Spaced
From Free net encyclopedia
Template:Infobox British television
Spaced is a British television situation comedy written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, directed by Edgar Wright, and broadcast on Channel 4. It is notable for its almost constant dropping of pop-culture references. Two series of seven episodes have been broadcast (in autumn 1999 and spring 2001). The first series was a nominee for Best TV Sitcom in the 1999 British Comedy Awards.
Contents |
Situation
Tim Bisley (Pegg) and Daisy Steiner (Stevenson) are two London twenty-somethings who meet by chance whilst both are flat-hunting. Despite barely knowing each other, they pretend to be a young "professional" couple in order to gain a (surprisingly cheap) flat in the distinctive building at 23 Meteor Street, and impress the landlady, Marsha Klein (Julia Deakin). Also living in the building is Brian Topp (Mark Heap), an eccentric conceptual artist; and frequent visitors are Tim's best friend Mike Watt (Nick Frost) and Daisy's best friend Twist Morgan (Katy Carmichael). The series largely concerns the colourful and surreal adventures of the two as they navigate through life and decide what they want to do with their lives, come to terms with affairs of the heart, and try to figure out new ways of killing time in largely unproductive ways. Tim and Daisy repeatedly stress that they aren't a couple, but despite (or because) of this, romantic tension develops between the two characters, particularly during the second series.
Main characters
Tim Bisley
(Played by Simon Pegg): Tim, an aspiring comic book artist, amateur skateboarder and passionate follower of cult fiction in many forms (including video games, science fiction and especially - at least initially - the original Star Wars trilogy), is a rather grumpy and short-tempered soul, mostly because his girlfriend Sarah broke his heart and dumped him after an affair with her boss - and Tim's friend - Duane Benzy. He's currently writing and illustrating a graphic novel about a boy who has been transformed into a giant mutant bear and the crazed 'doktor' trying to find him to replicate the experiment, but hasn't actually tried selling it because he's afraid people will laugh at both it and him. A traumatic incident in his childhood when attempting to cure a fear of dogs merely left him terrified of dogs, lightning and bamboo instead. He initially works at a comic book shop, the "Fantasy Bazaar" alongside the manager/owner Bilbo Bagshott (played by Bill Bailey). In the second series he landed his dream job as a graphic artist at Dark Star Comics. He demonstrates more of a work ethic than Daisy and has an adverse reaction to Twiglets, which make him violent.
Daisy Steiner
(Played by Jessica Stevenson): Daisy is an aspiring writer, although she tends to spend most of her time actively avoiding doing any writing or any other actual work. Whereas Tim is often grouchy and sour, Daisy is sunny, enthusiastic and cheerful, and at times overwhelmingly so. She considers herself to be quite intellectual. She has a tendency to babble in conversation, making social interactions rather more difficult to navigate than they necessarily have to be. Her greatest desire was to go to India and see the Taj Mahal, a goal which she accomplished between series one and two.
Marsha Klein
(Played by Julia Deakin): Marsha, the permanently sozzled landlady, is never seen without a lit cigarette in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. Once a promising young athlete, she retired from athletics after receiving a leg injury and became a groupie instead, resulting in several marriages that ended somewhat bitterly and a teenage daughter, Amber, with whom she is near-constantly arguing. She passionately lusts after Brian, an attraction which stems from a hazy, torrid incident in the past where rent negotiations became somewhat more sensual as a result of Brian's sheer poverty. She's utterly delighted to have new, young friends, which is slightly awkward as she's the only one who doesn't know that Tim and Daisy aren't actually a couple.
Brian Topp
(Played by Mark Heap): Quietly spoken and intense, Brian gives the impression of being almost psychotic and sociopathic; in fact, he's just very shy and timid. A rather bizarre and somewhat pretentious conceptual artist, he acts appropriately tormented and angst-ridden, particularly when Marsha's lusting after him. His main artistic drives are anger, fear, pain and aggression, and his art is, according to him, 'a bit more complicated' than watercolours. He is in love with Twist, and embarked on a torrid relationship with her before they broke up midway through series two. Despite this, his sexuality is quite complex and frequently alluded to throughout the series, as he seems quite undecided at times. When asked if he's gay he replies that he is not, but in a manner that suggests he thinks he ought to be.
