This Is England ’90 Review: Episode 2 ‘Summer’

Last week’s episode of Shane Meadows’ latest installment of the THIS IS ENGLAND franchise, THIS IS ENGLAND ’90, set the scene for our gangs revival and slowly injected hints of drama in the way of lingering close ups and the echoing chimes of its trademark macabre score.

Meadows’ fierce fans are well used to his unapologetic, yet well handled nature of unveiling often gruesome subject matters and so were left chomping at the bit for more hard hitting narrative to come into play and it’s certainly within last night’s second episode that the true troubles of the series are beginning to unfold. 

We’ve had our spring and now Britain’s working class summer is filled with the birth of rave culture, excess in casual drug use, the static movements of rave dancing and a new kind of party; one that’s wholly accessible for our favourite gang of loyal friends.

A theme of contrast and growth run throughout the episode as we see the two halves of the gang indulge in juxtaposing activities of summer time fun. On one side, the older members of the group, Milky, Woody and Lol, continue to create their own little family; with Lol acting as an eternal backbone. This acts as an enjoyable contrast to the drug-fuelled romp that the likes of Harvey, Shaun, Kelly, Gadget and Trev are embarking on as they make their way to a rave. 

These two separate narratives really help to demonstrate exactly where each character is in the way of their journey from 1983 to 1990. Not only does it create a narrative drive for this particular episode but it wonderfully demonstrates the extent of character development that Meadows has invested in the likes of Woody, Milky and Lol. Having seen them go through immense pain within each segment of their journey, there is such a sense of joy in their happy family home that its with immense trepidation the first chimes of chaos begin to ring as Combo’s possible return threatens to unbalance their happiness. 

The rest of the 90’s family help to represent the total non-glamour and yet hilarity of Britain’s working class youth as they attempt to find their way to a pill popping, shag promising land of pure rave. With Harvey acting as chauffeur and Gadget donning a battered A-Z Map, their journey to hedonism helps to represent a time before Googlemaps navigated our entire life’s journey and they find themselves utterly lost, with Higgy and Flip crashing their private party also. Instead of strobe lights, florescent paint and glow-sticks, the gang stumble across a pagan festival which boasted bare breasts, fire dancing and an excuse to party. 

As predicted, it’s within this country side setting that Chanel Cresswell‘s Kelly really stands out as this season’s focal point of drama as darker themes begin to infiltrate the otherwise idyllic setting of no inhibitions fun.

The beginning of the episode sees Kelly waking up after a one night stand with an older man, experiencing the glamour of a dingy mattress on the floor as she then begins her morning in the pub with a large gin and tonic. What’s so interesting about Kelly’s character, and what Meadows will so skillfully tap into, is that we’ve never seen her true reaction to the absolute horrors that have exploded around her. With the murder of her Father and Lol’s attempted suicide, Kelly’s reaction is like a ticking time bomb that has finally exploded within her, poisoning her happiness and leading her down a path of absolute self destruction.

With Kelly separating from the group at the camp site, her high begins to lesson as we fall into a down turn with her. An almost fish eye lens helps to distort the reality of the situation as Meadows’ clever use of editing and cinematography lulls us into a false sense of security as hazy images of Kelly alone with a group of men, smoking cocaine become intensely sinister. Three men surround her as she inhales herself into an almost unconscious, dazed state as they take vile advantage of her. Group sex scenes are cut with images of Kelly’s father and it’s clear to see just how damaged she is from the events of her past, the rumours of her father’s actions and the desperation in her attempt to understand the casualties of everyone’s past. 

The next morning is a stark reminder of reality, as the birds sing in the peaceful countryside setting, it’s clear that Meadows’ traditional exploration of difficult subject matters is well and truly back. The highlight of the episode comes from an unlikely source as we find Kelly processing the events of the night before only to be joined by Gadget, played by Andrew Ellis, who gives a wholly emotive and tender performance as she comforts a distressed Kelly. While she insists she consented to the sex, it’s clear that her vulnerable state has alarmed Gadget as he mirrors the sorrow the audience feels at her situation. Ellis gives Gadget such a sweet nature and it’s a real pleasure to see a different side to his character. 

With Kelly taking centre stage within the episode, it’s easy to forget about some of our original characters, but Meadows does a brilliant job of nodding at the pain Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) continues to experience.

At the very beginning of the episode Shaun learns he hasn’t made it back into college and through his outburst at his mother, we learn of the real extent to his sadness, as she reveals he was on anti-depressants. While in the countryside, we then see Shaun open up to a sweet, older stranger about the loss of his father, something that has never really been tackled past the frustration within the original film. It’s easy to forget about the horrors of Shaun’s past and Meadows gives a wonderful nod to his audience that he continues to pour love and concern into his original characters. 

Meadows continues to create a wonderfully worrying tone of apprehension within the final montage of our gang as Combo’s return and Kelly’s tragedy weigh heavy on our hearts. With just two episodes left to the series, it’s clear that Meadows intends to amp up the drama in true brazen fashion and with the series most likely being the last, it’s going to be a turbulent journey for all involved. 

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