FAR OUT: the Pilot (Part 2+3) - Continued

By Ley on Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 11:48

So far in the story, we’ve met most of the main characters, and have learned that Grace is rubbish at getting the ladies, Frankie still pines over Helen, and the rest of the group aren’t very happy about her latest one-night-stand with her.

So, will Grace start channelling “Shane” and finally become a hit with the ladies? Will Frankie stop obsessing with Helen and move on like her friends tell her to? And will the bar tender stop interrupting the flow of the episode with her random philosophical monologues and let us just watch the episode in peace? There’s only one way to find out.

Part 2 – “Don’t Diss My Proposal”

The second part of the pilot has much more of an information-overload feel to it, as we’ve previously met all the ladies, other than Cally and Jude. I think this works well, as their storyline is quite a big one, that having them start it right from the very start could have been too much to take in, though even doing the same with some of the other characters could also have helped.

We already know that Grace is still hung-up on Shelley, but when she meets her for the first time after they broke up… Shelley’s now 8 months pregnant! Sorry? What was that?? Shelley and Grace broke up, Shelley “went crazy”, then got knocked-up…ouch, poor Grace!

During her visit to Shelley’s, we find out that Grace proposed to Shelley while drunk, crying, and “insisting on trying everyone’s clothes on” (Sounds like a fun party!). Did I mention that she SUNG HER PROPOSAL? Now ok, maybe it wasn’t the best thing to do, but at least it’d be memorable!

We now get our first love scene of the series, preceded by a fun-fight, where you know exactly how it’s going to end…!

Maybe I’ve just been spoiled with love scenes in several other series, but the one between Kat and Jen that we see in this part just doesn’t feel right to me. However, I have decided it’s down to the fact that we’re so new to the characters and the few lines on the lead up to it is a little on the predictable side. Although I think there’s great potential for other scenes later in the series, once we get to know the characters a little better.

But it has to be said, Kat comes across as such a guy after it…watching TV as Jen sleeps!

Hughes has got Jen wearing the Stonewall “Some People Are Gay. Get Over It” T-shirt. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Miss Hughes!

At the end of the second part, we eventually get to see the main characters together for the first time and get a real feel for the group dynamic. This is when Jude and Cally announce their engagement, and the party for it.

 I have to say this is definitely one of the better parts of the series so far. From watching the group scenes, it appears that the actresses get on off-screen as well, which I think adds to the chemistry in these scenes.

Part 3 – “Can you play Happy Families for money?”

In the final instalment of the pilot, we meet Andrea, Emma’s ex who she still has a “thing” for. She lives in the suburbs with her husband and son, and is now a stay-at-home-mum. Andrea’s husband is horrible to her and takes no responsibility for their son, resulting in Andrea and Emma going out the back door for a cigarette.

It’s once Andrea moans about her husband to Emma that you get the total urge to scream at your computer screen, “GET BACK WITH EMMA!!!!!” As we all know Emma will have no objection to that happening when she’s checking-out Andrea’s derrière when’s she’s bent over.

The rest of the episode is at Cally and Jude’s engagement party for their friends…as Cally has yet to tell her parents!

During this scene, the bar-tender has returned with yet another philosophical monologue about whether it is better to love from afar and be safe from pain, or love someone that can break your heart. I don’t really get these random monologues, but I’m sure they have their reasons and it will all become clear later…or that’s what I’m hoping.

Near the end of the pilot, we hear that Grace went out and got totally drunk, bringing a girl home who stole from her flatmate, Mel, the morning after. Frankie’s there to help Grace from getting a complete ear-bashing from Mel about it.

Mel ends her mothering speech by asking Grace how could she not want to settle down with someone and have what Cally and Jude have? Grace replies that to be honest, she’d “rather have that!” pointing out Jen and Kat kissing.

The episode ends with Jude giving her toast at her engagement party, which I have to say is completely spot-on:

Jude: I’d like to begin by thanking the government of this fine nation.

Everybody else: Boooooooooo!

Jude: (over the boo-ing) The have spent the last few years fucking up this country and attacking everybody else, but Mr Blair got one thing right! A right, that not every nation is blessed with. He made it legal for me to call Cally mine.

Everybody else: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Jude: He put a tick-box on every form so that I can show I’m committed to her, and I’m very proud to have that. It means the world to me. (Turning to Cally) You mean the world to me.

Everybody else: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

So to quickly recap (pages and pages of work in about 100 words):

·                     Jen and Kat are loved up, but Jen wants Kat to tell people Jen’s her girlfriend

·                     Grace still likes Shelley, but Shelley’s pregnant and won’t take Grace back because she knows Grace likes someone else

·                     Frankie had another one-night-stand with her ex, Helen, who her friends say treat her like s**t, but she has decided NOT TO OBSESS

·                     Emma still has a thing for Andrea, even though she protests that she hasn’t!

·                     Andrea’s not happy in straight-vile with her husband and son

·                     Clare’s still looking for love away from Cornwall

·                     Jude and Cally are happily engaged…Cally just has to tell her parents about it!

So, will you be watching the episodes for yourself? Will you follow the series? What’s your opinion on the entangled relationships? And will we ever find out the reason behind the bar-tender’s philosophical monologues? 

[Editor’s note: Find out all about the Far Out web-series here. ]