You, Me & The Apocalypse (aka Apocalypse Slough)

JP Liz V1

Originally Posted by Thrill On jan 8 Sky ordered 10-part series Apocalypse Slough

Quote:
The story follows an eclectic group of ordinary people in an extraordinary situation: a collision is imminent with an eight-mile wide comet that’s destined to wipe out all life on Earth.

The cast of characters is made up of a British bank manager, an Italian nun, a female death row inmate, a Five Star U.S. General, a White House civil servant and a bride with a one-eyed husband 30 years her junior. Together, they hunker beneath the town of Slough, about 20 miles west of London, to watch the end of the world on TV.

Cast has yet to be firmed.
http://deadline.com/2015/01/sky-work...gh-1201344151/

Skid X wrote: »

An update on Apocalypse Slough, some juicy casting ... The ten-part drama will be led by US stars Rob Lowe (The West Wing, Brothers and Sisters) and Megan Mullally (Will and Grace), with Jenna Fischer (the US Office) also on board, although it's not yet clear whether Slough's famous paper headquarters Wernham Hogg – setting of the original Office series – will make an appearance...

Joining their ranks are British actors Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans, Yonderland), Paterson Joseph (Babylon), Pauline Quirke (Birds of a Feather) and Joel Fry (Plebs).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvciOLK2fLs

paulbok

"Originally Posted by Thrill On jan 8 Sky ordered 10-part series Apocalypse Slough"


It seems like the ads on Sky for this have been on since Jan 9th,

Skid X

Yeah a lot of promotion for this, I see adverts on Bus Shelters around Dublin recently.

Shame they dropped the Slough part of the name. Maybe the pronunciation doesn't come easy to an international audience who wouldn't get the pun (Slough rhyming with Now)

Azalea

Anyone see episode one of this "dramedy" last night? There was heavy advertising for it on Sky One for several weeks - an unusual mix of mostly British and American cast members, including Rob Lowe as a priest (alongside the brown-haired one out of Birds Of A Feather!) attracted me to it. I didn't hold out huge hope for it either though, as it's "an original Sky One production". Never, that I can recall, a good sign for a television show. Also, a drama about the impending apocalypse - what can be done with that, other than the well worn fantasy of doing what we want (looting mostly) and the like.

I decided to give the first episode a shot though.

I thought it was absolutely wonderful! More like a good Channel 4 drama than a Sky One one. It's funny, full of really cleverly written back-stories, thrilling in places, surreal (from a maximum security women's prison in Oklahoma, to the Vatican, to... Slough). A still from it of a character standing outside Shoe Zone while people are in hysterics around him on hearing the news of the end of the world - can't stop laughing at it.

Rob Lowe is brilliantly asshole-ish - and I cannot believe the actress playing the leader of the prison redneck pack used to play Karen (the squeaky-voiced, curvy one) out of Will & Grace. Unrecognisable.

The only pity is that it was supposed to be called Apocalypse Slough, but that was changed due to it being too obscure a reference for American audiences (it's set to air on NBC next).

Can't wait for the next instalment!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/11901538/You-Me-and-the-Apocalypse-review-enjoyably-chaotic.html

Also Starring LeVar Burton

From what I've read it's a co-op with NBC, but yeah not the worst show ever… Has potential anyway - I'll watch the next one...

duridian

This is the second excellent joint Anglo-American production this year I've really liked this year. Although the first one, Humans, was set completely in UK, the multi location set up of this show gives it a great extra boost, as it moves nicely through the storylines of the various characters, you nearly get a feeling that you are watching a movie rather than a TV show.

And shucks hun, bet y'all never thought I got me this much range.
I loved the priest and nun story as well. The nun's comment to the younger priest played by Marcus from Corrie had me in stitches and was a fun nod to his previous role in Weatherfield.

allym

Hatless wrote: »

Rob Lowe is brilliantly asshole-ish - and I cannot believe the actress playing the leader of the prison redneck pack used to play Karen (the squeaky-voiced, curvy one) out of Will & Grace. Unrecognisable.

