Douglas is Cancelled, ITV review — Hugh Bonneville faces trial by Twitter in sledgehammer satire
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Rarely does a funny show on ITV remind us of a famous book from the 20th century. But the new mini-series "Douglas is Cancelled" has a similar story to Milan Kundera's first novel, "The Joke," which was published in 1967. Both stories are about men who are investigated and shunned for making a casual joke in what they thought was a private conversation. Ludvik, a student, ends up in front of a Communist party court because of his "fatal fondness for silly jokes," while Douglas, a well-known news presenter played by Hugh Bonneville, faces a trial by social media platform Twitter.
In contrast to Kundera's clear confirmation of Ludvik's harmless joke, writer Steven Moffat chooses to keep things ambiguous in his four-part series. Throughout the show, Douglas is criticized on social media for making "extremely sexist" comments at a wedding, but the true nature of his words is not disclosed until the very end of the series.
The uncertainty about Douglas's supposed mistake not only keeps audiences aware of the difference between the story and reality, but also enables Moffat to expand the range of his wit. He criticizes both "cancel culture" and the arrogant middle-aged men who consider themselves the authorities on humor, truth, and even the definitions of feminism and misogyny.
The show starts with Douglas's producer, Toby, and his wife, Sheila, trying to deal with a crisis in a chaotic manner. However, their efforts to control the situation are disrupted when Douglas's co-host, Madeline, puts out a statement that appears to bring more attention to the accusations, while also expressing support.
In the beginning of the series, Madeline seems clever and eager to take advantage of the older man's love for her. However, in the third chapter, there is a sudden change in the story's focus. Instead of fast-paced conversations, it becomes a tale about the harmful effects of insinuation and the suffering caused by being involved in something wrong.
Looking back to three years ago, we find ourselves in the same room as Madeline during her job interview. In a matter of minutes, the awkward laughter that filled the room quickly turned into a feeling of fear as the person interviewing her began to make suggestive comments and subtly hint at potential consequences.
When you see these unsettling scenes, you can't help but question why Moffat didn't decide to present the entire series as a serious drama. It's not necessarily because the shift from comedy to a much darker tone is abrupt - that is clearly the intended, unsettling effect - but more so because it doesn't quite hit the mark as a comedy from the start.
Many times Moffat chooses to use a heavy-handed approach instead of a subtle one, especially when poking fun at Gen Z. He often relies on exaggeration instead of clever satire, leaving talented actors like Simon Russell Beale and Nick Mohammed with one-dimensional, over-the-top roles typically found in silly comedies. What begins as a promising story reminiscent of classic literature ends up feeling unoriginal and similar to mediocre sitcoms.
Starting on June 27th at 9pm, you can catch the latest episodes on ITV1. Don't worry if you miss an episode, you can also stream it on ITVX. New episodes will be available weekly for you to enjoy.