Mike Watt
(Played by Nick Frost): Mike is Tim's best friend in the whole world. He wishes dearly that he could join the army but unfortunately, owing to a painful incident in their past which damaged his eyesight, he's ineligible and must instead console himself with membership in the Territorial Army. The first series revealed that Mike had been thrown out of the TA owing to an incident involving manouevres in France, a stolen tank, EuroDisney and a rich, socially disconnected fantasy life of Mike's own creation. By the end of the first series however he was readmitted and even gained his sergeants stripes. He is very protective of Tim.
Twist Morgan
(Played by Katy Carmichael): Twist, Daisy's best friend, is (in the words of Tim) either 'sweet but stupid or an evil genius'. She 'works in fashion' (i.e. a laundromat) and is an atrociously superficial 'fashion fascist'. She rarely misses an opportunity to comment on Daisy's size, weight or clothing choices - usually negatively. It's unclear how Daisy and Twist met - or, indeed, how they've managed to remain friends all this time. Although she and Brian are social opposites with apparently incompatible fashion sense, they did have an intense love affair which ended badly. It is alluded though that they both still love each other.
Episode guide
Series 1
- Beginnings - Daisy and Tim meet in a small cafe and bond over their mutual search for accommodation (he's been kicked out by girlfriend Sarah, she's a squatter desperate to escape her down-and-out acquaintances), and gradually form a friendship. Just when all seems lost, they stumble upon what seems to be a perfect place - trouble is, it's listed as being for a 'professional couple' only. Thus begins a complicated plan involving faked photos and memorizing every significant (and not-so-significant) fact about each other in order to pass themselves off as a long term couple in order to fool Marsha, their prospective landlady. To their mutual surprise, it works.
- Gatherings - In order to avoid doing any actual work, freshly unpacked Daisy plans a housewarming party - something to make their home the new hub of north London. Unfortunately, all of Tim's friends are busy attending skateboarding meets or sci-fi conventions (except for Mike, present to provide much-needed door security), and Daisy's media contacts extend about as far as the paperboy (except for Twist, present to provide much-unneeded fashion put-downs), so there's hardly any guests (except for Marsha, present to provide much-needed alcohol consumption, and Brian, present to provide much-needed critiquing of Daisy's baco-foil decorations). Meanwhile, Marsha's daughter Amber is throwing her own party which provides no contest to the housewarming party (such that it is one). For one thing, her party doesn't have the Time Warp.
- Art - After accepting some cheap speed from some violently friendly Scottish blokes, Tim has spent all night fighting zombies (well, playing Resident Evil 2) and Mike has somehow managed to get to Sheffield on The Tube. Daisy has a job interview at a classy woman's magazine and Brian has an invitation to a new art show by Vulva, his former partner and non-gender-specific-ex-chaste-heterosexual-lover. This causes much angst and feelings of inferiority all around. "Girl Power!" fails to impress the magazine editors, Brian's much-practiced air of indifference fails to impress Vulva, and Tim's Twiglets allergy and hallucinations of zombies leads to Vulva getting a much-deserved punch in the face. (Guest starring David Walliams as Vulva.)