I knew I recognised her!! I could not put my finger on what was familiar about her

duridian

Yep, that's Karen. Voice seems to have come down a good few octaves since the Will & Grace days to do Leanne.

silverharp

so anyone watching this? I'm liking it so far. Production quality isnt fantasitc , a lot of the US scenes look like they were filmed in the UK which is a little bit distracting. Quirky and fun though

Azalea

Yep, loving it - very cleverly written plot in my opinion.

Harry Palmr

They really should have kept that original title - damned Yankees!

bnt

Up to Ep. 7, and it's getting even weirder as some of the threads come together. I can't help but wonder what Americans will make of Pauline Quirke driving Rob Lowe around Slough at high speeds, beating up security guards, making an impassioned speech about family, then cooking fish fingers for tea ...

ArmaniJeanss

Was the audience supposed to know that Scottie is the uncle of Ariel and Jamie, it was a surprise to me when the old woman said it but maybe it had been mentioned already? Who are they related through?

Generally enjoying this, but fear it could go a wee bit 'Lost' on us as it progresses.

PirateShampoo

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Was the audience supposed to know that Scottie is the uncle of Ariel and Jamie, it was a surprise to me when the old woman said it but maybe it had been mentioned already? Who are they related through?

Generally enjoying this, but fear it could go a wee bit 'Lost' on us as it progresses.

I think its

Evil Grandmother > Rhonda, Scotty, Mary > Ariel, Jamie, Spike > Jamie's Daughter.

Also having just looked her up, the Grandmother is Olenna Tyrell "The Queen of Thorns" from Game of Thrones.

FloatingVoter

PirateShampoo wrote: »

I think its

Evil Grandmother > Rhonda, Scotty, Mary > Ariel, Jamie, Spike > Jamie's Daughter.

Also having just looked her up, the Grandmother is Olenna Tyrell "The Queen of Thorns" from Game of Thrones.

AKA Dame Diana Rigg. Former Avenger and Bond lady (not girl...she had to do proper acting to balance Lazenby in OHMSS). Legend of the stage making hay while the sun shines.

Azalea

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Was the audience supposed to know that Scottie is the uncle of Ariel and Jamie, it was a surprise to me when the old woman said it but maybe it had been mentioned already?

Don't think the audience was supposed to know - vampire grandma saying it was the only reference I'm sure.
Pirateshampoo, vampire grandma is the mother of Father Jude rather than Mary, but otherwise, yep, family tree seems to be as you say.

silverharp wrote: »

Production quality isnt fantasitc , a lot of the US scenes look like they were filmed in the UK

And some of the "yanks" seem to be Brits not doing a very good American accent - well Johnson from Peep Show definitely is (and Diana Rigg) and some of the bit-players too, e.g. the policewoman. I recognise her from British TV - pretty terrible southern US accent ya'll.

Otherwise though, I'm fecking loving it! What a plot - and I love Rob Lowe's character development from arsehole to really rather likeable guy.

For me, it's a comic relief foil to The Leftovers - apocalyptic too, featured Johnson from Peep Show in the first series, also features non stop product placement of the iPhone. :pac:

PirateShampoo

Yup I was mistaken, Jude instead of Mary. I'm really enjoying it, can't wait to see how it all comes together.

Prefab Sprouter

Really enjoying the series, an unusual story and well done SKY for commissioning it.

Montgolfier

Can't believe the priest hung himself!!

Azalea

Sh-t.

No comic relief in that episode - from quirky, zany plots and lots of laughs to some extremely bleak, cold stuff.

Great though.

PirateShampoo

Montgolfier wrote: »

Can't believe the priest hung himself!!

He didn't, in the scene before it someone enters the room, he smiles thinking it's the nun, then turns to worry when he sees it's not.

