The Night Manager. Not so fast Mr Roper...

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The Night Manager. Not so fast Mr Roper...

March 27, 2016 - 21:10
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It’s a shame that Tom Hiddleston hadn’t already landed the James Bond role he was born to play. He could have ended The Night Manager with the immortal words: “Not so fast Mr Roper…”

The Night Manager finalé

It’s a shame that Tom Hiddleston hadn’t already landed the James Bond role he was born to play. He could have ended The Night Manager with the immortal words: “Not so fast Mr Roper…”

Not that the Beeb’s £20million spy thriller didn’t conclude in sensational style. With a convoy of trucks carrying £600million’s worth of deadly weapons blown to smithereens in a spectacular explosion… and the delicious downfall of the worst man in the world.

“No, No, No, No!” screamed the fabulously ruthless Richard Roper as the grim truth dawned on him. He was in deep trouble on a number of levels. He’d missed out on the arms deal of the century and – even worse – it wasn’t the Egyptian police who’d just arrested him. He was about to pay a gruesome price for his sins. Excellent.

What a powerhouse performance by Hugh Laurie who, let’s face it, made the face of evil strangely likeable. OK, he was a relentlessly awful human being, but he stole every scene. RR was the ultimate charismatic bad guy.

“Oh you beauty,” snarled Roper as he realised that Jonathan Pine (Hiddleston) had outfoxed him. But even after his lorry loads of lethal cargo went boom, dastardly Dickie’s supreme self-confidence remained sky high.

When redoubtable MI6 agent Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) told him his life of luxury was over, our anti-hero laughed: “Been practicing that in front of a mirror have we?” Chances are she had. It was the triumphant moment she’d been waiting for. As had millions of enthralled viewers.

Breathtaking excitement as serial killer goodie Pine murdered another of his victims, brought his sworn enemy to his knees and rescued cool-haired maiden-in-distress Jed (Elizabeth Debicki). Serious edge of your seat stuff.

Notorious though it is for wasting money, the BBC’s vast investment in this stunningly lavish globe-trotting production is to be admired at all costs.

Forget the obscene salaries of hundreds of pointless executives and unnecessary billion pound studios, world-class drama is what the state broadcaster should be spending our licence fee on.

One of the greatest series of all time, The Night Manager set a new standard. It’s a tragedy it’s over Sunday nights are going to be empty without it.

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AdrienneB's picture

I was a late comer to this series (as ever) but I am so glad I followed your advice to watch it. I watched the last 3 episodes back to back last night after being away, simply couldn't go to bed until the plot had reached it's conclusion. I physically punched the air once Jonathan had transferred the money and blew up the arms! Brilliantly acted by all the cast.