In an autumn overflowing with the careful enunciation of historical drama, historical comedy can seem a bit of an odd offering. It’s rare that a half hour of historical fiction is even vaguely funny, while violin-strung melodrama is a weekly staple. The BBC can’t seem to resist returning to the genre than spawned Blackadder and ‘Allo ‘Allo. This year they’ve debuted the boorish, 80s-set White Gold and aired a second series of David Mitchell’s Shakespearean sitcom Upstart Crow. It’s with costume comedy Quacks, however, that they’ve come close to a new series with potential.
Quacks follows a troupe of inept Victorian medical mavericks. Keen to remind the audience that the term is indeed ‘operating theatre’, Rory Kinnear’s boastful surgeon Robert swans into amputations like a plum-jacketed rockstar. The experiments of anaesthesiologist John (Tom Basden) are met with scepticism (“at least if I can hear them screaming I know they’re still alive”), except when it involves drug-fuelled partying. Timid proto-psychiatrist William (The Wrong Mans and Horrible Histories alum Mathew Baynton) suggests radical new treatments for asylum inmates (“Have you tried… talking to him?”). He’s also infatuated with the intelligent, quick-thinking Caroline (Lydia Leonard), Robert’s wife, who struggles to become a doctor and is, typically, the only one with any professional competence. Rupert Everett dons a top hat as Dr. Hendrick, who is horrified by the idea of examining patients before diagnosis and embodies a medicinal old guard.
The twenty-first century sitcom has become synonymous with vapid, overly-long series, but this six-episode run is a change of pace. It asks for a little historical suspension of disbelief — and quite a strong constitution. Set in a period where surgery was essentially a spectator sport, its ick-factor use of blood, limbs and gore may be a turnoff for many. If you can make it past the opener, highlights include a jaunty soundtrack, a guest turn from Andrew Scott (Sherlock’s Moriarty) as Charles Dickens and a business-like Florence Nightingale (Milly Thomas) who scandalises the regulars by cleaning hospital instruments. Series writer James Wood (Rev, Decline and Fall) pens some genuine laughs, though gags occasionally fall flat, and the novelty of this costume sitcom may ultimately wear off. Its characters may claim to be breaking new ground — and many of its most interesting storylines draw on real-life history — but Quacks isn’t yet quite as innovative as it tries to be.
Rating: ●●●○○
All six episodes of Quacks are available to watch now.