Azalea

Feck yeah, I had forgotten that. And of course he had pretty much told the Vatican guys that their secret wasn't safe before he walked away from them and the priesthood.

PirateShampoo

Shame, I really liked his character.

Did we see anyone new at the start in the bunker scene?

Azalea

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Shame, I really liked his character.

Did we see anyone new at the start in the bunker scene?

I don't think so. General Gaines was the focus in the bunker this week but he might have been shown there before.

Good article tonight: http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2015/nov/18/have-you-been-watching-you-me-and-the-apocalypse

Although Sister Celine ain't naive. Whether the General told Scottie the full awful truth about his agreement with the president if the operation failed... perhaps he did, culminating in the scene with him crying hysterically. That scene with the soldiers rounding up the scientists was horribly dark...

PirateShampoo

I think the Generals bunker is a different bunker to the one that the Evil Grandmother owns in Slough.

I've just no idea how they all end up in the same place.

Dave_The_Sheep

The priest (Lowe) was the only interesting character to be honest, other than maybe Ariel. Likely won't bother without him in it.

backspacer

This is ramping up for a good finish,some dark moments but surprisingly good for a Sky produced programme.

Prefab Sprouter

Really enjoyed Wednesday's episode, its shaping up well for a good finish.

Marty McFly

Have to say started watching this not expecting a whole lot but with each episode it has drawn me in more and more it's becoming a real favorite of mine.

Really didn't see the priest murder coming at all I know after the meeting when he hands back his collar they all give that knowing nod to each other I suspected murder but never thought they would follow through with it. It really is a very dark twist on the series I wonder will they ramp it up a bit now?

Azalea

Marty McFly wrote: »

Have to say started watching this not expecting a whole lot but with each episode it has drawn me in more and more it's becoming a real favorite of mine.

I'm the very same. I decided I'd give the first episode a shot as I love apocalyptic stuff, but reckoned I'd probably leave it at that. Was hooked from episode one though!

Prefab Sprouter

Wonder what series 2 will be like

ArmaniJeanss

Surely Frankie should have seen through the Jamie/Ariel swap if her character is to be consistent with when she instantly recognised Jamie in the courtroom? Shes been built up to be a perceptive child with more than a hint that she is 'special'. I hate twin swap as a plot anyway, surely in reality it would almost instantly fail even with identical twins (hey your scar from the oven burn/knee surgery seems to be gone, and your fingernails have suddenly grown).

And are there really only two bunkers in this universe, one in Virginia and the other in Slough? Surely there are 100s if not 1000s more of varying quality.

Nitpicking by me, will be sad when its over.

martyos121

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Surely Frankie should have seen through the Jamie/Ariel swap if her character is to be consistent with when she instantly recognised Jamie in the courtroom? Shes been built up to be a perceptive child with more than a hint that she is 'special'. I hate twin swap as a plot anyway, surely in reality it would almost instantly fail even with identical twins (hey your scar from the oven burn/knee surgery seems to be gone, and your fingernails have suddenly grown).

And are there really only two bunkers in this universe, one in Virginia and the other in Slough? Surely there are 100s if not 1000s more of varying quality.

Nitpicking by me, will be sad when its over.

I stopped applying logic to this show loooonnng ago, it doesn't seem to take itself seriously at all and that's why I love it. Will be very disappointed when it's finished too.

pickarooney

How did Ariel get to the UK in the first place?

NinetyForNone

pickarooney wrote: »

How did Ariel get to the UK in the first place?

Taken by the granny's goons from car boot at museum.
private jet possibly?

martyos121

Can't wait for the finale tonight, haven't looked forward to one so much since Breaking Bad! Anyone have any predictions?

Loughc

martyos121 wrote: »

Anyone have any predictions?

The world ends :pac:

knucklehead6

I just really hope they go ahead with it, as in there isn't a sudden "whoops, I never carried the 1, lookee here, the comet is gonna miss us by a whisker" moment.

