Douglas is Cancelled offers only sermons, moral binaries and easy answers – review
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With all the tension in the world right now - political conflicts, environmental crises, and technology taking over human tasks - there is a lot to be concerned about. But for some people, nothing is scarier than the idea of cancel culture. This is the focus of Steven Moffat's latest ITV series, Douglas is Cancelled, which explores the consequences of a harmful rumor.
Hugh Bonneville plays the role of Douglas Bellowes, a friendly and charming TV presenter similar to Eamonn Holmes. His on-screen partner is Madeline Crow, a determined young journalist played by Karen Gillan. Their close relationship is tested when rumors start circulating on social media that Douglas made a sexist joke while intoxicated at a wedding. As they try to handle the situation, secrets about their show Live at 6 begin to surface. Sheila, played by Alex Kingston, describes Madeline as the photo desk's best employee. Toby, the producer portrayed by Ben Miles, and Bentley, the agent played by Simon Russell Beale, work frantically to protect Douglas and their carefully crafted image.
In this blog post, we see two different sides of the show: Douglas's perspective and Madeline's perspective. Douglas's part focuses on the idea of being canceled, which may not be as serious as it sounds, while Madeline's part deals with the lasting effects of trauma. When they first meet, Douglas assures Madeline that no matter what struggles she faces, it will all be worth it in the end. But will it really? This is the central question of Douglas is Cancelled. In an industry where powerful men still hold most of the control, and where some men feel like the tables are turning against them, can a young woman navigate the challenges ahead?
ITV is promoting Douglas is Cancelled as a "comedy drama" similar to other Moffat projects like Dracula and Inside Man. The comedy in the show is mostly focused on Nick Mohammed's character, a bumbling comedy writer who fixates on Greta Thunberg and the idea that "Twitter is for twits." However, at its core, Douglas is Cancelled is more of a drama. It explores the relationships between Douglas and Sheila, Douglas and Madeline, and the drama that unfolds in a workplace setting. Additionally, there are elements of revenge woven into the storyline. Like Moffat's other works such as Sherlock and The Time Traveler's Wife, the show maintains a light-hearted tone that may not always rely on traditional jokes.
This puts a lot of pressure on the drama to deliver, but unfortunately, Douglas is Cancelled falls short. The beginning of the show presents an unrealistic situation where a popular TV host's reputation is destroyed by a single tweet from an unknown account with very few followers. This far-fetched plot is only believable to those who fear a so-called "woke mob". Eventually, the show transitions into a more serious storyline about sexual assault in the television industry. However, so much time and energy is wasted on the initial trivial plot that when the real issue is finally addressed, it feels too little, too late. The emotional impact is lost on the audience, leaving them with a sense of emptiness.
Throughout the show, Bonneville excels at portraying his signature character of a bumbling fool, while Gillan effectively plays a woman whose looks overshadow her intelligence. Miles is now giving Rufus Sewell a run for his money as the go-to attractive but untrustworthy guy for casting directors. However, the scripts written by Moffat do not give the actors much depth to work with. They often use cliches like "the truth is important, but I'd like a more balanced perspective", while Douglas's daughter Claudia (played by Madeleine Power) is stuck with awkward lines such as "Dad, I really don't want to have to cancel you" and "Dad, I believe you - hashtag: total confidence". It makes one wonder if this story could have been handled more effectively and sensitively by a female writer.
Maybe there could be a interesting movie about cancel culture. But the truth is that being canceled is only one part of the story, the other part being the offense itself. The show Douglas is Cancelled tries to mix drama with a more lighthearted accusation and a very serious offense. This topic is complex and should invite discussion, but instead of that, Moffat only gives us moral lessons, clear right or wrong answers. In the end, it's like eating a cake that looks good but doesn't satisfy your hunger.
