Welcome Back Pet (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet)

Member Name: Charris2002

Product:	Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
Date:	18/11/08 (102 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant story, great characters

Disadvantages: None

I loved the original Auf Wiedersehen Pet, broadscast many years ago now. I was delighted when it was announced that it would return. However, when this appeared on the BBC, I was somewhat taken aback as it had always been an ITV production, but apparently due to some sort of legal manoeuvring (I think the scriptwriters were contracted to the BBC) this original comeback series was produced for the BBC.

There were many who criticised the decision to bring back the series at all, and even before the first episode was shown, it was being quite widely criticised. The first episode was, of necessity I think, somewhat slow in terms in 'action'. Instead, it served to bring us up to date with the lives of the central characters.

The Characters

Dennis - hasn't fared too well in the intervening years, being reduced to driving a cab with his one major contract to ferry around a drug dealer to the less savoury areas of town. Dennis is down at heel and virtually penniless, with no real life, merely an existence.

Oz - has been in prison, where he met and 'befriended' a crooked politician, who has alerted OZ to a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is OZ who has been instrumental in bringing the crew back together (more of that later). A reformed character is Oz...the old Oz is really dead he informs us all.....

Barry - has done well for himself, living an opulent lifestyle financed by the export of past their sell date sauces and assorted foodstuffs to the newly created ex-Russian states. He has a trophy wife, and is driving around in a Bentley, Life is good for Barry.....

Neville - still henpecked, still worrying, still 'wet' basically but retains his heart of gold. Self-employed selling DIY houses, father of three, and so naïve you wonder how he managed this. Has marital problems and is currently seeing a sex therapist.

Bomber - always somewhat of a mystery man, Bomber has health problems, that he is not sharing with the rest. He, as always, is ready to protect and help out the crew.

Moxey - unsurprisingly Moxey never made much of his life, and we see him being approached to steal evidence from his employer, Mickey Startup, a villain into human trafficking, drugs, prostitution - you name it, he's involved.

Wayne - alas is no more, but his place is taken by a newcomer, his son Wyman. Wyman is a DJ, is of mixed race and seems quite streetwise. Obviously, he is considerably younger than the rest.

The Plot

The lads are going about their normal business when each receive an invitation to the funeral of Oz. Obviously, it is apparent that Oz probably isn't dead to us the audience, the rest of the boys are upset and disbelieving and meet in a seedy bar to mourn his passing. However, as the lads are beginning to say goodbye to Oz, in he strolls, large as life and twice as ugly! It seems he has the opportunity of the lifetime, to become (along with rest of the lads, a gaffer). They form a company to dismantle the Middlesborough Transporter Bridge, unfortunately Dennis is potless, but in true style, the lads cover his stake. Given their history, the project is not going to be without its problems..........
Lets have a look at some of problems and plot devices -

They use black market labour, provided by the menacing Yorgi through the villainous Mickey Startup. Unfortunately, they are Serbs and Kosovans, at each others throats constantly...

Moxeys stake comes from the cash he stole from Mickey Startups safe. Unfortunately, being Moxey he was caught on CCTV doing so.....

Oz is reunited with his son, Rod. Rod's a singer, and to Oz's bewilderment, he performs in drag at a gay club in Spennymoor! Oz finds it somewhat difficult to comes to terms with this......and blames the mother for it.

Barrys wife is accompanied by her brother Caddy, with whom Barry is in business. Unfortunately, the import and re-export of used ladas to the former soviet union seems a somewhat strange way of making money. In addition, Oz then spots Tatiana and Caddy in a somewhat less than brotherly/sisterly embrace...and we discover that the ladas are merely a front...... ..

The deal falls though, with the slimy crooked politician hanging the lads out to dry....they may have cut their losses and sell it for scrap..

Oz has love scenes!!!!!!!!

A mysterious Red Indian ('I prefer Native American') appears wanting to buy the bridge, after Oz advertises it on the Internet.....

There are some classic lines in the programme as always, it's not strictly politically correct, but reminiscent of the humour of those 'old days'. I don't really want to give examples of the lines on here, as I really don't want to upset anyone!!

It draws parallels with the original series...imported labour living in squalid conditions, nothing goes quite according to plan, there are moments of comedy, of pathos and surprisingly, of sentimentality.

Barry seems to have it all, the old Oz resurfaces when necessary, Nev is still under the thumb, Bomber is quiet, thoughtful and protective, and Dennis remains the gaffer, the one the rest look to advise and guide.

One minor gripe and that is the awful theme tune by Mark Knopfler (formerly Dire Straits, personally I think that says it all.....).

Summary: Still one of the best comdy dramas ever made - buy it on DVD