All subtlety is out of the window in her war on brats, and Grotbags takes to the Grotmobile to "bezzazz them off the face of the earth". She also uses her powers to control the weather, resulting in a storm the likes of which the Pink Windmill has never seen before. But what if someone gets caught out in it? I believe that this, the final episode of series two, was originally broadcast on Wednesday, 1st December, 1982, but there's also evidence which contradicts that. For this reason, I'm not 100% sure of any air dates for this run.
Be prepared for a very unexpected change of pace in this one. After the traditional opening skit, the Kids arrive, and Rod sits down to read them a story which lasts about five minutes. I don't know if this is unique, but it feels like a bit of a box-ticking exercise (i.e. perhaps they did it to qualify as 'educational' or to appeal to very young viewers). This bit culminates in something else that was possibly a one-off: a Pink Windmill Kids song with no dancing, as they give us a short blast of Puff, the Magic Dragon (originally by Peter, Paul and Mary). Nevertheless, when it eventually gets going, the episode escalates before reaching its climax with a phenomenally triumphal rendition of A Brand New Day (from the musical The Wiz). Very broadly speaking, Emu series alternated in terms of ending on a high or on a sombre note. This one is very definitely the former, and second only to 1985 in that regard, in my opinion.
Before we get to that, though, there's plenty else to enjoy. The line about the pig food not being fit for human consumption tickled me for some reason, and when the handle doesn't turn around 2:00, Rod clearly ad libs something about setting it to automatic before giving someone off-camera - probably the floor manager - a knowing glance. I like how the weapon that wins the day is neatly set up earlier by Anthony fiddling with an inner tube and Joe and Hugh making a submarine, without it even feeling like a set-up. Speaking of the Pink Windmill Kids, I can honestly say that Emma-Louise has my undying respect and admiration as, despite being served up the cheesiest line of the whole series around 16:15, she goes on to do the very best anyone could possibly have done with it in the circumstances.
There's an unintentionally funny moment around 13:20 where Rod says to shut the window, and two of the Kids do, but then it accidentally comes open again just as Joe's due to declare, "I can't see anything out of this window." We'll blame the props department for that one. On another obscure technical note, at one point while Grotbags is flying around there's a clip of Wagner playing, which of course became the theme for the Gone with the Witch segments of EMU-TV all those years later in 1989. And, speaking of Grotbags, all that stuff about her asking if they'd be willing to help an old lady... Carol Lee Scott was still in her thirties when this series was made. Her *thirties*. I'll leave you to ponder that in disbelief.
There's a little bit of Watch It! continuity at the beginning and end for anyone interested, but that doesn't include me any more. What an absolute snooze-fest their presentation was before Children's ITV! I wouldn't mind seeing Nobody's Hero, though...
Grateful thanks to both Jayne and Joe for lending me tapes with this episode.
(To the best of my knowledge, the contents of this video have never been available commercially anywhere in the world. Please also note that I don't monetise any of my uploads. Nevertheless, if you are a copyright holder and have an objection, please don't hesitate to contact me.)
28 мар 2018