- Battles - After getting dumped by her boyfriend Richard (which, given both how wet he was and the amount of times she cheated on him, was a long time in coming), Daisy decides to cheer herself up by getting a dog. Having suffered a fear of dogs since childhood, Tim is not pleased by this. As Daisy bonds with an interesting little dog she calls Colin (named after the pet box she had as a child), Tim and Mike go paintballing, and encounter Tim's arch-nemesis, Duane Benzy, the man who stole Tim's girlfriend. By the end of the episode, Mike will have made the (sort-of) ultimate sacrifice, Tim will have had his revenge, and Brian will have imparted the tragic, yet artistically interesting, tale of his own dog's horrible death. (Guest starring Peter Serafinowicz as Duane Benzy)
- Chaos - Daisy is strongly bonding with new dog Colin, much to Tim's displeasure. Forced to take Colin out on a walk in an effort to bond with him, Tim is rather alarmed when Colin disappears after Tim challenges aliens to abduct him. When Daisy won't speak to him, and when he receives an anonymous tip-off revealing Colin's location - in the hands of a ruthless, sinister cosmetics testing scientist - he plans a daring rescue attempt in order to redeem himself. Will they succeed? Will a psychotic Marxist dog reveal itself? And more importantly - will Tim let Mike's callsign be Han Solo? (Guest starring Bill Bailey as Bilbo.)
- Epiphanies - Tim's bicycle courier friend Tyres pops round for a cup of tea and decides to takes the gang clubbing, forcing Brian to relive a terrible event in his past (where a spilled drink during Dexys Midnight Runners' "Come On Eileen" had disastrous results). Mike, thrown out of the Rough Ramblers following a disastrous eskimo roll (which was more a case of 'rolling right Inuit'), rediscovers his manhood with the help of some Ecstasy and a remix of the 'A-Team' theme. And Tim and Daisy have their eyes opened.
- Ends - Tim is ecstatic when his ex-girlfriend Sarah decides she wants him back; Daisy is less so, causing much tension around the flat. Mike has an interview at the Territorial Army to determine whether he should be allowed back in following the 'Eurodisney' incident. Following a heated argument, Daisy finally manages to bash out a few articles, and Tim finally realizes the right path for him. And Brian summons the courage to ask Twist out on a date which, against all expectations, actually goes quite well.
Series 2
- Back - After receiving an injection of money following the sale of her articles, Daisy returns from her holiday in Asia, but finds it hard to settle back into the mundanity of her normal life after her adventure. Tim has been struggling with his issues with George Lucas and The Phantom Menace (which saw him ceremonially burn his Star Wars merchandise), and after being chucked out of home for shooting his cat up the rear end, Mike has been sleeping in Daisy's room, managing to turn it into Apocalypse Now. Things are not normal, and those sinister black-suited Agents following Daisy are about to make things even more surreal. (Guest starring John Simm as Stephen Edwards, and Kevin Eldon and Mark Gatiss as the Agents).
- Change - Following a dispute with a young customer over Jar Jar Binks merchandise and Tim's inability to cope with the Star Wars prequels, Bilbo fires Tim. Daisy is trying to get money out of the Job Centre people, despite not having signed on to the dole for three months due to her holiday. Brian is horrified to discover that his relationship with Twist is affecting his artistic output. And after Amber runs out, Marsha finds herself a new lodger - Mike. (Guest starring Bill Bailey as Bilbo.)
- Mettle - Tim and Mike are through to the quarter finals of Robot Wars, but conflict with Dexter, a TA rival of Mike's, may jeopardise their chances. Daisy lands a job in the kitchen of a restaurant, and immediately comes into conflict with the quietly evil manageress. Brian struggles to prepare an artistic installation at a trendy gallery. In order to triumph against their foes, Tim and Mike must enter the dark underworld of Robot Wars - Robot Club. Activate. (cameos by members of The Bluetones as Robot Wars geeks)
- Help - Dark Star Comics supremo Damien Knox wants to see Tim's portfolio, so Daisy's unwitting and inadvertent decision to put an unflattering portrait of him back into Tim's portfolio is probably not the most helpful thing she's ever done. Both Tim and Mike must enlist Tyres in a daring attempt to recover the item before it is uncovered, but discover that they have an unexpected ally in Knox's beautiful assistant, Sophie. Marsha, meanwhile, invites Daisy out to join her with her exercises, which quickly leads to a vicious, no-holds-barred fight.
- Gone - After Sophie calls to cancel a date (leading Tim to instantly decide she's sleeping with her boss), Tim and Daisy spend a night out in Camden but find themselves in trouble with local youths and Tim's nemesis Duane. Meanwhile, Mike loses Colin. Only the similarities of the male psyche can save them now.
