By Graham Osborne
I wasn’t sure what to expect of this show based on the trailers alone, but after watching the pilot I was glad I decided to give it a try. The titular mimic is Martin Hurdle, played by Terry Mynott, a man in a dead-end job with very little going for him in his social life save for the uncanny ability to mimic various celebrities. At the beginning of the show, we discover that Martin may become a father, about eighteen years late, and most of the show revolves around the consequences of his impending fatherhood. The show isn’t just a vehicle for Mynott’s impressive abilities, all the characters are well written, especially Jean, Martin’s friend, who comes across as a very caring character, if slightly ditsy.
I wasn’t sure what to expect of this show based on the trailers alone, but after watching the pilot I was glad I decided to give it a try. The titular mimic is Martin Hurdle, played by Terry Mynott, a man in a dead-end job with very little going for him in his social life save for the uncanny ability to mimic various celebrities. At the beginning of the show, we discover that Martin may become a father, about eighteen years late, and most of the show revolves around the consequences of his impending fatherhood. The show isn’t just a vehicle for Mynott’s impressive abilities, all the characters are well written, especially Jean, Martin’s friend, who comes across as a very caring character, if slightly ditsy.
The first episode is focussed on Martin possibly becoming a father, meeting his son and performing the DNA test. “If I am your dad” says Martin during their first meeting “I want to do all the dad stuff I missed out on. Like teaching you how to ride a bike, or wiping your bum.” The introduction of the potential offspring leads to Martin trying to better himself; he asks for a promotion at work and begins to get fit. He refuses to do impressions to anyone though, because he’s scared they’ll think him weird.
The impressions really are the highlight of the show. Of particular note is the argument over who would be better at narrating March of the Penguins; Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones, with the conclusion that Morgan Freeman should continue the narration, as James Earl Jones would “sound insane”. Also of note are Terry Wogan wishing he was back in Phuket with “a lady boy on each knee” and Ronnie Corbett stuck in a letterbox.
The show doesn’t feature a laughter track, a breath of fresh air compared to the sitcoms from America that appear to be dominating Channel Four at the moment. It was also described by one of my housemates as “like a really, really high quality student film, with a decent budget”. The series does feel like it could easily turn out to be a cult classic and I look forward to seeing more.
The Mimic airs tonight, 10pm on Channel 4.
Catch Episode 1 now on 4oD.
The impressions really are the highlight of the show. Of particular note is the argument over who would be better at narrating March of the Penguins; Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones, with the conclusion that Morgan Freeman should continue the narration, as James Earl Jones would “sound insane”. Also of note are Terry Wogan wishing he was back in Phuket with “a lady boy on each knee” and Ronnie Corbett stuck in a letterbox.
The show doesn’t feature a laughter track, a breath of fresh air compared to the sitcoms from America that appear to be dominating Channel Four at the moment. It was also described by one of my housemates as “like a really, really high quality student film, with a decent budget”. The series does feel like it could easily turn out to be a cult classic and I look forward to seeing more.
The Mimic airs tonight, 10pm on Channel 4.
Catch Episode 1 now on 4oD.
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