Outcasts Episode 5: At Last!

Oh, BLESS … !

And at last … !

I think someone’s actually managed to catch Jude, my nephew, with a smile on his face!

Not that’s what I was going to actually post about, but I liked it enough to put it up, anyway.

Well …

I don’t actually have kids, meself.

I’ve got to get gooey, SOMETIME … !

Ga-ga-boo-boo-daa-daa-wah-wah …

Excuse me, I had to get that out of me system …

Ahem … !

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yeah …

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Yes …

Quite … !

Now, I’ve got to admit, I’m up writing about the one series that seems to be getting what I think of as the Marmite reaction.

I’m talking about the BBC sci-fi series, Outcasts.

And … ?

And much like Marmite, it’s provoking very mixed reactions: it’s either like or hated.

I can understand that.

I’m blaming the comparatively poor opening episodes.

Because Episode 5 — whilst weak in parts — actually is one that I’d feel comfortable describing as good, with a certain amount of conviction.

Episode 5 sees Forthaven visited by a character called Pak — Patrick Baxter, to give him his full name, played by Gary Lewis.

Baxter, it seems, was one of the advance team members to arrive on Carpathia, many years previously, and one who vanished into the Carpathian hinterlands, after killing his commanding officer.

And one who returns — at the start of the episode — demanding lots of whisky.

And offering to pay with a pocket full of diamonds.

Not only that.

When he’s chased out of town by Fleur and Cass … ?

He offers to show them bodies …

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Now, I was saying about recommending … ?

That’s actually very true.

I’m thinking here that Outcasts episode 5 is compared to its predecessors, very good indeed.

OK, granted, there’s holes.

Fleur and Cass chasing Baxter off into the distance, whilst NOT maintaining any form of radio contact with Forthaven is pretty big.

Especially when chasing a noted felon.

Little indication of any farming activity, for another: OK, farming on Carpathia, along with it’s near-impossibility, did get a mention in episode 2, as I recall, but I’d’ve expected to see something.

And possibly seen some indications that the inhabitants of Forthaven had used the Expeditionaries as a force to carry out exploratory expeditions, as well as their obvious military functions.

But on the whole … ?

I’ve talked to four other people about Outcasts, however briefly.

Just to give you a rough idea … ?

Dr Kevin, earlier today, told me he generally liked it, but found it rather slow going.

Another old friend, Graham, was enjoying it, but — much as I had done — felt Episodes 1 and 2 could’ve been a lot better.

Movie night regulars Kevin D and Movie Night Adrian were both unimpressed enough to switch off, part-way through episode 1.

You see the direction I’m heading, here … ?

Tonight’s episode … ?

Heck of an improvement.

But Outcasts has damaged itself …

Episodes 6, 7 and 8 … ?

Will have a lot of work to do.

• Richard Tate Liam Cunningham

• Stella Isen Hermione Norris

• Cass Cromwell Daniel Mays

• Fleur Morgan Amy Manson

• Jack Holt Ashley Walters

• Julius Berger Eric Mabius

• Tipper Malone Michael Legge

• Lily Isen Jeanne Kietzmann

• Pak Gary Lewis

• Director Andy Goddard
• Producer Radford Neville
• Writer Jimmy Gardner
• Writer Ben Richards