Party Animals: Complete BBC Series 1 [DVD]

I was a fan of this when it first aired on BBC2. It is a drama set against the backdrop of politics, focussing on young Labour and Tory members. The central characters are brothers Danny and Scott Foster. Danny is an idealist, working for Jo Porter Labour junior minister at the Home Office. Scott worked for the party, but left to join Templeton Carter, a lobbying firm, and is cynical about politics. Their late father was a labour MP for the Northern Constituency of Sedley. Ashika Chandiramani is special advisor to James Northcote, tory shadow minister. She is smart, ambitious, and future tory candidate. When Scott is urged by his boss to build up some tory contacts, he arranges a meeting with James Northcote. James sends Ashika in his place, and the attraction between Scott and Ashika is obvious from the start. When the sitting Labour MP for Sedley dies, and a bye-election is called, Ashika gets the tory nomination, and Scott is drafted in by the labour party to run their campaign.

This drama is funny, sexy, well written, and beautifully acted by established stars such as Patrick Baladi (The Office) and Raquel Cassidy (teachers) Peter Wight and new talents, Shelley Conn, Matt Smith, Andrew Buchan, Andrea Riseborough & Clemency Burton Hill Andrea, Pip Carter. It's a shame that BBC didn't decide to go with a second series, but this series can stand alone. I've deducted one star from my rating, because the music, which was such an integral part of the series as broadcast (Razorlight, The Guillemots, Aha amongst others) has been changed on the DVD version. Disappointing, but I presume a rights problem...even still drama doesn't get much better than this.

Loved this - real grown-ups' telly and I don't mean lots of sex and gore as in how something like Torchwood is supposed to be "grown-up", but rather in the sense of being wise, thought-provoking, perceptive, politically realistic and about ideas and human nature. Not often that you get something so witty, grown-up, engrossing and ENTERTAINING on the box. The visuals and the acting were so convincing it felt like you were there, and I found I became very involved in it. There were sympathetic characters to engage with who would then go and do something unacceptable which was shocking but you could understand how they had got there. There were also plenty of out-and-out horrors who nevertheless had their moments of compassion so, like life, you never knew what was coming next. The drama was never pushed to the point where it lost credibility and some scenes still stick in my memory - like what happens to someone moments after a drunken argument. Another scene where the lovers are stealing time (and the opportunity to have sex) in a white room in a country house, and although the relationship is all wrong, you can see how they got there and why that place and time has its attraction. It was a convincing portrayal of the nitty-gritty of politics from constituency meeting to Westminster. The whole thing is shot for realism, and it works, so even the style expresses the mores and obsessions of our time. Couldn't believe it was such a short series, and couldn't believe it didn't make it to a second series - what is WRONG with our tv culture that this didn't "succeed"? I am so glad it is out on DVD. I'm sending it to my mum because she loved it too. So there.

When Party Animals was first broadcast on BBC2 it passed me by completely. It wasn't until it got a repeat run on BBC4 that a friend told me I should watch. I'm beyond glad that I did.

It basically intertwines the personal lives of the central cast with a glimpse of the political rivalries that are so prevalent in Westminster. Jo Porter is a Labour MP with a dry sense of humour who is fast approaching complete exhaustion, with her work and with her life generally. Her researcher Danny is utterly faithful to her. Kirsty, a second researcher (more of an intern) joins Jo's office and Danny soon develops a crush. This provides one of the central plot lines of the series - the geeky, lust-struck puppy who longs for his aloof, manipulative colleague. It's an interesting dynamic and Matt Smith (now better known as Doctor Who) plays the role of Danny with spark whilst Andrea Riseborough is infuriatingly difficult to decipher as Kirsty, but it's Raquel Cassidy as Jo Porter who steals the show, flitting between gritty determination to succeed and manic depressive alcoholism via way of some fabulously unpredictable mood swings.

Jo has something of a rivalry with Conservative MP James Northcote (well known TV face Patrick Baladi). Unfortunately James isn't an especially interesting character, and is mostly rather weak and delusional, sure that he can enjoy the best of both worlds with both his wife back home in Devon and his researcher Ashika. That said it's refreshing that the MP having an affair isn't portrayed as a sleaze, just as a regular man in love (or so he thinks) with two people. Shelley Conn, however (you may know her from Mistresses or Strike Back) gives the performance of her life as Ashika, a vastly complex woman with ambitions way beyond being a political researcher which will ultimately mean the end for she and James. Also working for James is Matt Baker, a gay researcher who comes under stick from fellow politicians for his sexuality. However the programme avoids stereotyping once again, and Matt is portrayed as a grounded, dedicated worker who stands by Ashika regardless of where her career takes her.

Rounding off the cast (and probably the most central character) is Scott Foster. He's Danny's brother and a lobbyist who is quickly becoming severely disillusioned with his work. A tragic event at the beginning of the series takes him on a personal journey which is only enhanced when he strikes up a relationship with Ashika - this despite her being a Conservative, whereas Scott's own father was a Labour MP. Andrew Buchan gives a truly standout performance in the role, and has quite rightly since gone on to enjoy success in a host of television drama such as The Fixer, Garrow's Law and most recently The Nativity.

Not one of the eight episodes is a filler; each one drives the plot forward whilst continually developing the characters. By the end of the series the dynamics have changed so much that it could almost be a different show, and yet it totally works, possibly because the episodes cover quite a large time span during which much changes in these peoples' professional lives. Beautifully shot, outstandingly acted, intricately storylined... I could go on but I'd be here all day!

I'd go so far as to say it would earn a place in the Top 10 television dramas ever made. It's such a crying shame that it never received the publicity or audience it so deserved. Buy it - you won't regret it.