“If some cunt can fuck something up, that cunt will pick the worst fucking time to fucking fuck it up, because that cunt’s a cunt.” – Tucker’s Law 

The Thick of It is pure, unmitigated genius, and is probably too good for its own good. A political satire from the mind of Armando Iannucci, the man behind The Day Today and I’m Alan Partridge, The Thick of It is the evolution of the classic Yes, Minister, fused with the artistic profanity of David Mamet. Although the cursing in The Thick of It lacks the bizarre rhythm of Mamet’s work, it is no less distinct and memorable. One might think that a show that is famous (if indeed it is famous, which it shamefully isn’t) for its cursing is puerile and cheap – that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Thick of It is a work of unmatched intelligence, with razor-sharp satire and unforgettable characters at every turn. In its third season, it has even successfully been able to hit dramaturgical notes, without sacrificing the laughs. 

Launched in 2005, The Thick of It initially revolved around minister Hugh Abbott, played by Chris Langham. His two offsiders, Glenn Cullen (James Smith) and Oliver Reeder (Chris Addison) made up the core of the show, but even from the first episode there’s no doubt that the real star of the show is Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker, the Prime Minister’s chief spin doctor. He is a singularly terrifying maelstrom of hellfire and brimstone – feared unilaterally within the universe of the show. As a member of the audience, I simply can’t wait for him to come on screen and chew out any given character. That’s not to say that the rest of the cast isn’t amusing as well – in perhaps a more dry way, Abbott and his flunkies represent what could be assumed is a disturbingly lax norm within government. 

With the departure of Langham from the show, The Thick of It was completely restructured over the course of two Christmas specials, entitled “Rise of the Nutters” and “Spinners and Losers.” While the first and second seasons had been highly amusing, the show really found its feet with the two specials, focusing on Tucker and involving itself in the higher echelons of the government. With his even more vicious sidekick Jamie (Paul Higgins) at his side, Tucker tears through hour-long specials with unmitigated fury, and it’s a blast from start to finish. Also introduced is the opposition, led by Peter Mannion (Roger Allam) – bringing a different flavour and perspective to the show, as well as yet another comedic style, as Mannion has to contend with the new-age buzz-word-deploying Stewart Pearson (Vincent Franklin). 

The third season, which aired in 2009, saw a return to the format of the first season, where the show seemingly revolved around a minister, this time the embattled Nicola Murray (Rebecca Front), although in reality Malcolm Tucker is still at the centre of proceedings. Having a female minister at the end of his tirades gives the show a whole new dimension, as Iannuci and his team brought along all that they had learned from the rousing successes of both the specials, and the spin-off feature film, In the Loop. This third season however, makes a beeline for dramatic moments at times, and hits some poignant and disturbing notes about human behaviour; morality, loyalty, and the value of personal life in the face of a demanding professional one, launched the show into an entirely new stratosphere – one that leads me to call it a “great show” even at this young age. In particular, the fifth episode, which takes place almost entirely at a BBC recording studio, is uproarious and relentless throughout, but ends on quite a sad note, without being contrived or sappy. In fact, the moment is a throwaway line that you could easily miss if you weren’t paying attention – this represents a kind of humility and canniness from Ianucci that I’ve never seen before on television. There’s no “special emotional episode.” None of that crap whatsoever. 

The show has undoubtedly evolved into something considerable – not only is it the best show I’ve seen in the past 10 years, but it’s quickly become an all-time favourite of mine. 90% of the characters are hilarious and memorable, the writing is monumental in its wit and pace, and most importantly, the actors are to be commended for not cracking up during every take. Completely free of the self-importance and import that a lot of “acclaimed” television heaps upon itself these days, The Thick of It isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But frankly, if you don’t like it, I will have your kidneys for cufflinks.