Join Satan's moral crusade
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The pits of hell are so overflowing with sinners that the timeshare salesmen are escaping and selling packages to demons. The check-in demons are so disgruntled that they've gone on strike. Even Satan's credibility is so low with living mortals that when he appears in full regalia, he gets mistaken for a member of "Fathers 4 Justice". The only way Satan can think to stem the tide of humanity pouring into hell is to convince world leaders to support a moral crusade- good luck with that one.
I only caught bits of the original series of OHG and I loved this later series (thankfully released in full). I didn't feel that there was anything missing from the comedy, just because the writing had to aim in a different direction. Don't be put off by the other lacklustre reviews.
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Very good... in an understated way
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I'm inclined to agree with the review below, although I would have been more in agreement if, like the reviewer, I'd based it on having listened to it solely on the radio. I enjoyed it, but wasn't too impressed with it, when it first came out on radio, but listening to it again, I can see a lot more to enjoy. Yes, the absence of James Grout as the Professor means the series lacks a lot of the focus it previously had, but it means, oddly that this series plays to the strenghths of writer / performer Andy Hamilton: satirical comedy.
The premise - that owing to mankind's depravity, hell is becoming too full for the demons to cope with the influx - is an interesting one, and Satan's response - to interact with the great and the good to get them to persuade us to change our ways - is amusing.
It isn't as good as previous series, which relied on the interplay between Satan and the Professor for their effect, but this is well worth a listen. It's good that this series only consists of four episodes, as I think that, if it had been stretched over the more usual six, it couldn't have sustained what momentum it has. If you like radio comedy, and your expectations aren't too high, then do give this a try.
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Not the best selection
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I have not bought this CD collection, but I did hear all five series of Old Harry's Game on the radio, and it has to be said that this was not the best. The departure of the character of the Professor after series four leaves a gap in the series where Andy Hamilton's Devil would explore philosophical issues through conversation with the Professor, generally ending in a conclusion that was somehow both cynical and uplifting. Lacking that, this fifth series (while still very funny) seems somehow shallow and unsatisfactory.
On the other hand, at least the BBC had the common decency to release this series in full, unlike all the others, which had to make do with "best of" compilations. But even in their lack of completeness, the available episodes of the first four series are much more worth buying than this series.
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