Babylon (Channel 4)

Skid X

Written by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show, Fresh Meat, Four Lions), with the Pilot Episode is to be directed by Danny Boyle.

Babylon is a comedy drama satire about the Metropolitan Police, starring Jimmy Nesbitt and Brit Marling, with Paterson Joseph, Jill Halfpenny, Adam Deacon, Daniel Kaluuya and Jonny Sweet.

It launches with a feature length Pilot on Sunday February 9th, with a full series of six episodes to follow, probably in Autumn 2014

Plenty of big names there, not always a guarantee of anything but it looks interesting

Armstrong said Boyle's inspiration came in part from reality TV. "Danny and Robert had been talking a lot about police blogs, police shows. Danny was fascinated by the visual look of the Police Camera Action shows."

This inspiration has had an impact on the plot of Babylon. As well as the freneticism associated with Boyle's previous work, there is a documentary team embedded within the force, and a number of scenes are made up of the footage.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/24/danny-boyle-direct-pilot-met-police-babylon-channel-4

Armstrong said Boyle's inspiration came in part from reality TV. "Danny and Robert had been talking a lot about police blogs, police shows. Danny was fascinated by the visual look of the Police Camera Action shows."

This inspiration has had an impact on the plot of Babylon. As well as the freneticism associated with Boyle's previous work, there is a documentary team embedded within the force, and a number of scenes are made up of the footage.

Basq

Was really looking forward to this.. all very talented names involved, but the trailer left me a little disappointed!

Skid X

Basq wrote: »

Was really looking forward to this.. all very talented names involved, but the trailer left me a little disappointed!

True enough, it didn't inspire confidence.

Anyway, it's on tonight at 9pm on Channel 4

mike65

This could be the TV series of the year if they get it right.

Or it could be like The Shadow Line, nearly brilliant.

evilivor

mike65 wrote: »

This could be the TV series of the year if they get it right.

Or it could be like The Shadow Line, nearly brilliant.

Is the series confirmed or is it dependent on the reaction to the pilot?

evilivor

Odd show. Didn't quite know what it wanted to be for me. Not funny enough to be comedy, biting enough for satire or dramatic enough for well, drama.

Yet, in parts, if worked mostly because of performances.

Most curious.

DerekDGoldfish

I agree with Evilvor its not sure what it wants to be yet, maybe it will be more obvious over the course of a full season

Skid X

Yeah, it never really caught fire for me.

Good cast, interesting in parts but it needed a bit more. Maybe it will work better in shorter, tighter episodes (when the full series is made).

Skid X

Babylon returns for a series on Thursday November 13th at 10pm on Channel 4

http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/babylons-back-the-return-of-channel-4s-scabrous-police-comedydrama-9840320.html

According to the article "the six-part series brings back everyone from the original 16-strong ensemble cast."

I thought there was too much going on in the original feature length show, hopefully they can pace it better over this series.

brian_t

Tristram

Stumbled across this and tore through it. Top quality production with great performances all round. Quality show.

Harry Palmr

I enjoyed it a lot by the end, the first couple of episodes were uncertain in tone but it found its groove nicely.

evilivor

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I enjoyed it a lot by the end, the first couple of episodes were uncertain in tone but it found its groove nicely.

I have to agree - it's was so much better this time around - some fine performances and the writing was so much sharper. It's turned into a really good show.

paulosam

Wonder if there will be another series? I enjoyed it thoroughly, but thought it lost a bit of steam after Nesbitt 'went for a swim'.

FunLover18

Really enjoyed this. Watching it at the same time as The Missing on BBC really showed me what a tremendous actor Nesbit really is. Hope it gets a second series.