Cabin Pressure, series 4
Feb. 15th, 2013 12:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kindkitI somehow managed to forget that the last episode of series 4, "Yverdon-les-Bains," aired on Wednesday, and I didn't listen to it until today.
It's seemed clear to me for several episodes where the show is going: Martin will get and take the job at Swissair, freeing Benedict Cumberbatch for all the other roles he's getting now that he's a big star; MJN will not fold because Herc will take early retirement from Air Caledonia/Swissair and take over Martin's position as unpaid captain (with the advantage that unlike Martin, Herc doesn't need the money). That's why this series has kept mentioning Herc's dilemma about whether to move to Switzerland or to stay with Carolyn, and it's also why Douglas's dislike of Herc has been played way up whereas in series 3 they seemed to get along all right. Finnemore is at least setting up the possibility of continuing the show in a new configuration, with Douglas and Herc echoing the early tensions between Douglas and Martin but with Douglas no longer having so much of an advantage. Whether Cabin Pressure will actually continue after episode Z is a question even Finnemore probably doesn't know the answer to, since it all depends on the BBC and the actors, but I'm reasonably sure the option of a CP without Martin will be left open.
I was expecting a resolution in this episode, with episode Z ("Zurich," almost certinly) as a kind of epilogue and goodbye, so the cliffhanger was frustrating. Yet it's also a lovely bit of Martin characterization, that he would consider giving up his great professional and personal opportunity for the sake of his friends at MJN.
Because "Yverdon-les-Bains" carried so much weight of expectation and dread, I found it hard to listen to. In fact I found bits of it--Martin's job interview segments--impossible to listen to, both because of my embarrassment squick and because I am almost as terrible as Martin at interviews and I don't need reminding. Martin's "I'll keep trying" speech was great, though, as was Douglas's moment of Martin-ish behavior and all the MJN crew's mixed feelings as they try to wish Martin well even though they don't really want him to leave. (Douglas's "You're a captain, but you're not my captain" to Herc was priceless and much more revealing than I think Douglas realized.)
I don't want the show to end; I don't even really want it to change. But I haven't loved series 4 as much as the previous series; it's felt unbalanced, overly burdened by foreshadowing of an ending and a perhaps too-strong focus on Martin as the character most likely to leave. Like it or not, the show has changed already. If it does continue past Z, it'll be interesting to see what kind of new balance Finnemore can strike with his (I presume) changed ensemble.
It's seemed clear to me for several episodes where the show is going: Martin will get and take the job at Swissair, freeing Benedict Cumberbatch for all the other roles he's getting now that he's a big star; MJN will not fold because Herc will take early retirement from Air Caledonia/Swissair and take over Martin's position as unpaid captain (with the advantage that unlike Martin, Herc doesn't need the money). That's why this series has kept mentioning Herc's dilemma about whether to move to Switzerland or to stay with Carolyn, and it's also why Douglas's dislike of Herc has been played way up whereas in series 3 they seemed to get along all right. Finnemore is at least setting up the possibility of continuing the show in a new configuration, with Douglas and Herc echoing the early tensions between Douglas and Martin but with Douglas no longer having so much of an advantage. Whether Cabin Pressure will actually continue after episode Z is a question even Finnemore probably doesn't know the answer to, since it all depends on the BBC and the actors, but I'm reasonably sure the option of a CP without Martin will be left open.
I was expecting a resolution in this episode, with episode Z ("Zurich," almost certinly) as a kind of epilogue and goodbye, so the cliffhanger was frustrating. Yet it's also a lovely bit of Martin characterization, that he would consider giving up his great professional and personal opportunity for the sake of his friends at MJN.
Because "Yverdon-les-Bains" carried so much weight of expectation and dread, I found it hard to listen to. In fact I found bits of it--Martin's job interview segments--impossible to listen to, both because of my embarrassment squick and because I am almost as terrible as Martin at interviews and I don't need reminding. Martin's "I'll keep trying" speech was great, though, as was Douglas's moment of Martin-ish behavior and all the MJN crew's mixed feelings as they try to wish Martin well even though they don't really want him to leave. (Douglas's "You're a captain, but you're not my captain" to Herc was priceless and much more revealing than I think Douglas realized.)
I don't want the show to end; I don't even really want it to change. But I haven't loved series 4 as much as the previous series; it's felt unbalanced, overly burdened by foreshadowing of an ending and a perhaps too-strong focus on Martin as the character most likely to leave. Like it or not, the show has changed already. If it does continue past Z, it'll be interesting to see what kind of new balance Finnemore can strike with his (I presume) changed ensemble.
no subject
Date: 2013-02-19 01:27 am (UTC)Even if Martin remained, I'm unsure if the show could uphold the fun if it continued. I know the whole Cumberbatch factor is an issue with the scheduling woes, and if Martin were re-cast, there would be epic gnashing of teeth and unfortunate demonstrations. But then again, I'd love more Cabin Pressure!! I feel so conflicted. CURSE YOU, FINNEMORE!!