The Outlaws
Created by Elgin James, Stephen Merchant
Directed by Stephen Merchant, John Butler
Executive producers Stephen Merchant, Luke Alkin, Kenton Allen, Matthew Justice, Kate Daughton
Producer Nickie Sault
Production companies Big Talk Productions, Four Eyes Entertainment
Distributor BBC Studios, Release
Original network Amazon Prime Video, BBC One
Cast:
Christopher Walken as Frank, an American living with his daughter and grandchildren
Stephen Merchant as Greg, an unsuccessful lawyer
Rhianne Barreto as Rani, a prospective but kleptomaniacal Oxford applicant
Gamba Cole as Christian, a young man looking after his younger sister
Darren Boyd as John, a rich businessman
Clare Perkins as Myrna, an activist
Eleanor Tomlinson as Lady Gabby, a socialite and influencer
Jessica Gunning as Diane, the supervisor for community service
Dolly Wells as Margaret, Frank’s daughter
Ian McElhinney as John Snr, John’s father
Nina Wadia as Shanthi, Rani’s mother
Gyuri Sarossy as Jerzy, Rani’s father
Aiyana Goodfellow as Esme
Charles Babalola as Malaki
Guillermo Bedward as Tom, Frank’s grandson
Isla Gie as Holly, Frank’s granddaughter
Claes Bang as The Dean
Sam Troughton as Mr. Wilder, Diana’s superior
Richard E. Grant as The Earl, Gabby’s aristocratic father
Nobody does comedy crime capers like the Beeb. They absolutely excel at this sort of thing, and The Outlaws shows that they haven’t lost their touch.
Most people see the word ‘comedy’ and think it’s going to be slapstick and slamming doors and endless misunderstandings, and while the show has flashes of all of the above, it is a taut, tense, gripping drama, and while the characters may seem formulaic, even stereotypical in the beginning, they have lots of hidden depths and they grow on you, just as the show does—and the show starts out eminently likable.
It’s very much an ensemble piece. Christopher Walken may be the only actor familiar to American audiences, but he’s well-matched in charisma and character by the cast that surrounds him. Frank is a reprobate and con man, Greg is a hapless and inept lawyer looking for love in all the wrong places (Stephen Merchant, who wrote, directed and produced the show). Rani is a brilliant student rebelling against strict parents. John is a bigoted factory owner. Myrna is an eco-activist who is out of step with changing times. Lady Gabby is a pop diva with drug problems and daddy issues. Most interesting of all is Christian, who only wants what’s best for his kid sister. All had scrapes with the law, and were sentenced to community service cleaning up a dilapidated and abandoned community center. Herding this motley crew is Diane (Jessica Gunning, who reminds me of English legend Hattie Jacques, and not just because she’s big).
They don’t get on, as you might imagine. But then Christian gets wrapped up in a burglary that goes south, and winds up quite unexpectedly with a big bag of pounds, mostly involving three digits apiece. He hides the money at the community center while frantically trying to decide what to do next. The other parolees find the money. Plot complications ensure.
It’s six episodes, and ends with a lot of loose ends, but no worries: season two began filming immediately after season one, and the Beeb has already picked it up. But there is, for the most part, an ending to the main part of the story, and it works really well.
It’s a tremendously engaging show, with one of the most charismatic casts you can imagine. Even the baddies grow on you.
BBC2, and soon on Amazon Prime.