardian . Sorry I can't link it.

ProfYaffle · 28/02/2015 16:16

Me too drigon, having difficulty getting it out of my head.

Yy to the Gay Panic thing as well. It's not something I'd heard of before.

Everyotherusernameistaken · 28/02/2015 16:19

I don't know what to think ! Knew he was a nasty piece of work. But worse than nasty....
Excellent acting

Baddz · 28/02/2015 16:26

Not surprised really.
I could see something bad happening - Daniel was obv a very nasty piece of work.
And lance was just so...nice :( he wouldn't have seen it coming at all.
And yet...it still shocked me.
I must admit I thought for a while that he was going to collapse (his mum, seeing hazel etc...)
Amazing series.
Loving banana too.

ProfYaffle · 28/02/2015 16:37

The way they did Daniel's character was fantastic. It's actually quite hard to pin down what gave him such a sinister feel. I think it's the way he was so emotionally unpredictable, flipping between moods in a fraction of a second.

Baddz · 28/02/2015 16:42

His behaviour was very worrying, yes.
Can't believe lance didn't see it tbh.

LikeIcan · 28/02/2015 16:45

Totally addicted to this - I actually look forward to Thursday nights & I haven't done that in ages.

Yikesivedoneitagain · 28/02/2015 17:09

Lance did see it, though, didn't he! You can see how uncomfortable he was with Daniel's unpredictability in the previous episodes. That's what's so incredible - he noticed and like a moth to a flame, carried on going for Daniel. Why? As a fuck you to Henry? To finally have sex!? Because Daniel was so good looking etc? Lance's ego was at play here - not that that makes him culpable, far from it, but this is so much more complex than 'nice guy gets done over'.

Baddz · 28/02/2015 17:14

I agree with you....he MUST have seen it...and yet he carried on!!
Was I the only one shouting "go home" at the tv?
Did he want a fuck that badly? To feel wanted? To show Henry?

ProfYaffle · 28/02/2015 17:21

As a viewer I felt like I was going through the same motions as Lance in that episode. Apprehensive but curious, couldn't quite believe that Daniel let things go as far as they did sexually, thought that maybe he was about to face up to his sexuality and there would be a happy ending. And then .....

Baddz · 28/02/2015 17:28

Yes. I did wonder if Daniel would "come out" to lance and then lance collapsed or something Hmm
Was amazing television

ProfYaffle · 28/02/2015 17:44

Yes, I did wonder if there would be an 'ironic death', they declare undying love minutes before Lance trips and goes under a bus kind of thing.

Yikesivedoneitagain · 28/02/2015 17:48

Yes - I totally had the ironic thing in mind too when I saw the caption at the beginning - I.e. something meaningful would happen and then Lance would be run over for eg.

I sort of knew it was coming when hazel appeared, but it was just so horrific, it was still a shock!

Nameofstreets · 28/02/2015 19:01

It hasn't had the recognition it deserves. It was such brilliant tv. I am still thinking about it two days later. I want to write to russell t davies and tell him how fantastically he achieved his aims.

and that daniel. the way he showed that conflict.

brilliant.

Southeastdweller · 28/02/2015 19:27

I also thought the death would be ironic - it's unusual for a writer to have a main character in a TV series murdered - but when the announcer said before part four started that there'd be scenes of violence, I knew poor Lance was going to meet his maker in an horrific way Sad

StaircaseAtTheUniversity · 28/02/2015 20:32

name I'm glad im not the only one- I wrote RTD a letter yesterday morning and posted it immediately- just saying how absolutely wonderful that episode was and how profoundly it had touched me. Not been inspired to do that with anyone since I was a teenager.

RainbowInACloud · 28/02/2015 20:36

I agree- can't get it out of my head. I breathed a sigh of relief every time lance's 'dates' with Daniel came to an end as he was just so sinister. Very convincing and very sad. I wonder how Henry will react.

chiliplant · 28/02/2015 20:53

Profyafle, I heard it like the boys from the water meaning they were all ghosts. Sent shivers down my spine!

HelenaDove · 28/02/2015 22:43

Its being repeated on channel47 at 11pm.

drigon · 28/02/2015 22:44

RTD deserves letters of praise!I think Lance fancied Daniel so much he was blind to his faults, though he obviously had doubts. He also wanted to show Henry he could get along without him as he was so hurt at the rejected marriage proposal. Loved Lance. Daniel acted the part brilliantly too, with all the conflicts and violence inside him.

sheldonesque · 28/02/2015 23:31

It has been a long time since something on the telly has affected me so much. It was compelling viewing and it is still playing on my mind. I was too stunned to even cry.

As others have said, when Hazel appeared you just knew Sad

RTD achieved what he set out to do and more. Bravo Sir. And bravo to the cast.

If they review it on Gogglebox, I expect the tears will come then. From them and me.

HelenaDove · 28/02/2015 23:36

I dont normally watch Gogglebox .....its not my thing. Might make an exception next week.

HelenaDove · 28/02/2015 23:46

In the bar Dan is talking about a woman he knew. Sounds like they were in a relationship and he was financially abusive to her.

Ive read quite a few articles over the years written by writers whose husbands/partners later came out as gay and there was emotional abuse present in many cases....where the husband would criticise his wifes appearance.....call her boring/ have volatile mood swings.

The character of Dan is obvs at the extreme end but its all part of the same conflicts going on.

There is never an excuse for abuse or violence obviously but RTD has explored these conflicts well.

ProfYaffle · 01/03/2015 06:56

Chilli - especially in the light of rl concern about 'the boys from the water'

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/canal-serial-killer-police-dismiss-8421079