The Oxford Dictionary definition of a party (noun) is a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment. The meaning was determined by English Professors at Oxford University, coincidentally enough, the same university that the imminently departing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson attended. Johnson, former leader of the Conservative Party, also attended an infamous party during lockdown; following in the esteemed footsteps of his Oxford forebears, though, he'd insist on redefining the word with a simple addition: 'a party is NOT a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment.' What a fortuitous stroke of serendipity.
'Partygate' was just the tip of the political scandal iceberg, though. Americans and Brits, historically, are transatlantic cousins, allies, and (the rhetoric will have you believe), family members; like family members, they are constantly trying to outdo one another, and in recent years, outdoing each other in the most shameless ways imaginable. From impeachments and inciting violence (or, at worst, a coup), to having drunken parties during a national lockdown and all sorts of sexual sleaze, neither nation has exactly covered itself in political glory recently. Scandal always seems to be lurking around the corner, and with British politics currently in a state of disarray, the brilliant political satire The Thick of It has never looked so accurate.
The Thick of It
The Thick of It satirizes the internal affairs that go on within ministerial office in the UK government. The fly-on-the-wall sitcom offers a hilarious depiction of the lives of both the minister and advisors in the fictitious Department of Social Affairs. Running for four seasons, the show is believed to have taken inspiration from the 1980s political satire, Yes Minister.
Having built its reputation on its dry humor and utter profanity, The Thick of It has withstood the test of time and kickstarted many careers; its creators and writers have gone on to make such shows as Veep, Succession, Fresh Meat, and Breeders (and one of its main stars, Peter Capaldi, went on to become the titular Doctor Who in a successful run). The Thick of It still remains as outrageously funny and politically scathing almost two decades since it first appeared on television screens.
Political Improvisation
While The Thick of It delivers a comical perspective of inner government goings-on, it almost unintentionally highlights the true level of improvisation and incompetence of some of the highest-ranking officials and members of authority. Improv isn't meant her strictly as an acting style (though the actors did improvise), but rather how clueless and reactive politicians can be. The show acts as a spotlight and theatrical exposé of what politics can really be like, with petty and vindictive behavior, spur-of-the-moment manifesto creations, and slapdash improv. The characters react spontaneously to crises, making things up on the spot, often just causing more damage and chaos as a result.
Arguably the saddest (albeit the most ironic part) of the mockumentary-style show is that even the worst conduct on display in The Thick of It isn’t a patch on the devious escapades of current politicians and political aides. It certainly speaks volumes when the government of the day has you yearning for the relatively “normal” storylines of a satirical political drama.
The Cast of The Thick of It
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As with any sitcom, it is the characters that truly shape the experience of watching it. The casting of Peter Capaldi as the hilariously tyrannical Malcolm Tucker is the coup de grâce of the series, but The Thick of It is stacked with incredible and hilarious performances: Chris Langham as the bumbling, out-of-his-depth cabinet minister Hugh Abbott, Chris Addison as Oliver Reeder, a fresh-faced aide with wit aplenty, and Terri Coverley (Joanna Scanlan) as the quirky secretary… and that’s just in the first two seasons.
With the addition of Nicola Murray (leader of the opposition) completing the set, The Thick of It comprises a cast that complements each other perfectly, hurling some of the most imaginative profanity at each other one could imagine. Striking the ideal balance between the belligerently natured antihero of the show, Malcolm Tucker (who oozes the qualities of a merciless director of communications), and the flapping, impolitic ministers who constantly seem destined to fail, and who never learn from their mistakes.
The Thick of It and The Simpsons Effect
Whether it be the winners of the Super Bowl, Donald Trump’s assumption of the US Presidency, or the invention of Autocorrect, the makers of The Simpsons have always had a canny eye on what the future may have to offer civilization. The accuracy of their future forecasting has become quite the commonality which, for a cartoon, is perhaps a little concerning. Similar to Matt Groening’s five yellow cartoon beings, The Thick of It and its five protagonists also attained a perceptive nous for foreseeing future, real-life cabinet happenings. If you hadn’t realized already, the British government has become quite the laughingstock over the last six years, and has seemingly excelled itself in the last two weeks, if that’s even possible.
In the series’ maiden episode, the implementation of new policies is the focal point, where the actors are scrapping around, improvising random joke policies that might save their bacon; according to writer Armando Iannucci, three of those policies became actual law within five years of the show being aired. From what is now known as the Bedroom Tax, to Pet ASBOS (Antisocial Behavior Orders), The Thick of It was always one step ahead of the curve and seemingly went off the predictable inclinations of modern-day parliament. A hilarious political masterpiece with a wonderful cast, the show is only a little less funny when you realize that the contemporary world is just as dark (if not more) as it predicted; as a cover article for The Big Issue states, "We're all in the thick of it now."