“Did she curtsey?!”
It looks as though not all of the opening quotes are going to be from Machiavelli, patron saint of spin doctors. This time we get to redress the balance as Churchill puts a word in for the politicians- and, significantly, this is much more directly about the politicians, and their part in the “game”.
If I have one criticism of this episode it’s the few moments early on where Hanne (now a tabloid commentator) is used to explain how vital the upcoming finance bill is to the government’s survival; it comes across as a rather crude piece of exposition. But that’s my only criticism of the episode, and it’s really just a nitpick. Basically, the excellence continues. If it stays like this, I think we’re going to have to take the gushing as read from now on. There are only so many ways you can praise something.
Anyway, two months have passed, and there are subtle changes. But it’s noticeable that Birgitte has been far too busy to choose the paintings for her office and, wonderfully, she’s stuck with a rubbish secretary because no Department with have her! Naturally, she’s dumped on the Prime Minister. This is pure Yes, Minister. I love it.
It’s already obvious that Birgitte has little or no time for her family, and her relationship with her husband is already suffering. This can only get worse. And the days when she refused to profit from dirt on her political opponents are far behind her- she agrees to fight dirty against one of the two independents very early on. She’s much more ruthless, too, instantly rejecting Hesselboe’s attempts at a deal, and finally drawing a wedge between the Liberals and the New Right. (Why are there two centre-right parties? I get the impression that the Liberals are economic liberals while the New Right are more socially conservative, but it's a bit murky.)
Laugesen has now become a tabloid editor, baying for Birgitte’s blood. I think we can assume he’s the villain of the series, and he’s eventually going to do something very bad indeed. What’s wonderful is that he’s simultaneously such a cartoon villain and entirely realistic in this environment. Kaspar’s future becomes clear, too; Birgitte well and truly learns her lesson in this episode and learns that she needs not a handsome Professor of Rhetoric but a master of the dark arts. He’s certainly very, very competent, whether as a TV commentator or quickly diagnosing the problem on the day he’s re-hired. But he’s so, so cold, worst of all with his lies to Katrine. Even so, the sight of him in a pool hall on Christmas Day made me feel a twinge of sympathy. And it’s established that his past is mysterious- presumably there’ll be a pay-off?
Katrine’s story is less clear, though. The pregnancy subplot comes to a very abrupt end but her life seems to get no less complicated. She and Kaspar seem to be destined to come together in a way, either as a couple or for another reason. There must be a reason for the flashbacks of their earlier relationship, after all.
So, there are some obvious things to expect (Birgitte’s deteriorating family life and increasing ruthlessness), but I have no idea about everything else. The tone is pretty much set though, I think, and I love it. The humour (I love the art!) leavens the ruthlessness perfectly. I haven’t been so excited about watching the next episode of a series since Spiral, which says some worrying things about English language TV!
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