Hello everyone
I’ve got some TV for you to watch.
It’s somewhat out of the ordinary—and it’s in Welsh—but it’s worth watching. However, before I get to Dal Y Mellt (that’s what it’s called) I need to mention Happy Valley.
Happy Valley
I’m not going to talk about Happy Valley because (rightly) it has been talked about elsewhere, and—if you’ve seen it—I don’t need to tell you how good it is.
But if, for some unknowable reason, you haven’t seen Happy Valley, please rectify this omission immediately. You will find a great series with a gripping storyline, and a genuinely satisfying conclusion. And the performances are outstanding, especially the two leads Sarah Lancashire as Catherine Cawood and James Norton as Tommy Lee Royce, who both should win all the awards.
At its heart, Happy Valley is a simple—but utterly gripping—story about a grandmother seeking to protect her grandson while mourning the death of her daughter. Beyond that, there are many layers and twists that make the series worth watching.
You can find all three series of Happy Valley on the BBC iPlayer (if you’re in the UK or can VPN into the UK).
Once you’ve watched Happy Valley, then wait a few days for Dal Y Mellt which is coming to Netflix next month.
Rough Cut
When it reaches Netflix Dal Y Mellt will be renamed Rough Cut.
The story is about Carbo (Carwyn), a youthful car thief and habitual criminal played by Gwïon Morris Jones, who is drawn into murky world by a group of people who know much more about his background than he does.
The Heist
In many ways, this series could be seen as being about a heist.
However, the heist is less significant in the context of the story—it’s more of a device to propel the wider drama and to bring in the backstory of the characters. In particular, it’s a useful tool to show how all the other characters know so much about Carbo and his background.
While the heist is secondary, there are many heist tropes which make the story enjoyable.
The main heist trope (after the heist itself) is the broad and somewhat disparate cast of characters. The “gang” comprises seven individuals, each of whom has a reason for wanting the heist to be successful. There is friction and tension between the group which, of course, runs the risk of undermining the whole operation.
After Carbo, there are two standout characters:
- Mici (played by Mark Lewis Jones), a former soldier still suffering with PTSD, and
- Les (played by Graham Land), something of a loser who (despite being well into middle age) still lives with his mother.
One element that’s appealing about the heist is that it is plausible. It’s a small robbery which can be executed by the group of characters with their motivations and skills.
The story of a small scale robbery gives an interesting take on the genre—this is nothing like your usual improbable Hollywood heist.
The Budget
I don’t know how much it cost to make the series, but I’m guessing the budget was tiny. I see this as an advantage.
The series doesn’t show any of the features of a big fat budget: there are no special effects, there are no “big name” (in other words, expensive) actors, there are no expensive locations, and there are no big studio sets. Instead, we have a small company of actors with a well written script, and a well thought through production all set against a backdrop of glorious Welsh countryside.
Without a big budget, there is no necessity to make huge profits. This means the show can take even more risks and there is room for a very gentle humor to permeate the series.
Writer
And on the subject of that gentle humor, the screenplay was written Iwan “Iwcs” Roberts, based on a book of his by the same name.
I can only find the novel in Welsh, but I’m looking forward to seeing what Iwcs writes next!
Violence
One interesting aspect of the production is the violence—or to be more accurate, the lack of violence. If you watch the trailer, then you might get the impression that there is more violence in the show than there actually is.
In truth, there is very little violence. There is a regular threat of violence, but apart from one or two minor scenes where fists are thrown, there is little to be squeamish at. And if you’re worried about blood, then apart from Carbo’s bloody nose which he receives in the first few minutes (you can see the injury in the trailer), there’s no blood.
Watch
If I’ve whetted your appetite, then you might want to check out:
- the trailer
- or better still, watch the first eight minutes
Until April
That’s me until April. I’ll leave you to go and watch the TV.
All the best
Simon