Worzel Gummidge was once on our TV screens back when Worzel was played by Jon Pertwee in the 1970s. It is now back for two special episodes but was this really worth bringing back?
Worzel Gummidge is a real-life scarecrow and in this new version he is brought to life by Mackenzie Crook. Pertwee and Crook both have different takes on Worzel but Crook's interpretation is softer and gentler than the original, although he is now not as weird and tamer. It makes this character not the most interesting to watch although we still feel his passion for the English countryside and nature itself. Appearance wise, Worzel looks very different from the original, in this newer interpretation he looks less like a scarecrow and instead looks more like a mythical creature made in someone's mind than a scarecrow you would find in your garden.
Along with Worzel, Aunt Sally played by Vicki Pepperdine has returned too but she has reverted to the original Euphan Todd model, in that she is Worzel's aunt not his love interest. Instead we have Earthy Mangold, who is Worzel's wife in the books, although we don’t get much of an insight into what their relationship is in this new version. Francesca Mills plays quite well Earthy Mangold.
In The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook, we meet Worzel through the eyes of siblings Susan and John (played by India Brown and Thierry Wickens) who are the foster children that have arrived to spend the summer working as farmhands for Mr and Mrs Braithwaite (played by Steve Pemberton and Rosie Cavaliero). Susan and John are typical city kids who are initially glued to their phones but are soon forced to adapt to a simpler way of life.
With so much attention on climate change and the environment, this episode has an important environmental message. Worzel is made the guardian of the land, who watches over for changes in the seasons. The performances in this episode are ok but this episode isn’t amazing to watch. The haunting soundtrack by The Unthanks aids and helps keep us interested in what is happening in the story and we get a feel feeling of the environment is danger and the scarecrows fighting back.
The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook isn’t amazing to watch and it is easy to lose interest in what is happening. Moments which are supposed to be funny, don’t hit the mark and fall quite flat therefore we are waiting for the joke that isn’t going to come. This show needs to be updated for a modern audience. It feels as if something is missing while watching this episode. Hopefully, this next episode, The Green Man will be better. This is the kind of show you have on in the background but it doesn’t make the impact that you expect. It has a great environmental message but it needs to communicated better and the plot itself needs to be more interesting to keep the audience’s attention for an hour. Elements of this episode are quite forgettable and it is a shame it wasn’t better but hopefully The Green Man will do better.
