[pressgang] Episode 8- How To Make A Killing - Part 2

[Vince Deehan]

PRESS GANG

Series 1

Episode 8 - How To Make A Killing - Part 2

Watched Saturday 12/3/22

Sorry, very late again with my copy. So late, that I haven’t yet watched
Katta’s reaction video. Though I will watch it once I have jotted down my
own thoughts here.

The episode started with a shot of the very impressive house that Jenny’s
family live in. I was struck by how unfamiliar this whole scene was to me.
Almost seemed like I was watching a lost episode that I’d never seen
before. Just goes to show how few times I’ve seen this particular episode.
It’s not one of my favourites, that’s for sure. Spoiler Alert - none of my
most watched episodes are from series 1.

Jenny’s family live in a very posh area, as you would expect. I enjoyed the
scene with Kenny and Jenny (hey, it rhymes!) walking through the wide and
tree lined street. Beautiful looking area. The kind of area you can imagine
the characters from British sitcom classic THE GOOD LIFE living in.

It’s remarkable just how young Sadie Frost looks and sounds, given that she
is around 23 years old at the time of filming and was, I believe, already
married to Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet!

The scene where Billy asks Kenny if he has a photo of Jenny starts out
creepy but ends up really poignantly when he tells a story about how his
accident derailed his love life. When he says at the end of the scene “Good
luck with the lady”, it’s so sad. Though before he says

this line, Kenny reacts to his sad story by just saying “yeah” and quickly
moving on. Kind of funny but in a good way, as in an inferior show Kenny
would have gone all maudlin and teary but that is so not Press Gang and
also Billy doesn’t want our pity.

Very funny scene where Spike is coaching Sarah into toughening up and
pretending tobe a glue sniffing ruffian. Dexter’s acting is so brilliant in
this scene. When he says to Sarah, “You’re tough! You’re mean! You’re
street!”, I burst out laughing.

I noticed in one scene that there is a young man sitting next to Billy who
helps him, by putting on his headset, the one he uses to control his
computer. I read online that Andy Crowe, who played Billy, “had a
successful career as a support adviser and disability equality
practitioner.” Cool guy.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a806944/press-gang-where-are-they-now-itv-what-happened-to-the-journalist-kids-in-steven-moffat-debut-show/

Sniffing Glue? Is that still a thing? It was very much a thing when I was
growing up. You’d hear about it so much, that I probably tried it myself
but thought better of it. I wonder if it was indicative of a more innocent
world when drugs were not as seemingly so accessible as they are now? I
can’t imagine there are many teenagers today sniffing glue?

It’s not a very exciting episode and it’s no wonder that I watched it so
rarely. It’s a well written story with a strong message about the dangers
of sniffing glue. I wonder what made Steven Moffat write such a story. Was
it his idea or was he asked to do it?

Thanks for reading to the end.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Vince

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnxD1JDosgQ

https://youtu.be/hd1ciPnTGKg
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