TV review: Ambassadors – Episode 1
Comedy duo Mitchell and Webb star in the brand new, three-part, BBC2 comedy-drama Ambassadors.
Written by Rupert Walters (Spooks) and James Wood (Rev), produced by Chris Carey and directed by Jeremy Webb, Ambassadors is set in the fictional Central Asian Republic of Tazbekistan described as “surreal, bonkers, but beautiful.”
David Mitchell plays the amiable, quintessentially British Ambassador Keith Davies and Robert Webb his second in command, Neil Tilly.
They are a far cry from their comedy creations of That Mitchell and Webb Look and Peep Show, but the two seem so natural together here, like two familiar comfy slippers.
The first thing to make clear about Ambassadors – it’s not Peep Show.
I know it’s tough to see the pair on screen and not think of their most popular characters Mark and Jeremy, but from the get go everything about Ambassadors clearly states, this is a very different beast indeed – an Ibex to be precise.
Ambassadors is not a sitcom, nor does it pretend to be. Expect more smiles of wry amusement than belly laughs, but the story is intriguing and original.
The setting is interesting, the premise has great comedy potential and the talent is in abundance.
Robert Webb puts in an excellent, quiet performance as Neil – the somewhat mysterious deputy, tangled up in nefarious antics maintaining a calm demeanour.
It’s the perfect counterbalance to David Mitchell’s Keith, whose polite British disposition eventually cracks, a sharp-tongued yet comic tirade explodes when his patience with people’s rudeness reaches tipping point – the highlight of the episode.
Visually and tonally Ambassadors is quite dark, dealing with espionage, sexism and arms dealing.
The comedy here is subtle and found in cultural differences and realisms rather than snappy punchlines, though a few do crop up.
The pace is somewhat slow but steady throughout, with no real gripping elements of danger or tension.
The stakes – a $2billion helicopter deal – feel remote and difficult to relate to causing the audience to disengage from the plot a little, but the characters convictions and attitudes become clearly defined as a result.
Unfortunately not much is done to tackle tired stereotypes, which leads to predictable outcomes and jokes that are somewhat stale.
It is early days though and the teaser for next week’s episode – with what looks like a key role for Tom Hollander, looks like it might add a little more (The Thick of It style) awkward British comedy into the mix.
It’s certainly refreshing to see Mitchell in a more dramatic role and this series is a real chance for the pair to bravely try something a bit different and stretch their acting abilities.
Ambassadors is not the biting satire of The Thick of It or Twenty Twelve nor is it as sharp as Peep Show – but it is something new, nuanced and funny.
