Cult Fix
  • TV
    • UK SHOWS
      • Black Mirror
      • Doctor Who
      • Electric Dreams
      • Humans
      • Red Dwarf
      • Sherlock
    • DC TV SHOWS
      • Arrow
      • The Flash
      • Gotham
      • Legends of Tomorrow
      • Supergirl
    • OTHER SHOWS
      • Agents of SHIELD
      • Daredevil
      • Game of Thrones
      • Iron Fist
      • Jessica Jones
      • Luke Cage
      • The Walking Dead
    • ENDED SHOWS
      • Agent Carter
      • Atlantis
      • Being Human
      • Broadchurch
      • Hannibal
      • In The Flesh
      • Merlin
      • Misfits
      • Primeval
      • The Fades
      • The Musketeers
      • Wizards vs Aliens
  • Films
    • FILMS
      • News & Updates
      • Reviews
      • Trailers
    • MARVEL
      • Ant-Man
      • Avengers
      • Black Panther
      • Captain America
      • Captain Marvel
      • Doctor Strange
      • Guardians Of The Galaxy
      • Inhumans
      • Iron Man
      • Spider-Man
      • Thor
      • X-Men
    • OTHER
      • Batman
      • James Bond
      • Justice League
      • Star Trek
      • Star Wars
      • Superman
      • Suicide Squad
  • Reviews
    • Film Reviews
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Review Archive

Reviews/ TV

Mad Dogs: Series 4 Episode 1 Review

December 29, 2013

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Email Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit

mad-dogs-401

Reviewed by James Wynne.

Mad Dogs has returned for one final hurrah, and despite the pervading sense last series that the show was beginning to drag its heels somewhat, it has bounded back onto our screens with all the enthusiasm of a ‘mad dog’.

Adrian Shergold brings his inimitable directorial style to proceedings once more, and showcases for the umpteenth time his distinct ability to summate the aberrance of Mad Dogs from behind the camera.

For example: Baxter’s floundering attempts to deliver his wedding speech are framed by a series of close-up ‘fisheye’ shots imposing on him, which inflict the same feeling of unease that Bax is experiencing at that moment. Rick’s hasted departure from the ceremony after his phone goes off is given similar treatment, and evokes an identical sensation of discomfort.

Shergold’s zany techniques have contributed so much to the identity of the show, and he’s done a customarily cracking job with the finale thus far.

As has Chris Cole. One of the frequent criticisms I directed at the previous series was the repetitious bickering between the lads. It wasn’t so much the arguing itself, but rather that the nature of it ploughed the same old courses, which we’d seen frequently enough in prior series. There’s an intrinsic dysfunctionality to the characters of Quinn, Bax, Woody, and Rick, so hostility will always arise at some point or another, but watching the same old argumentative routines play out time and time again is a wearisome viewing experience.

It’s not long before a conventional bout of squabbling breaks out in this episode, instigated as it so often is by the improvidence of Rick, but it takes a surprisingly violent turn, when Rick brandishes a pool cue and begins attacking his friends with every implement at his disposal. It harks back to the ‘vending machine brawl’ of the first series, only this time it transpires more like a hilarious disaster skit, with it culminating in Rick being forcibly tabogganed down a flight of stairs and into the midst of a load of wedding guests and one hapless waiter.

So much of this penultimate outing is reminiscent of the first series and first episode. The plot structure even follows a strikingly similar pattern (i.e. the lads abscond from their mundane, dissatisfactory lives in Britain to an exotic location; content at first, only for events to take a couple of horrifying twists). It’s a deft touch from Cole to remind us of how it all began right as it’s all about to end, and he does so without it just feeling like a stale retread.

Verdict: 9/10

With the usual stellar performances from its principal cast, this is a faultless slice of traditional madcap, Mad Dogs fun and terror, and it sets up the final episode with aplomb. The reappearance of Dominic (Tim Woodward) as the orchestrator of the lads’ latest nightmare addresses the last of the lingering plot threads, and hopefully promises a full circle closure to the events of the last three series.

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Email Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit

Related Posts

Red-Dwarf-The-Promised-Land

Reviews /

Red Dwarf: “The Promised Land” Review

the-sandman-netflix-2022

TV /

The Sandman Date Announcement Trailer

timeless-children-doctor-who-1210

Reviews /

Doctor Who: 12-10 “The Timeless Children” Review

‹ Doctor Who: Cult Fix Writers on “The Time of the Doctor” › Oscar Bait Season: Filth (2013) – Review

Back to Top

RSS Cult Fix

  • Prey Trailer
  • The Sandman Date Announcement Trailer
  • 1899 Trailer
  • Andor Teaser Trailer
  • Thor: Love and Thunder – New Trailer

Find us on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube
Original content © Cult Fix 2010-2021

Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Write for Us

This website uses cookies to improve your experience.OK Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Posting....