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Ep.1 - New Faces, Old Hands: Its Godber's first time in jail
and Fletch is going to show him the ways of manipulating the
system.
Ep.2 - The Hustler: Fletch organizes a gambling racket.
Ep.3 - A Night In: Prison is a state of mind Godber is told
and that he should view being locked up for the night as a
'quiet night in'. The problem is that there are going to be
another 698 of them.
Ep.4 - A Day Out: The lads are looking forward to working
outside the walls. Fletch isn't interested. Why?
Ep.5 - Ways and Means: Has Fletch ever read a book in his
life? It doesn't matter, he wants a job in the library; its
easier than shovelling…
Ep.6 -Men Without Women: Men in prison are not just evil
beasts; they are also sensitive souls. They rush to Fletch
for his expert advice on affairs of the heart.
It's thirty years since Porridge had its debut and it has
not dated; perhaps time stands still in prison. The cream
of BBC writers Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais superbly crafts
each character and storyline.
The two leads, the cunning old lag and the confused youngster,
develop a complex father and son relationship that warms us
as the series progresses.
The two main supporting actors portray the guards who, like
their characters, point up the hard and soft of the penal
system.
Each episode leaves the viewer with the satisfied feeling
of having been involved with the triumph of humour and humanity
over a dull and desperate situation.
A comment should be made about the picture quality. It reflects
the era in which the programmes were made. Outside sequences
were shot on film and never matched the studio interiors.
In addition, the electronic cameras were set up to factory
standards, without consideration for natural tones; the result
being rather grey faces.
Conclusion: 90% Extras: 80%.
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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