This is England 90

excellent viewing and at least a happier ending than i was expecting to see.

I don’t think there was any need for fireworks re Combo as the original Combo/Milky scene in the film was so brutal that something more subjective was all that was required. I reckon the boys that did it were Milky’s mates. Simple as.

Tonights episode was very powerful thought provoking viewing, quite disturbing when Combo got taken away for probably a horrific end. Not sure I’ll sleep easy tonight!
I take back what I said earlier in this thread about ropey acting, the acting was in fact superb.

Meh.

That is all.

The ending was fantastic with Kelly coming back into the family and the montage of all the characters enjoying the party It kind of reminded me of the end of The Wire with the scene with Bubbles back up stairs at his sisters.
As for Milky sending Combo back to the NF (Or whoever they were) and ultimately his maker , This was probably the most disturbing scene despite not actually seeing any real violence.
I wonder what Shane Meadows will do next as this was brilliantly wrapped up.

quite disturbing when Combo got taken away for probably a horrific end. Not sure I’ll sleep easy tonight!

Really? Stop being an utter fanny

quite disturbing when Combo got taken away for probably a horrific end. Not sure I’ll sleep easy tonight!
Really? Stop being an utter fanny

Yeh that’s what I thought, same for the ‘physically sick’ thing.

Hope you managed to sleep okay precious

Thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t watch much tv but when I do it’s things like this. I suppose its just bake offs, X factor and dancing till top boy returns.

I did sleep OK as it happens 😆

Thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t watch much tv but when I do it’s things like this. I suppose its just bake offs, X factor and dancing till top boy returns.

New season of Fargo coming soon!

Fantastic TV.

It’s not always about always being darker, bleaker or more dramatic for the sake of it – it’s about telling a story and maybe not giving all the answers.

With Milky for example. Did he send Combo off for a beating with his family (or some kind of polar opposite to the NF), or did he send him off to be killed? Would he have changed his mind after listening to Combo, or was it taken out of his hands? Did he know that they were going to hand him over to what appears to be a couple of ex-skinheads who he recognises? Has his family betrayed him and Combo’s apology, Lol’s (don’t forget what Combo did for her, the mother of his child and love of his life) words, and his own remorse, left him in a position where he no longer has anyone or anything but guilt?

Personally I find forgiveness hard. It can be hard, it’s not always deserved, but it shows strength. Watching Milky at the end of the episode has made me a more forgiving person today.

Fair enough to anyone who lost sleep. Strongly empathising with someone who knows for sure that they are facing the horror of a life changing beating has it’s own pain. Fair enough to those who didn’t lose sleep. People have different emotional resonance to different things. Mocking others is a bit naff though.

Combo’s implied ending was great writing – there was no need to see the violence.
He’s dead. The guilt and mental torture switches to Milky – who despite his happy go lucky nature proves to be the show’s biggest tool.

What great writing. For me, the whole TIE experience has been a great reflection of life – for all it’s potential humour, camaraderie and love, there is always a potential flip side round the corner. Grimy, decomposed, violence and hate.
It’s about how we choose to perceive our lot, and how we choose to project ourselves.

Imagine eventually feeling sorrow for Combo and a dislike for Milky after watching the original beating!

I’m chuffed for Woody + Lol. Wasn’t that bothered about the Kelly decline story line, perhaps I just didn’t like her character. And agree with the sentiments that this final series got a little bit too comedic in places – but by and large – I can’t remember the last time I literally held my breath when watching a drama. Particularly a British drama. Every (incredibly annoying) ad break last night was a chance to recover for just a moment!.

Great stuff, thank you Mr Meadows and C4!

Milky got a soft time of it because he was quite likable but in actual fact we was a complete bastard. Getting best mates GF pregnant, being forgiven then arranging the death of combo, apparently incapable of forgiveness himself.
It’s a shame we won’t get to see him get his karma bill.

Did he know that they were going to hand him over to what appears to be a couple of ex-skinheads who he recognises?

I wondered if they were people he’d sold out when he went to prison?

It’s a shame we won’t get to see him get his karma bill.

He’s had it – a life time of torment in realising that he’s forever tainted with no way back. Again, I think this is great writing. Be good boy’s and girl’s and make wise choices or else!

I wondered if they were people he’d sold out when he went to prison?

I think their origin is largely irrelevant, the point was that they represented his end, and he knew it. We literally saw the door close on his chapter.

Plenty of good acting but Stephen Graham stands out in everything I see him in. He acted Steve Buscemi et al off the screen in Boardwalk Empire. The scene (in TIE) where he was carried up the stairs just wouldn’t have worked without such a great actor. In fact, thinking about that, his whole character wouldn’t have worked.

He acted Steve Buscemi et al off the screen in Boardwalk Empire.

Asides from his ‘accent’!

The scene (in TIE) where he was carried up the stairs just wouldn’t have worked without such a great actor

100% agree. God knows where he draws his motivation from but he genuinely looked like a man being carried to his violent death. Haunting. He’s a bloody marvelous actor.
His racist rant pre-Milky bashing was quite so horrid owing to his complete belieavability.
Did you know.. he’s married to Trudy in real life?(!)

I think their origin is largely irrelevant, the point was that they represented his end, and he knew it. We literally saw the door close on his chapter.

It may be irrelevant to you, but it left me wondering why he knew that he was going to die the moment he saw them.

anyone else see tommy smith every time woodys dad was on screen? 😀

He’s had it – a life time of torment in realising that he’s forever tainted with no way back. Again, I think this is great writing.

I don’t think that’s quite enough for murder. Empregnating his mates partner, perhaps.
I think hearing combo wail “I don’t want to die” was deliberate and stated confirmation that he was going to be ended.

