What I’m Watching: Quiz (Series Finale)

Quiz: Season 1, Episode 3 (B+)

I do wish that this show had been longer since it was very watchable and well-done, but I can appreciate that there are only so many facts – and theories – about what actually happened with this case. I wanted to be more certain about things, but apparently, despite a good deal of incriminating evidence, it’s not universally agreed upon that the Ingrams did indeed conspire to cheat. Helen McCrory’s DC Sonia seemed more than ready to take on their case just for the thrill of being able to defend them, and her arguments were rather persuasive. Diana was quite surprised to learn that she was being filmed, though there wasn’t any damning evidence that she was coughing into a microphone, despite what we saw when it was being filmed and Charles was on stage. What this show did very well was to make us believe we knew what we were seeing and then cast doubt because it wasn’t all conclusive. Charles was very emasculated by his wife and devastated by having to step back from his job, and, from what we saw, it didn’t appear that he was all that complicit in everything. Seeing that one scene where they were reacting loudly to the news on the phone two ways said so much, which is that it’s always possible to find a new interpretation based on the way an argument is presented. Paul’s meeting with Paddy startled him because of just how substantial a percentage of their contestants came from this ring, but he and the other producers all won out in the end because their documentary got very high ratings. Ending with Charles imagining Chris talking to him from the TV and inviting him to “tell us, what’s the answer” was effective, and I’m also left feeling very curious after this informative and thought-provoking piece of historical entertainment.

Series grade: B+
Series MVP: Matthew Macfadyen as Charles

Round Two: Quiz (Penultimate Episode)

Quiz: Season 1, Episode 2 (B+)

I like the way that this story is being presented, and it’s a shame that the entire series runs just three episodes, concluding this coming Sunday. Things accelerated quickly after Charles came in last during the practice round and did terribly overall in rehearsal, but a little time with Adrian’s device at home helped him to get right in the hot seat. Chris wasn’t happy at all when Charles mentioned that his wife was Diana, and more and more of the show staff started to realize that there was something unusual going on as Charles continued to show just how clueless he was about each and every one of the answers. Using his lifelines right away was a sign of risky playing, but Tecwen being right behind him and Diana in the audience meant that he had all the support he needed to steer him away from the obviously wrong answer to all the correct ones so that he could win the million-pound jackpot. Kevin started to notice the coughing and David was panicking about how he could tell that he was going to win when he absolutely shouldn’t, and it only got more interesting and complicated when they had to bring in the lawyers to determine whether it actually is a crime to cheat on a gameshow. David revealing that they don’t search for phones in the audience was met with plenty of anger, though evidently by the end of the episode they figured out what their rights were. Diana calling Paul’s number back because she didn’t believe it was really him showed how clueless she and Charles were about their situation, and I’m curious to see how their lawyer argues that they’re not guilty. This all happening right before September 11th provided an unexpected context, though things did still move forward to get us to the trial that will be resolved in the final episode.

Pilot Review: Quiz

Check out my one-minute take on every new pilot, which is embedded below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.