Warning don't read unless seen episode.
This is one of the best (one of the only best) episodes of the show I like. I'll admit when I heard about the film "Yesterday" I instantly thought about his episode, kind of makes me wonder if the writer and Danny Boyle ever saw this show.
But I really did like the concept, the family has come to a province which has little to know forms of entertainment. There are zero to no other genres in music as for TV there is nothing on except news and talk programs; I honestly would hate to live in this province, no video games to play or any book worth reading, to me it would be a living hell.
We see one reason why the province they're in is such a dull world as there is church that is running the province called the "Church of Artificial Intelligence". This is obviously a satire on the issue of Church and State making a deadly combination; though also this strangely is prolific on the Scientology cult.
This is a church that has not just Church and State combined but also Science as well; this so called religion as we hear in a clip has prohibited a lot of things, worst of all freedom of choice, thinking and even feeling all to stop the remote possibility of any change. In this church's corrupt mind, the totalitarian way is the best way to spiritual peace; I guess this church missed a commandment or two. Gina and Trace are the change the province sorely needs.
In a way this episode is a bit of a wish fulfillment fantasy as this world really does give Gina and Trace the grand opportunity to become instant rock stars. Which makes sense as Rock N' Roll is nonexistent in that world; it means less competition. And of course, we see Gina and Trace rise in the music world, along with a bump on the road or two. Like the songs sung which are really well sung as there are some familiar songs but there are a couple of original songs as well; my favorite one is "Rock N Roll will never die" which perfectly fits this episode.
Really like the agent/manager character, he's a lot of fun. I really like that he's not some stereotypical money-grubbing blowhole agent/manager which I've seen one time too many. Even though the guy fancies he's newfound riches he doesn't let it get to his head, we see he isn't doing it for the money (well a little but that's not bad) but he's a person that really sees big pictures and wants to make them reality, but recognizes something special and good and wants it shared with everyone because it does belong to everyone.
Really like the themes of the episode like about taking responsibility for what you begin but also not letting yourself get lost in your own fame. There is a little subplot with Trace and this girl, which shows the empty nature of fame. In one the girl asks Trace for a new dress and some other things, we see a sad look on Trace which really made me feel bad for him, even liked at that moment there was this dispenser that was defective when Tony pushes a button again it dispense some unedable candy or something; the state of that machine shows the state of their relationship not working, but also what Trace is to her a fancy looking machine that dispenses candy.
Trace really shows the humane side of him; he wants a girl to like/love him for him not because he's famous or for what he can give her. Really liked in the last scene when Tony gives the girl an envelope and she opens it and there is nothing. She has a look of disappointment and makes a snide reply toward him but Tony he blows her a kiss but it's a hollow blow kiss as you see no feeling in his eyes; the empty envelope and that blown kiss was sort of Tony's way of saying, "Your loss" and it really is the girl's loss because she lost something more valuable than money.
But the other thing about the episode is it's simply a love letter to rock n roll and how much of an impact it has made throughout the years and continues to. As long as there are more voices that want to be heard and admires of the music, Rock N Roll will never die.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
This is one of the best (one of the only best) episodes of the show I like. I'll admit when I heard about the film "Yesterday" I instantly thought about his episode, kind of makes me wonder if the writer and Danny Boyle ever saw this show.
But I really did like the concept, the family has come to a province which has little to know forms of entertainment. There are zero to no other genres in music as for TV there is nothing on except news and talk programs; I honestly would hate to live in this province, no video games to play or any book worth reading, to me it would be a living hell.
We see one reason why the province they're in is such a dull world as there is church that is running the province called the "Church of Artificial Intelligence". This is obviously a satire on the issue of Church and State making a deadly combination; though also this strangely is prolific on the Scientology cult.
This is a church that has not just Church and State combined but also Science as well; this so called religion as we hear in a clip has prohibited a lot of things, worst of all freedom of choice, thinking and even feeling all to stop the remote possibility of any change. In this church's corrupt mind, the totalitarian way is the best way to spiritual peace; I guess this church missed a commandment or two. Gina and Trace are the change the province sorely needs.
In a way this episode is a bit of a wish fulfillment fantasy as this world really does give Gina and Trace the grand opportunity to become instant rock stars. Which makes sense as Rock N' Roll is nonexistent in that world; it means less competition. And of course, we see Gina and Trace rise in the music world, along with a bump on the road or two. Like the songs sung which are really well sung as there are some familiar songs but there are a couple of original songs as well; my favorite one is "Rock N Roll will never die" which perfectly fits this episode.
Really like the agent/manager character, he's a lot of fun. I really like that he's not some stereotypical money-grubbing blowhole agent/manager which I've seen one time too many. Even though the guy fancies he's newfound riches he doesn't let it get to his head, we see he isn't doing it for the money (well a little but that's not bad) but he's a person that really sees big pictures and wants to make them reality, but recognizes something special and good and wants it shared with everyone because it does belong to everyone.
Really like the themes of the episode like about taking responsibility for what you begin but also not letting yourself get lost in your own fame. There is a little subplot with Trace and this girl, which shows the empty nature of fame. In one the girl asks Trace for a new dress and some other things, we see a sad look on Trace which really made me feel bad for him, even liked at that moment there was this dispenser that was defective when Tony pushes a button again it dispense some unedable candy or something; the state of that machine shows the state of their relationship not working, but also what Trace is to her a fancy looking machine that dispenses candy.
Trace really shows the humane side of him; he wants a girl to like/love him for him not because he's famous or for what he can give her. Really liked in the last scene when Tony gives the girl an envelope and she opens it and there is nothing. She has a look of disappointment and makes a snide reply toward him but Tony he blows her a kiss but it's a hollow blow kiss as you see no feeling in his eyes; the empty envelope and that blown kiss was sort of Tony's way of saying, "Your loss" and it really is the girl's loss because she lost something more valuable than money.
But the other thing about the episode is it's simply a love letter to rock n roll and how much of an impact it has made throughout the years and continues to. As long as there are more voices that want to be heard and admires of the music, Rock N Roll will never die.
Rating: 3 and a half stars