The Wright Way

The Wright Way is a television comedy series that was aired on BBC 1 in 2013. Regarded as a sitcom with an old school British humour vibe, The Wright Way was created by and written by the capable hands of Ben Elton, an English comedian, author, playwright, and director. Elton has previously conceived popular and acclaimed shows like The Young Ones and Blackadder. Unfortunately, The Wright Way did not manage to achieve the same level of acclaim and popularity as his earlier works.

Set in the fictitious town of Baselricky in England, The Wright Way revolves around the life and world of Gerald Wright, a pedantic, bumbling person who is characterized by his manic energy and outrageous prejudices. In this story, Elton dives deep into the bureaucracy, inefficiency, and petty rules of the British local government. Gerald Wright, played by David Haig, works as a health and safety officer at Baselricky Council where he is dedicated, despite his awkward clumsiness, to enforce regulations and ensure they are respected by all. The humour often comes from Wright's obsessive attention to detail, teaming this personalities trait up with overzealous nature to create some very funny scenes.

Surrounded by a diverse pool of characters, The Wright Way brings a mix of personalities to the fore. This includes his daughter, Susan Wright, a lesbian woman with a sarcastic sense of humor, played by Beattie Edmondson whilst her on-screen partner Victoria, known for her relaxed nature and artistic leanings, is portrayed by Georgia King. There's also Clive Beeches, played by Mina Anwar, Wright's co-worker and assistant at the council who seems to be more in tune with modern attitudes and social trends. Then there’s Bernard Stanning, played by Toby Longworth, the mean and sly individual who is always looking for ways to undermine Gerald Wright in the workplace.

A crucial aspect of The Wright Way tends to revolve around a set of contrary dualisms. On one side, you have the world of order, risk assessment forms, bureaucratic red tape, and health and safety protocols - all of which Gerald Wright desperately tries to uphold. On the other side, you have the real-world chaotic disorder, humorously highlighting, society's general disregard for such protocols, something which Gerald Wright battles tirelessly against.

While the show uses humor to send up the absurdities of red tape and overreaching bureaucratic regulations, it doesn't shy away from addressing evolving social attitudes and family dynamics. We see Gerald Wright, a classic, old school uptight British man, grappling with and adjusting to his daughter's sexual orientation. These themes are not only culturally relevant but also help to develop and add multiple layers to the characters within the series.

The series had a short-lived run airing for only one season, consisting of six approximately 30-minute episodes. This British sitcom has its fair share of slapstick humor, witty one-liners and a unique style of writing that is characteristically Elton. Nevertheless, critics and audiences received the show with mixed reviews. Some praised the series for its unique comedic style and engaging performances, while others criticized it for its outdated humor and caricatured characters. Whether or not it's your cup of tea, The Wright Way serves as an interesting piece of British television history and offers some sincere laughs along the way.

The Wright Way may not have been the show of the year in 2013, but it reflected the comedy genre's resilience in the face of evolving tastes and modern sensibilities. Whether you love its dry humor and old-school sitcom vibe or you're intrigued by the contrast between a rigid bureaucrat's world and the chaotic realities of life, this show certainly offers engaging moments that could keep you entertained. Above all, The Wright Way is an intriguing insight into the comedic mind of Ben Elton, a prolific figure in British comedy.