SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Really Surprised!

Nice effects though.

Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

I recently watched both seasons of Saxondale and remember thinking after completing series one that it was surprising that it got a second outing. I wasn't overly impressed with that first season at all, finding Steve Coogan's depiction of the central character too overdone, while his fake hair and beard offputtingly silly. So I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that the second season was so good. Not just better by comparison but actually very funny and better written. It was immediately improved by Coogan dispatching with the wig and going for a more natural look. It made him look a lot younger than in the first season which maybe doesn't make sense but was much preferable.The set-up centres on an ageing 70's ex-roadie called Tommy Saxondale who still believes he is still fighting the system but who in reality is now a subcontracting pest exterminator. The character is more sympathetic than is typical of Coogan. He's a little more self-aware and intentionally humorous than the likes of Alan Partridge, although he does still share many of the facets of that character such as an arrogance and self-importance. Like Coogan creations in general Tommy Saxondale is a well observed character with lots of specific traits that make him seem quite believable and not too cartoonish. There are some good side characters to enjoy too. Some of the best of those are there essentially to antagonise Saxondale, such as Vicky the woman who gives him his work details played very well by Morwenna Banks; she consistently gets the upper hand on him, outwitting him mercilessly in a hilariously passive aggressive manner. I also enjoyed his neighbour who cringingly tries to talk to him on his level before bringing up some minor complaint.All-in-all, this has to be considered a success. It definitely improved in various ways by season two and I would even daresay it had legs for a third season also. It certainly has to be considered one of Coogan's best creations outside of Partridge.

The Character that Steve Coogan has created, or rather perfected, for Saxondale is deeply, profoundly demented. But it's Coogan's mastery of the nuances of bitter, disillusioned, middle aged neurosis that makes his character so appealing, so universal. It's impossible not to identify with the short tempered, self centered, frustratingly inflexible, outrageously arrogant exterminator. It's hilarious, the ease with which his chatty, oddly attractive dispatcher presses his buttons - perhaps lovingly teasing him - and undermines his ruggedly assembled self-image. It's like watching a Medieval fortress collapse under the weight of a butterfly.Saxondale's life is all behind him. He lives in the past where all his great heroes and great ideals were born and died, along with his philosophy & references & hair style & car. Actually, the yellow fast back Mustang is quite cool. He is now nearly alone in a shallow & tedious world of semi-intelligent optimists; his once fiery passions doused by the forces of mediocrity, or so he would tell it. His wife owns an alternative lifestyle shop where she conceives tee shirt slogans to shock and disgust the straight world. She does this with the casual innocence of a florist. She tests his patience but somehow avoids his wrath because, well, he loves her. His rage unleashes at the most absurd inappropriate moments, usually after someone has failed to grasp the stunning genius of one of his savagely witty quips. It's a hostile hybrid of The Office's David Brent and any other show in the history of broadcast TV that featured a misunderstood dreamer. An undervalued, little recognized, criminally ignored treasure of a programme that saved me from many a laugh-less evening. Series 2 actually surpasses the first. One of my all time favorites, that grows more wonderful each time I climb aboard for another action packed adventure in the fast paced world of pest control.

Steve coogan is mainly known for being Allan Partridge- a character he and his brilliant team Armando Ianucci, Patrick Marber, Rebbecca Front and Doon McKickan developed over a period of ten years to perfection. This growth of the character plus the genius of mainly Marber as an actor were one key to the Partridge success. Saxondale is his first stand alone character to go through two complete series. Saxondale works surprisingly well. The ex roadie turned pest controller with an anger management problem is unlike Allan not a character you laugh at but you laugh with- in other words he is "funny but with dignity". A lot of the ideas are very original and Coogan is a master in creating expectations of what will happen next and then not doing it not unlike the late John Hughes. The first series is entertaining but not great. Hardly ever do you laugh out loudly but some of the gags stay with you and make you chuckle for quite a while. One of the reasons why series 1 doesn't quite deliver is that Coogan over acts Saxondale. The second series however is superior in essence. The timing of the gags and jokes is perfect, again the standard of writing is very high and Coogan is more restrained than in the first series which makes it much funnier, like the conversations with his nighbour when Saxondale deadpans every attempt at humour. Each show begins with a very funny anger management therapy session and also has an exchange between Saxondale and dimwit secretary Vicky played very well by Morwena Banks.

Tom Saxondale is a middle-aged man with memories of being a roadie in the 1970's. He struggles with his temper and does weekly group sessions to try and control it. He drives a Mustang, lives in Stevenage, works as a subcontractor for a pest control company and is quite a boring man with a kinky side and a belief that he is cool and outside the system. When he takes on young Raymond to help him with the business he and wife Mags also agree to let the lad stay in their spare room.Steve Coogan is normally worth a look and this most recent series is a solid British comedy that is recognisable and funny without being totally on the mark or sharp. The plots are mostly pretty thin and each episode is more about being a couple of set pieces based on the characters being who they are. In regards a narrative then the series probably doesn't have the legs to stand as a great comedy but it is certainly a fine one. The characterisation is where the strength is and, although he is a bit like Partridge, Saxondale is his own man and is recognisable as the type of man who wants to be seen to have his rebellious streak while also embracing his middle-age. He is a bit boring, selfish and easily frustrated and many viewers will be familiar with people like him. He is supported by a quiet teenager, a scathing secretary and a forgiving wife and their characters are quite important as well. These characters are used in similar ways in each episode and, although a bit samey, it is amusing if only occasionally producing big laughs.Coogan works well with his own material and understands his character well. As a writer he could have made more of it but as actor he is convincing and suitably unappealing. The script didn't always convince me as to why he has the people around him that he does. Specifically why he manages to appeal to Magz was a mystery although Jones did well to cover that up by giving her character an appropriate manner. Hardiker is better because his character is less forgiving of Tommy or rather has less time to humour him – aside from his he also carries off the "YTS" characteristics very well. Banks is pretty funny and, although she has a very one-note character, she does hit the "crude small office b*tch" pretty much on the head.Overall this was an OK series but not one I would rush back to. Saxondale was an interesting character but it wasn't as "real" or insightful as I would have liked. The series produced chuckles but rarely brought out belly laughs from me. Distracting and entertaining fare from Coogan but doesn't have the legs to get many more series if any I'd guess.