This Life - 10 years on

I woke up today thinking about This Life. I am very excited about the Ten Years On programme which is going to air on the 2nd January. Though it's a "really hope it's as good as I want it to be, mustn't get too excited" kind of anticipation. I'm not alone, the BBC's press office reckon they've "never seen such rampant interest in a show" and there have been a several articles whipping up the excitement and providing glimpses of what we can expect (like these from the Telegraph and Guardian).

Loads has been said about how groundbreaking and zeitgeisty the show was, but my love of This Life is deeply personal. When I think about it or watch a re-run episode, it's like looking back on a fondly remembered ex-boyfriend, it makes me revisit my younger self. The characters and their stories reflected my own aspirations, dilemmas and issues. Seeing them acted out in a way that was so fresh, was simply thrilling. These were people like me, just starting out, trying to work out a way to live (with themselves and with each other).

I don't think I've ever cared so much about TV characters. They were just so wonderfully, perfectly real. Egg and Milly were like flip sides of my psyche: Milly the part that believes there's a clear path, that by working hard, doing the right thing, reading the right books I will achieve my goals; Egg was the nagging doubt, the feeling that this kind of ambition is all a bit hollow, that there must be an easier, more interesting, more fulfilling way. Miles was an arse, but seeing him battling his conscience made him an attractive and appealing arse - his self doubt was always peeking through his arrogance and this made us love him. Anna was everything I wanted to be - complicated, clever, sexy, confident, daring, provocative. She was simply amazing.

I can't wait to catch up with them again, to find out how they're dealing with the issues that this life is throwing at us today. I so hope I'm not disappointed, I'm risking a lot by daring to hope it will be great. The premise for them reconnecting (via a documentary about Egg's autobigraphical book) is genius, absolutely perfect. I'm not wanting or expecting resolutions, I want to see older, wiser reflections; complicated and messy emotions; and new challenges. They wouldn't make it unless they could do it well. Would they?

Comments

[beeker]

Aha! The day is here. I am almost too excited. Can we discuss tomorrow please?

[helenltaylor]

Oh absolutely - great idea!

[Andrew]

I'll be joining in that one. Pleeeaase let it be good.

[Open to everyone]

They showed a generation of twentysomething themselves, it was just so accurate. Can they do it again now they're thirtysomethings? God let's hope so.

[richard parker]

Am I alone in thinking +10 sucked somewhat?

[Annie - London Underground Blog]

I was actually pleasantly surprised. I thought it started off fairly lamely but got into its stride when the arguments flared up. The Anna & Warren scenes were good, although Anna in general seemed to be much less fiery than I was expecting.

Miles was basically the same (apart from the hair) after a while - I thought he would be all chilled out & happy being rich, but was still an arse.

It was a bit disappointing to have the "Friends" style happy ending with Egg & Milly though and was about the only thing which grated with me.

Would be keen to know how other people felt about it though.

Metro thought it sucked

[Helen]

Richard you're definitely not alone - most of the critics agree with you!

Annie, glad you were pleasantly surprised. I've got mixed feelings which I've posted here http://comfortabledisorientation.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/so_whats_the_ve.html#comments

In hindsight starting another thread wasn't a great idea - I'm blown away by how many people have googled This Life and landed here today!

[Ijonas Kisselbach]

I thought it was rubbish. As fan of the original I was sadly disappointed. Badly written script, over-the-top acting. Soundtrack too obvious.

Rather than being a celebration of the original its become a stain on it.

I recently watched Clerks & Clerks 2. Although the sequel was imperfect, it was a far better exploration of "what happened to them 10-years on".

[Jim Bob]

What was the track they played blasting out in the kitchen?

[Helen]

Jim Bob do you mean when Egg was cooking? If so there were a couple by The Killers but I can't remember which tracks (possibly Mr Brightside and Indie Rock & Roll)