u/fecklesswaster

For a bit of a break from World Cup cliches, I've been watching series of 2 of Amandaland on the Beeb with my wife. In episode one, several of the characters are watching their teen children play a football match, and when the camera cuts to the pitch for some scene-setting action, my football brain went in to overdrive. There are so many things wrong with this tableau:

1. In what seems to be presented as a competitive match, it's very obvious that the 2 teams involved are wearing the same kit, with one side putting a bright orange bib on.

2. The keeper is at least a foot behind their line, and standing on the near post to give number 6 the maximum angle to score from about 2 yards out.

3. The ref just seems to be some random person running around in a massive parka.

4. When number 6 inevitably scores, the camera cuts back to his mum who does not reach at all, while 2 extras in shot silently "cheer" and pump their fists in celebration.

I tried explaining this to my wife and was met with (an entirely expected) shrug of the shoulders. But what are the show creators thinking? Is this training, or a match? Why does this show have a scene at the football pitch every episode, but the matches always seem to be bibs vs non bibs?

I present this as Exhibit A in the argument for Adam & the lads to be hired as background football realism consultants for every TV show & movie with a scripted football match included.

Are the any other terrible examples of this genre?

It's hard to stand out in such an exceptionally funny show like Stath - but Marcus did. Even though he was in it for one short season.

Every line is delivered with a naive, childlike enthusiasm - and with a sort of menacingly funny grin. Marcus sits in the background but every time he appears, he it makes me happy - whether he's dancing to 'Ass n Titties', or growling at Tomiko.

The actor, Alex Beckett, was born on June 30, 1982, and he died on April 10, 2018.

In 2018, Jamie Demetriou said in an interview that the cast of Stath was "crushed" by his loss.

"There’s a reason that he’s basically been in every sitcom I come across. He’s an astonishing actor and he’s just one of those people whose name you can’t say without three people in the room saying, “he’s a nice bloke”. He was a force of life and genius improviser. An incredibly kind, generous guy who was always a pleasure to have on set.

"He did some amazing stuff while he was alive and selfishly I feel very privileged to have squeezed some of the last drops of genius.

"There was a day when we had my dad on set but we didn’t know what to do with him and Alex volunteered to do some improv with him. Alex reeled off this three minute perfect monologue. Alex was one of those people who genuinely was a brilliant guy. We’ll miss him a lot and send all love to his family."

Even on a rewatch, it's devastating to watch something so funny and then have the air sucked out of you at the end of season one, knowing that he's no longer here.

I don't know what the point of this post is but to celebrate Alex Beckett, really, and his portrayal of Marcus - however brief it was. If this post also makes you think constructively about your own mental health, or that of a loved one, then that's good.

So, what's your favourite Marcus line?