Image Credit: BBC
Mitchell and Webb reunite for a new series, Ambassadors, Pavel Kondov is not left disappointed.
Mitchell and Webb’s new TV series Ambassadors takes you on a journey to the British embassy in Tazbekistan – a fictional country in Central Asia. From the nation’s practical immunity to alcohol to the less-than-ideal human rights record, it incorporates all the stereotypes you can expect from a “-stan” country.
David Mitchell and his magnificent beard naturally allocate him the role of the Ambassador, whilst Robert Webb has to make do with the Deputy post and a patched up bald spot. These two, and their entrusted team of specialists, dive into the world of culture shock, diplomatic games and unibrowed foreigners doing funny things. Surely, with such a setup this should be a new ‘Allo ‘Allo!, right?
Wrong! The show’s goal seems to have been throwing in just a little bit of everything.
Image Credit: BBC
There are many joke setups, but few punch-lines; moments of great tension get resolved anti-climactically (and often, humorously), whilst love stories are abandoned as quickly as they are hinted at. Now, this may sounds like it’s a bad thing, but the end result is rather endearing. As a non-genre specific show, Ambassadors is everyday life in a slightly heightened reality. We have episodes of personal drama followed by moments of absurdity, all in the midst of the mind-boggling hell that is the workplace. The series’ lack of commitment to any genre meant it could change mood and pace at will in the name of constant entertainment, the only drawback being its sometimes underdeveloped story lines.
Brilliantly cast, Ambassadors would still be a pleasure to watch if only for the acting. Webb has developed some serious talent while his colleague conquered the TV screens on panel games. Local actors provide for some hilarious Tazbek idiosyncrasies and fantastic British actresses make up the Embassy staff.
Low in pretence but high in pleasure, Ambassadors is a magnificent way to kill an hour or two.
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