Raw when new, ripened with age…
There was sex. And lots of it. There were drugs. And there was rock n roll. With some fine electronica thrown in for good measure. All washed down with plenty of booze. There was love, mostly unrequited, lust, fire and rain. And lots of smashing plates.
And so it goes. Raw finished last night. There have been good and great Irish drama series in recent years (Bachelors Walk, Love is the Drug, Pure Mule etc) but I feel Raw has raised the bar. It looked and felt like a proper series. Not perfect I know but no series is (Sopranos, Entourage included!). it’s flaws were what made it human, maybe. It wasn’t strikingly original yet it still felt current and vibrant. Dublin looked fantastic, modern and thriving. Adjectives which could equally be applied to Raw on the whole.
So Mal left his knives behind him, downed a brandy and walked off into the night. Geoff and Pavel finally got it on in public. How romantic. Laura will be delighted! But JoJo and Bobby didn’t. Series 2 anyone?
One criticism is, I feel, JoJo didn’t develop enough as a character, didn’t overcome any obstacles or learn anything about herself. And for that matter Bobby didn’t really either so they’ve a way to go if another series gets the green light.
And Tiny finally spoke. “I told you so”. Great stuff! Give that lad his own series.
I thought the choice of track (Ian Brown’s The World Is Yours) for the culmination of the closing scene was spot on. A great track. Epic but not over the top. Hats off for that choice and for the series’ soundtrack which was generally excellent. Bring slowly to the boil and stir. Indeed.
On the RTÉ microsite, Raw was described as “a warm and exhilarating 6 part ensemble relationship drama set in the most highly charged of environments”. And it did exactly what it said on the tin. It certainly simmered for six episodes. I’m sure it’ll be back. For some it can’t come soon enough.
Watch all episodes here.
thenationallottie said,
October 14, 2008 at 4:52 pm
This is one I will have to go back to. I watched the first and maybe 4th episode but it came at a time where it clashed with too many other things for me. I have yet to hear someone criticize it.
NaRocRoc said,
October 14, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Hi Lottie, as you may well have guessed I was genuinely quite impressed by Raw! And it seems to have been a hit with audiences. Usually people take any opportunity to slag off RTE programmes but this was seemingly universally popular. So hopefully other dramas match or improve on that standard.
If it is repeated, and I imagine it will be, I’d recommend tuning in. And if you do, come back here and let me know what you think!
Dave R said,
October 14, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I absolutely loved Raw from the first episode to last night. Just the whole Bobby / Rebecca thing bored me a bit (was hoping he and JoJo would get it together last night)
You kind of bond with the characters throughout the series. Even Tiny was a bit of a comic figure, even speaking for the first time last nite!
I heard a whisper from a genuine source that filming of a second series is already underway. Here’s hoping!
NaRocRoc said,
October 14, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Hiya Dave, thanks for the comment. I would be amazed if there wasn’t a second series commissioned. Recession or otherwise! I hope to see it on screen soon enough.
Laura said,
October 15, 2008 at 5:56 pm
ha ha – you’re right – I was delighted about Pavel and Geoff – Thank God – brilliant show – Now we just need Bobby to dump rebecca and fall in love with Rebecca!
Laura said,
October 15, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I meant Jojo – JOJO!!!
Lenka said,
October 15, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Do someone know (by any chance) when will be part 6 on-line on RTE website? Cause it´s not and I´m dying to know how it ended between Pavel and Geoff. Please….
NaRocRoc said,
October 16, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Laura, I’m sure you did! Bit of a Freudian slip (with added capital letters) maybe? !? I don’t know!
Lenka, as far as I can gather it is up on the site now? http://www.rte.ie/tv/raw/
stranded in new york said,
October 16, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Does anyone know how someone living outside of Ireland might be able to catch the last episode (six)? I watched most of episode’s 1-5 on youtube, but it seems that episode six might not make it up. RTE’s site only allows viewing for people living in Ireland : (
thanks.
NaRocRoc said,
October 16, 2008 at 6:09 pm
SiNY, I really don’t know. Maybe some kind soul will post it somewhere or drop by here with a link. Hopefully for those of you who haven’t seen it.
B' said,
October 20, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I suggest you re-watch series one of Bachelor’s Walk before making this claim… it is seriously fantastic.
Love is the Drug was almost as good.
NaRocRoc said,
October 23, 2008 at 6:21 pm
B apostrophe, granted it was a bit of a sweeping statement but I genuinely thought it worked really well as a series. It was technically sound and narratively engaging. The direction and editing were spot on and the performances were usually spot on.
I have Bachelors Walk Series one on DVD and it is great indeed. The writing and characters are better than Raw for sure. I think series 2 & 3 (and an ill-advised Christmas special) tarnished it somewhat, for me at least. But it was very local. And not great technically. So much so the BBC didn’t know what to do with it and dropped off after the first series. Raw I feel is more universal.
Love is the Drug was very good too. But not at the same level. Pure Mule was a great series. Possibly the finest Irish drama series ever. Possibly.
But point taken.
sholok said,
May 9, 2009 at 5:33 pm
hi! i just discovered Geoff and can’t have enough of him! RTE link’s aren’t good for me
can you tell me where else i can watch it?
also, do you know when the second season’s coming out?
cheers!
NaRocRoc said,
May 10, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Hi Sholok, I know it was re-commissioned and is currently being shot around Dublin. So I guess it’ll be back on TV for the Autumn season.
As for where else you can watch it, I’m afraid I don’t know anywhere else to tell you the truth! Sorry!