The fourth and final episode of Shane Meadows’ four part series THIS IS ENGLAND ’86 saw redemptions and reconciliations as England face off Argentina in the infamous ‘Maradona’s hand of God’ match in Mexico.
It opened with the trademark blend of drama and comedy; as director and creator Shane Meadows cuts from Combo and Shaun and Trev to Woody and Milky spooning each other as Lol looks on.
Then to Lol’s rapist father, mumbling to himself in the kitchen. Lol’s mother tries to talk to him, but he snaps at her at tells her (in a less PG rated way) to leave him alone. Lol’s mother is one of those women who would drive anyone mad; a man by her side is as necessary as oxygen.
Milky is a good guy, but his character in the television series is utterly flat, used only as a plot device so Lol can express her helplessness. If Lol and Woody are his best friends, why does he seem absolutely guilt-free about sleeping with Lol. I think Meadows tried to answer this in his conversation with Lol, but was I the only person who found it odd that he should be so eager for Woody to marry Lol that day.
I did like the scene where Woody and Lol confronted each other about hiding their feelings. It was very well acted, even if the quirk of a parrot in the background was annoying.
Trev tells Lol about the rape. I can’t help feeling manipulated. It is obvious Trev’s rape was constructed purely so Lol would have a reason to aggressively confront her father. As well acted as it was, it was sickening to watch, especially as a clip in a montage of Trev mouthing the event to Lol, Milky and Woody on scooters, Combo in the bathroom, over some music. And then, just in case the audience was not spoon fed enough sap, we switch to to Lol’s sister Kelly sleeping in bed with the father talking over her.
Combo returned to visit his mother, but was too late. His mother passed away. As Shaun brushes away tears it is clear that despite everything Shaun still thinks of him as a surrogate father.
Meanwhile at the church (oh yes, the wedding has been arranged), Lol is nowhere to be found. She has gone to confront her father. The scene itself was great: the single camera, the natural dialogue, the blocking. She then accuses him of being a rapist. She pulls a hammer out of her pocket, but he tackles her before she can use it. As he violently attempts to rape her, she picks up the hammer and bashes it over his head repeatedly, until his face is covered with blood. And whilst he’s still shaking, she hits him again, and he is dead.
Meanwhile, Combo comes to the house and breaks the door down. He then prepares to take the fall for Lol (whom, in the film, he harboured feelings for) and proceeds to sabotage the evidence; putting his and Lol’s father’s fingerprints all over the hammer, pressing Lol’s father’s hand to his face, choking himself with it.
Meanwhile, a newsreel shows the preparations for the England versus Argentina quarter finals. Lol, Kelly, Trev, Milky and Woody play poker together, the rest of the gang convene in the pub. Meanwhile, Combo is sent back to prison for manslaughter, redeeming himself, Shaun and Michelle have sex in the bathrooms.
And that it that. This Is England ’86 initially had me so thrilled it was almost like JK Rowling had announced an eighth Harry Potter. Then the second and third episodes provided a grating mix of comedy and drama, used rape as a plot device (twice) and ended with a predictable bloody death, redemption for Combo and a toilet tryst for Shaun. I loved the characters in the beginning; by the end most of them infuriated me. I know many people love love love This Is England ’86, but I am not one of them.
What did you think of the finale? Will you be signing the Facebook petition for another season, or are you glad to be rid of it? Let me know in the comments below!
Follow me on Twitter @CiaraMoyna
Please make sure to read our comment policy before posting a comment.