- Dissolution - Tim and Sophie's relationship is gradually getting closer, something which is noticed by Daisy, Mike and Marsha. Daisy and Mike are both hurt and jealous by this, and Marsha (who still believes them to be a couple) is horrified for Daisy. Brian and Twist have broken up; Brian is devastated, Twist less so. Events finally come to a head at Daisy's birthday party, with a drunken confession and a painful betrayal.
- Leaves - The group is now scattered; Twist is in Manchester, Sophie's going to America, and Marsha is selling the house and moving on, and only something 'bloody spectacular' will change her mind. Daisy, hurt by recent events, accepts a job at a small newspaper in Colwyn Bay and prepares to leave London. But just when all looks lost, Mike comes up with a bloody spectacular idea.
Style and references
References to popular culture — particularly but not exclusively to science fiction and horror films, comic books and video games — abound in Spaced to the extent that the DVD of Series 2 includes the "Homage-o-meter", an alternative set of subtitles listing every reference and homage; for the "Definitive Collectors Edition" DVD boxed set, the Homage-o-meter was added to the first series as well. Providing the artwork for Tim's comic 'The Bear', drawings and doodles were 2000 AD artists Jim Murray and Jason Brashill, who also provided other incidental artwork for the show.
Spaced has a distinctive cinematic style set by director Edgar Wright and shot (unusually for a sitcom) with a single camera. In addition to borrowing liberally from the visual language of horror film, it has particular stylistic mannerisms like the recurring device of scene changes occurring in the middle of a pan. The series' atmosphere is also established by the use of a particular flavour of contemporary electronica on its soundtrack.
The series is also noted for its regular references to recreational drug use, from its title onwards: Tim and Daisy are shown smoking cannabis on a number of occasions, the plot of "Art" is built around the after-effects of a night taking amphetamine, and "Epiphanies", while not showing any explicit drug-taking, is full of references to the effects of ecstasy. The drug-taking goes unremarked, as a normal part of the characters' lives, which is no more significant than the caffeine intake on Friends.
Quotes
- [Discussing Daisy's fears]
Tim: You're scared of mice and spiders, but oh-so-much greater is your fear that one day the two species will cross-breed to form an all-powerful race of mice-spiders who will immobilise human beings in giant webs in order to steal cheese.
[As he says this, an animated version of the situation is shown; a reference to the Guide extracts in the BBC TV version of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.]
Daisy: I didn't say that.
Tim: No, but it'd be good, wouldn't it?
- Tim recieves a call from Mike, who is using a pay-phone.</br>Tim: "Where are you?" </br> Mike: "Er, Sheffield." </br> Tim: "What are you doing in Sheffield?" </br> Mike: "I fell asleep on the Tube." </br> Tim: "The Tube doesn't go to Sheffield, Mike. </br> Mike: "Yeah, I know. I must've changed at King's Cross."
- Robot Club Leader: "Welcome to Robot Club. The first rule of Robot Club is: You do not talk about Robot Club. The second rule of Robot Club is: You do not talk abo... wait a minute, I've got that wrong... the second rule is: No Smoking." [reference to Fight Club]
Tim: "Why are we not allowed to smoke?"
Mike: "Not supposed to talk about it."
- Mike is performing an inkblot test at a TA re-recruitment interview.</br>Mike: "Guns. Bombs. Guts. Guts and guns. Butterfly..." </br> He hesitates, noting a look of disapproval on the interviewer's face.</br>Mike: "...butterfly with a bomb!"
- Duane's mobile phone rings when he's about to sneak up on Tim in paintball.
Duane: "Saved by the bell."
Tim: "Aren't you gonna answer that?"
Duane: "I've got an answering service."
Tim: "You've got an answer for everything."
Duane: "I can't believe you just said that."
- Tim: "I hate the Time Warp."
Mike: "Daisy likes it."