It may be irrelevant to you, but it left me wondering why he knew that he was going to die the moment he saw them.

As we arent likely to ever have an answer to this specific point, It was probably just a plot leading glimpse into Combo’s murky past dealings – or maybe just a realisation that in those circumstances, being handed over to another crew is never going to end well..

The scene reminded me a little of a similar one in ‘Narco’s’, the new Netflix series – where Escobar’s cousin gets carried upstairs ‘for a chat’

I don’t think that’s quite enough for murder. Empregnating his mates partner, perhaps.

I totally agree from a legal justice perspective – What I mean is that from what was originally essentially a good person, so much bad has now occurred. Milky isn’t a criminal type down to his core – he feels remorse and the guilt of his actions will torment him forever whereas a true criminal would probably sleep easy.
Milky was forgiven, and still chose to go down a path he can never return from. Whereas somehow, Combo has turned out the better man. Even asking for forgiveness when being lead to his probable death.
Imagine that. What a turnaround!

Who knows what will happen in the end. Lol clearly had Milky sussed, but she’s no shrinking violet. It’s the sign of a good story, that we care to imagine the future for the characters and fill in any remaining gaps.

Well put slimjim

Never thought I’d not be annoyed by advert breaks, genuinely a chance to think back and savour the story and potential ramifications of people’s actions.

I agree that perhaps there was a bit too much of the absurdly comic but it made a delicious counterpoint to the true life storyline.

good point Picton – although too numerous – the ad breaks were (for once) a good chance to take stock, breath(!), and get the kettle on.

Stephen Graham being carried up them stairs was an incredible scene, but the highlight for me was the one at Woody’s parents house. in fact Woody’s parents, and Jennifer were my favorite characters throughout! Jennifer’s emotion at getting told she wouldnt be bridesmaid was impressive, then on a lighter note, her outfit at the wedding was hilarious!!

I’ll never be able to listen to Stone Roses again without thinking of Woody’s flinky flank.

The scene reminded me a little of a similar one in ‘Narco’s’, the new Netflix series – where Escobar’s cousin gets carried upstairs ‘for a chat’

brilliant spoiler mate, well done….

met Stephen Graham at a party once in early noughties, i was being a bit of pissed up nuisance and just kept saying ‘d’ya like dags?’ so i got that combo stare long before milky did…

met Stephen Graham at a party once in early noughties, i was being a bit of pissed up nuisance and just kept saying ‘d’ya like dags?’ so i got that combo stare long before milky did.

😆

brilliant spoiler mate, well done….

Just wait till you see Escobar run in with an Uzi 9mm in each hand and save the day by spraying lead!

”Scarface ain’t got nothing on me Biyatches!”

Spoiler alert – in the Pablo Escobar story, it no end well for Pablo.

so who wrote the final twenty minutes of an otherwise cracking drama?

so known for his gritty realism, such a soft arsed ending.
#gutted

Just watched it. Brilliant. Blubbed me eyes out.

Aren’t they allowed happiness in their lives soob?

Blubbed me eyes out.

Did you really blub your eyes out?

Really good ending to a wonderfully written drama over a 8 year period

Shawn even got a proper honey – and i just loved that final scene with Smell getting all arsey 🙂

Brilliant series and looking forward to watching them all again soon

Did you really blub your eyes out?

Not literally, of course. Emotions are running high at the moment, so it doesn’t take much to get me going 😥

very disappointed not to see how it ended for combo.
the whole series from the movie onwards has been fantastic…sad that its ended but who knows? if shane meadows can have his arm twisted in dong a TiE 94 that would be worth waiting for.
i thought the storyline between milky and combo was a bit ironic that in the original movie combo was seen as the bad guy for his attack and racist attitude but in the end he changes character and milky is the bad guy for allowing combos demise…
he could have stopped it but he mentions that a promise had been made to family members and that was what was being honoured…not that it made it any more the right thing to do.
i assumed the guys who took him in the van were somehow related to milky.
as for milky and his forgiveness…i was sure that he got it on with lol when woody was with the other girl…

very disappointed not to see how it ended for combo.

You actually wanted to see him taken apart?

i thought the storyline between milky and combo was a bit ironic that in the original movie combo was seen as the bad guy for his attack and racist attitude but in the end he changes character and milky is the bad guy for allowing combos demise…

That’s kind of the point of the writing. It’s a story about life and friendship in all its glory and horror, second chances, and how sometimes we face crossroads

as for milky and his forgiveness…i was sure that he got it on with lol when woody was with the other girl…

Woody was only with the other girl after watching his baby come out all Milky

Lol slept with Milky the aftermath of Woody jilting her on their (1st) wedding day, I think…

Just pointing the leaf-blower at the dying embers of this thread on behalf of all the others like me who Sky+’d the final episode and have only just got round to watching it!

Wow, VERY powerful… Some of the best character writing I’ve ever seen – Woody’s vows had me belly-laughing, Kelly’s return had me sobbing like a girl… But FFS, if you’ve been left emotionally damaged, hiding behind the sofa or in need of therapy, have a word with yerselves! Bunch o’ bloody bedwetters! :p

I think those that felt disappointed with the actions of certain characters, or felt it was anti-climactic, you’re missing the point a bit: Every character, every storyline, every stereotype was a metaphor for the whole project – This is England…

…Where hatred lasts for generations because otherwise good people will commit despicable acts on behalf of their families; where people will turn a blind eye to monstrous crimes as long as they’re committed in revenge.

But people will continue to fall in love, forgive their loved ones, get pissed and grow old. Because This Is England.