Its 1986 and the worlds eyes are focused on Mexico, where Gary Lineker is preparing to square up to Diego Maradonna at the football World Cup. In northern England, however, little has changed. Apparently recovered from the dramatic events of 1983, Shaun (Turgoose), the boy skinhead of Shane Meadows film, has grown his hair and failed his O levels.
Menaced by the laughable scooter-riding bully local Flip (an hilarious Perry Fitzpatrick) and pestered into getting a job at the local video shop by his mum, Shaun finds himself drifting back into his old friendships, particularly his always endearing romantic involvement with the nice but undeniably odd Smell (Hanson). But with Lol now embroiled in an unhappy relationship with Woody and soon facing a horrific situation within her own family, Shauns problems start to look fairly trivial in comparison.
Although probably the best of Shane Meadows generally excellent films (and indeed one of the best British films of the last decade), 2005s National Front themed This Is England was hardly an obvious choice for a transfer to TV. Thankfully, unlike the disastrous Lock Stock… series of a few years back, Shane Meadows successfully jettisons the skinhead storyline of the film (which was hardly its defining feature anyway), instead replicating the good natured charm of the films lighter scenes on the small screen.
With an unconventional wedding, a raucous house party and a pitched battle, this is loads of fun, often feeling like a 1980s set episode of Shameless. Only later do events take a much darker turn which, to be honest, might well turn off those lured in by the largely cheerier feel of the first two of the four episodes. Yet with two good audio commentaries and some reasonable behind the scenes stuff amongst the extras, this is well worth a place on the shelf alongside that Shane Meadows DVD film box set.
Overall Verdict: Amongst the best of 2010s British TV dramas. Dont be too surprised if a sequel (This Is England 89?) comes along soon.
Special Features:
Audio Commentary on Episode 1 with Director Tom Harper, Writer Jack Thorne and Actor Thomas Turgoose
Audio Commentary on Episode 3 with Writer Director Shane Meadows and Producer Mark Herbert
Behind the Scenes Featurette
Outtakes
Deleted Scenes
Photo Gallery
Reviewer: Chris Hallam