And they end it with just one season, no season two of them in the bunker going slightly mad, then season 3 the kids kids emerging from the bunker to a whole new planet.

martyos121

Loughc wrote: »

The world ends :pac:

Spoilers ya prick! :mad:





















:pac:

FloatingVoter

Having watched the Grinder last night, I now see that Rob Lowe is entering a contest with Sean Bean for how many TV deaths can be achieved in a career.

I expect a resurrection tonight in some form or another.

martyos121

So does anyone know if Scotty died in the last episode? I can't recall how that part ended and if he was carried away or left there dead. Was he in any of the bunker intros?

Dave_The_Sheep

martyos121 wrote: »

So does anyone know if Scotty died in the last episode? I can't recall how that part ended and if he was carried away or left there dead. Was he in any of the bunker intros?

He was carried out, so he has that fighting chance.

bnt

I think the writers have mixed up Jesus and Moses there, just a tad ...

Azalea

Yeah not sure about the waters parting thing.

And it was obvious it was Ariel that ended up in the bunker instead of Jamie.

Good though, glad there's a "to be continued"...

Dave_The_Sheep

So, stigmata-like injuries on one kid's hands, voices from God on the other, Jamie turning into Moses. Yeah. Anyways.

martyos121

Azalea wrote: »

Yeah not sure about the waters parting thing.

And it was obvious it was Ariel that ended up in the bunker instead of Jamie.

Good though, glad there's a "to be continued"...

Is there? I didn't see any mention of it anyways.

Really dark twist at the end there, made me a bit angry but it was well written. Shame they didn't show the apocalypse itself though.

Azalea

martyos121 wrote: »

Is there? I didn't see any mention of it anyways.

Yeah true - it just looks that way.

Wondering who was in the box...

Mr.Prodston

Ha I totally didn't cop it was Ariel that got inside even though I knew something was up lurking behind. Obvious after the event and it was a really well done twist in the way it was done.

It's open for another season but if it ended there it was a really dark last scene. Very enjoyable and surprised it was so much so.

Mathew Baynton stole the show though, thoroughly convincing as both characters. I thought he was great in The Wrong Mans too where he's basically playing Jamie :pac:

I've been binging through Peep Show the last few weeks and got a kick out of the Colonel being Alan Johnson :P

It exceeded my expectations as a Sky produced show, along with NBC admittedly.

LFCFan

Surely there has to be a second season? Way too many loose ends. Jamie being the son of God and left outside, who's in the box? What's up with the monkey? What happens after the Apocalypse, what's up with Frankie and the voices etc etc etc. There is so much material there for a 2nd season. I'd be very pissed off if they don't do it.

ArmaniJeanss

Not sure theres quite enough for a 10ep second series, maybe just a 2016 Christmas Special 2 hour episode to wrap it up. Would be quite satisfying if they just left it there though because its the end of the world and not every question is going to be answered before we die

Anyway, if they want to go for a second series/miniseries.....

Conveniently placed manhole cover beside Jamie gives him an obvious way into the bunker.

Someone parted the Red Sea Thames (Jamie as Moses?) so that discounts that person from being the Son of God. Meaning the Son of God is....?

In the box. The FBI agent? US Presidents mistress? Not sure theres any other unaccounted for females, and a newly introduced character would be terrible.

Frankie. Would be a brave step for the writers but she makes some sense as being the bad guy of the piece. (Has twice failed to call out Ariel despite being astute enough to analyze everyone else with 10 seconds of seeing them. Hey, you're my Dad, you're pregnant nun etc). And if God is female then the male voices she hears can't be God :eek:

charlietheminxx

I've only just found this thread! What a great show. SkyOne said on Twitter that it isn't over yet, but they won't confirm season 2 either... They're probably waiting to see how it fares with US audiences.

Like everyone else I really expected very little but it reeled me in so quickly. Honestly I cannot remember the last time I looked forward to watching something every week as much as this!