Series Three for me was bigger and better! The reunion of these chaps was really great to see and how the friendships they had created between one another still remained intact 15 years later. I felt that Bill Nighy playing the slimeball Jeffery Grainger was superb and suited it down to a T! I also enjoyed Noel Clarke's character Wyman as he filled the gap of Wayne and completed the seventh presence. I have been reading previous posts on forums based on Series Three and some members say that Jimmy Nail had a lot of influence into Series Three because it was he and Franc Roddam that came up with the concept of Series Three and feel that it was all on Jimmy, hence Oz leading the way on the bridge scheme, etc. But I personally feel that it wasn't only Jimmy that had the spotlight, it would also on Timothy Spall. I felt that throughout all six episodes, Tim Spall was very convincing as an actor portraying the troubles that Barry went through with his marriage and how he trouble holding himself together. It showed me that he had come along way from when we saw him playing the young bumble Brummie Barry Taylor and became what I would call an original actor. For me, he shone like how Bill Paterson shone when he played Ally Fraser in Series Two (Tim, if you're reading this or Shane - thank you!)
Series Four for me was still as good, though not as funny as Series Three but still just as brilliant. The spy story involving Neville was brilliant and the love story between Oz and Ofelia was as original as you could get. For me, the moment was when Dennis and Oz had the fallout, which showed that after all these years Oz still needed Dennis as his rock (even though he got Dennis out of the hole he was in) and it was great to see them friends again. A lot of people disliked Series Four but it reminded me of Series Two in a way.
However whatever your views are, at the end of the day we should all be grateful for what they have given us in the revival years. I am glad that they came together all those years later and had the energy to come back as their old characters and give us more memories, laughs and tears. I think we've become a bit ungrateful - we know we change as we get older and the world around us changes but be blessed with what they gave us and enjoy it because to tell you the truth, we will never see the Magnificent Seven together again and it's sad! Embrace Series Three, Four and The Special as much as you can! - or try to at least...
Happy Days!!
