Dancing on the Edge episode 4

[shallowness]

With things coming full circle, but leaving much to be resolved, it’s almost hard to believe that this is just the fourth episode.

So, I was convinced that Julian would be the first to crack – he seems on the verge of a mental breakdown, with all the versions of Julian he’s being not able to live with each other and what he’s done. Again, I don’t think he killed Jessie, but procured her for her attacker/killer. And then it turned out to be Pamela, sick of being on the outskirts (especially when in the creepy first furnitureless scene they had such an us against them mentality) and granted a bit more perspective because of it who was able to speak truth to power. That is the Pamela equivalent to a breakdown. As she is forced to be so passive, more because of the writer’s take than than what her circumstances have necessarily made her be, she only gets to talk. But what a toast.

Louis slowly became paranoid enough as my Masons theory (apparently they had only indirect influence on 1930s London coppers based on Poliakoff’s diligent research. Hmm.) turned out to be true. I loved how Sarah’s behaviour could have been seen as suspicious, even complicit, even if I don’t think she was, and if it weren’t Masterson, I would be all ‘yay!photojournalism’ for her! But she was too innocent, in the end, and Louis read her (biased) realism as racism and GULP, no happy ending for them.

Why wasn’t Rosie at the ballroom dinner? Why is she always overlooked? (Sexism.) Why does Julian want the band everywhere?

The scene where Masterson took them to his new office was rather brilliant, better than Louis’s dream, which wasn’t half as disturbing as the children in Donaldson’s care. I still think that Bisset and Goode have the most chemistry. Lady Cremone meeting Stanley’s mother = awesome! She did seem a strange attendee at the funeral, though. HOWEVER, I think Stanley (the author’s self-insert as the most dynamic character, after all) will end up being worthy of Pamela i.e. telling Masterson to stuff it. I am not yet convinced that Masterson did kill Jessie. Although Pamela should find her own passion and go do it. Just as Rosie should quit and work elsewhere.

I thought that the glimpses of real hunger and Louis’s sympathy for the scavengers was better integrated than the ‘oh look, Mummy’s an anti-semitist’ moment. I thought the idea of dancing on the edge of technological development to meet the needs of a changing world was further developed nicely. As was – I was trying to get at this in talking about Pamela and Rosie, but it was most pointedly characterised by Louis – the idea of this gilded circle than Midas, Croeseus, Minatour Masterson had drawn to him, offering them opportunities that weren’t bad in and of themselves, but put them in his pocket. Only the people on the outside could see it.

And then there were the unnamed watchers. The fans mixed with reporters, especially the mysterious woman who’s getting all the screen time, the couple by the phone box, who seemed unnerved by the bleeding black man in a cloak and suit and who (I think it was them, although from the silhouette, it could have been Masterson and Pamela, except that doesn’t make sense) followed Louis. Who I daresay we will rejoin in the now, drinking Stanley’s coffee in the morning light in the next (final?) episode.

I still love you, Carla, for singing at your best friend’s funeral and for always being willing to sing – even when Julian is being rude – even without said best friend. And the black and white candids worked well too.

I saw Jenna-Louise New Doctor Who Assistant Person who plays Rosie on The Last Leg. Two things - posher than I expected. (I don’t know what I expected.) I really don’t think, from my non Dr Who fan perspective, that she’s prepared for what’s coming next.