Auf Wiedersehen Pet: The Complete Brand New Series [DVD] [1983]

Most of the harsh reviewers seem to have forgotten that the original AUF WIEDERSEHEN PET, shown in 1983, was the product of the truly grim and despairing climate of Thatcher's Britain, especially Up North (remember 'The Boys From The Blackstuff?'). It was a wry social comment set on a shabby building-site in Düsseldorf, and most of it took place around or after sunset; naturally it was mostly dark to 'suit the mood' of the time. Series Two was a lighter-hearted continuation, but set in southern Spain with sunny outdoor scenes - nice 'n bright, etc., again to suit the then-burgeoning mood of a society coming out of a bad recession.

Two decades later, the economy and social climate are a lot brighter again, although Series Three successfully incorporates several of today's bugbears: asylum-seekers, Russian mafia, and drug-dealing. Okay, so one of the actors died and his character cannot be around anymore - but I thought 'Wyman' was both a good successor and a Good Idea to inject some of today's spirit of youth. And, in remembrance, Wayne (Gary Holton) is mentioned at least once in each of the six episodes.

The old characters are still there, of course. Jimmy Nail, especially, obviously relished reviving the loud Oz - "reformed character" or not, his big booming gob is still Oz! Tim Healy still looks permanently constipated as disillusioned gaffer Dennis. Timothy Spall does a good turn as the self-satisfied nouveau-riche entrepreneur, but ultimately self-deluding and garrulous ... well, as 'our Barry! Indestructible 'Bomber' (Pat Roach) unfortunately reminds us that time takes its toll. Hassled-at-home Neville (Kevin Wheately) reflects much of Britain's 'industry' today: his and Brenda's company sell prefabricated houses manufactured abroad via the Internet. And eternally scratching-around Moxey (Christopher Fairbanks) still witters-on in a semi-fantasy world of lines from famous films, beautifully delivered in his Scouse accent.

The dry wit is still there, too. Moxey: "I sold me cello" and "I'm not stupid - just strange." And there was the almost heartfelt anguish of a Tranmere Rovers supporter, forever doomed to exist in the shadow of Liverpool and Everton.

That Eagle-of-the-North thingy is supposed to represent the new spirit of the North, right? (personally, I think that monstrosity looks like something that escaped from a Nuremberg rally) Well, so was AUF WIEDERSEHEN PET Series Three. When it was on TV in the spring of 2002, it was sheer delight throughout! I really think it would not work to have made Series Three grim and dour with a miserable socio-economic sub-message à la 1983, however light-hearted. As Neville succinctly remarked to living-in-the-past Dennis, "This whole area used to be pit villages. Everybody worked for the colliery. [...] Now all the men wear hairnets and pack airline meals. Everything's changed, Dennis - deal with it."

You gotta look ahead; you cannot keep making Model-T Fords, you know ...

Anyway, back to the DVDs. Must concur with Other Reviewers that the two discs are presented as the barest of minimalism - less than the Play All and Episode Selection options is virtually impossible. The odd trailer for Mark Knopfler's CD The Ratpicker's Dream is not even selectable; it was simply part of the last episode. There is NOTHING extra at all, not even the inlay leaflet with chapter listings. Very disappointing that there is, for example, no interview with, or exposé by the writers as to why they decided on this very belated Series Three. No cast interviews or comments. No comments from the Native Americans - how might they have felt to be part of a British cult TV series! Maybe there could have been some short documentary on the Transporter Bridge (which is still in Middlesbrough). Or perhaps just listings of what the actors have done during the past years. There definitely should be more.