Tim: "So what? I hate it. It's boil-in-the-bag perversion for sexually repressed accountants and first-year drama students with too many posters of Betty Blue, The Blues Brothers, Big Blue and Blue Velvet on their blue bloody walls!"
- Tyres: "Don't come your post-feminist art-school bollocks with me, Sunflower, if thats your real friggin name! I work for a living, what do you do?"
Daisy: "Erm... ac-actually, I'm a writer."
Tyres: "Oh, so in other words, you're on the dole!"
- Brian: "I'm trying to avoid cliches by not actually placing my brush on the canvas. I'm using my penis."
Tim: "Finally!"
Brian: "Do you want to see?"
Tim: "No, I'm about to have my tea."
- [discussing Brian's clothing]
Brian: "Do you think I should lose the waistcoat?"
Tim: "I think you should burn it. Cos if you lose it, you might find it again."
- [meeting Brian for the first time]
Daisy: "Do you rent downstairs?"
Brian: "Do you mean, am I gay?"
Daisy: No, no, I meant, are you renting the downstairs flat?"
Brian: "Oh right, yep. Sort of."
Tim: "Are you gay?"
Brian: (Hesitantly) "Noooo...."
Trivia
- Colin, Daisy and Tim's dog, is in real life female, and named "Ada", however was incorrectly called "Aida" on the credits.
- Simon Pegg and director Edgar Wright both made cameos in George Romero's Land of the Dead, after referencing his Living Dead series of zombie films in the opening sequence of the "Art" episode (series one). This sequence, also influenced by the Resident Evil video game, later inspired Pegg and Wright's movie Shaun of the Dead, a comedy homage to the Romero trilogy.
- Peter Serafinowicz, who stars in Spaced as Tim's nemesis Duane Benzie, references his voice-over role as Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace when, in the "Gone" episode (series two), he utters his lines from the film: "At last I will emerge the victor! At last I will have revenge!"
- Actor John Simm appears in the episode "Back", as a man Daisy meets at the airport, but has absolutely no dialogue. Keith Allen appears in the first series, in a flashback as Tim's evil father. He musters a growl.
- Tim Sampson, the Native American actor who appeared in the restaurant-based homage to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (episode "Mettle" in series two) is the son of the actor, Will Sampson, from the film version. Tim was in the area playing in the stage version when Spaced was shot.
- A three-disc DVD special edition was released containing both series and bonus features. At the end of the main bonus feature, after the credits, Tim and Daisy open their front door, with a baby in Tim's arm. Tim then says "I love you" and Daisy gives him a kiss. This is assumed by many to be the end of Spaced, although some argue that this is a "teaser".
Future
A third and final series has been eagerly requested from fans and considered for some time by the cast and crew (with Simon Pegg joking that it would end with a Blake's 7 style shoot-out) but a rumoured movie is not on the cards. Edgar Wright told the official fan website spaced-out that he is "torn" about making more Spaced and that "we have genuinely talked about it and have some neat ideas that could work in a Before Sunset / Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? kind of way".
Many see the movie Shaun of the Dead as essentially a spin-off of the series, featuring many of the same actors and set out in much the same way. Wright, however, points out the differences: Shaun has many fewer pop-culture and movie references, and tries to avoid the clichés of recent horror parodies in favour of a more naturalistic style as its story progresses.
The success of Shaun of the Dead was unexpected, both in Britain and America, and they proceeded to produce a second movie entitled Hot Fuzz. However, there have been no formal or significant commitments to a third series of Spaced and as such, there is little evidence at time of writing to suggest that Spaced will be returning in any form in the near future.
In a 2006 Radio 4 interview, however, Simon Pegg stated that he’d like to bring Spaced back for a one hour special to "tie up all the loose ends [1]".
External links
- Spaced Out - official, fan-operated website
- Edgar Wright Q&A on the Spaced Out forum
- {{{2|{{{title|Spaced}}}}}} at The Internet Movie Database
- Spaced - the potted history - from Blather.net
- Location of Tim and Daisy's flat - On DigiLondonnl:Spaced