Brassic is a Sky One programme that first aired in 2019. As of 2022, the programme has completed it’s 4th season (28 episodes).
Season 5 is confirmed with eight new episodes, which will probably air in September\October 2023. The show is so popular that season 5 was ordered before season 4 had aired on Sky One.
Brassic follows the lives of Vinnie O’Neill and his five friends as they live their lives in the fictional northern English town of Hawley. The working class group commit various crimes to keep money in their pockets, but as they get older some of them start to wonder if there’s more to life away from the town.
Brassic is for sure not for the faint-hearted. There’s a good deal of swearing in it (multiple uses of the word “cunt” for example) and situations that could probably best described as “sexually awkward”. There are a lot of sexual references in it and some very dark humour.
It is however very, very funny. And I mean laugh until you cry funny. It’s also very sad in places, poignant and very well acted by every single one of the ensemble cast.
The lead role of Vinnie is the part that Joe Gilgun was made for. Probably the other way around actually, as Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst are the creators of the show, with Brocklehurst penning the episodes along with Alex Ganley. Brassic is inspired partly on Gilgun’s experience growing up in Chorley, which translates to Hawley in the show.
Ever since I first saw Gilgun in Misfits, I’ve always thought he was a good actor. I am very much not disappointed by his performance as Vinnie – he proves over and over again what a brilliant comic actor he is and a brilliant dramatic actor to boot. The scenes he has with his fictional father are amongst the most poignant and moving scenes I’ve seen for a long time.
As mentioned, it is an ensemble cast. Michelle Keegan, Damien Molony, Tom Hanson, Aaron Heffernan, Ryan Sampson and Parth Thakerar are all in fellow main character roles. The characters include Vincent “Vinnie” O’Neill (Gilgun), Erin Croft (Keegan), Dylan (Molony), “Cardi” (Hanson), Ash (Heffernan), Tommo (Sampson) and JJ (Thakerar), whereas Dominic West and Bronagh Gallagher also portrayed assisting roles throughout the series, starring as Doctor Chris Cox and Carol, respectively.
Jim the farmer (Steve Evets), Gary the Funeral Director (Tadgh Murphy) and Sugar (Joanna Higson) played mostly minor roles in the earlier seasons, but these were expanded to great effect in seasons 3 and 4. Gary, the one-eyed and very angry Funeral Director is a sight to behold. Jim on a sweary rant is just joyful.
What’s also joyful, is the choice of music for the series. There are some superb tracks, chosen to match the action – or the mood – perfectly. You only have to look at the track listing for the series (along with the scene description) and appreciate the thought that was put into track selection and placement.
It’s the interactions between these characters, the superb choice of music and the completely ridiculous situations that make the programme. Hilarity, as they say, ensues. And it ensues often.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. But… brace for impact!!