Sitcom Review - Yes Minister (1980)
Posted by Rajan
April 10th, 2011
Rating: out of 5
Politics, intelligent and comedy. Often there are not words you would use in the same sentence, at least not in a positive manner. Yes Minister, is a very intelligent comedy about politics. What makes Yes Minister classic is that, the episodes and circumstances are timeless which I am sure are played about in the corridors of power even today.
Yes Minister was originally written as a book by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Later it was converted into a TV series. The TV series is true to the book in every way without any deviation or dilution. If you are an avid book reader, go for the book. For those who enjoy watching, the TV series is brilliant because of the hilarious portrayal by Paul Eddington (the bumbling and naive minister - Jim Hacker), Nigel Hawthorne (the arrogant and cunning permanent under secretary - Sir Humphrey) and Derek Fowlds (the well meaning private secretary - Bernard, caught in the crossfire between the former and latter).
What the series achieves is that it gives a realistic portrayal of the challenges a government faces. On one hand, a government has to serve the popular mandate of the people but at the same time grapple with the challenges of implementing them. While Hacker is worried about pleasing the people and trying to foist his own grandiose ideas, Sir Humphrey is equally and absolutely convinced in opposing them to protect his fellow civil servants.
After Yes Minister, the writers followed it up with Yes Prime Minister. It too was converted to a TV series portrayed by the same group of actors. Margaret Thatcher was a great fan of the series and apparently even offered to play a part in it.
Watch this series and when you pick up the newspaper the next time, you will see that Yes Minister brilliantly mirrors some of the compulsions of governments from all over the world face. And I will guarantee that more than anything, it will bring a smile to your face.
Yes Minister was originally written as a book by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Later it was converted into a TV series. The TV series is true to the book in every way without any deviation or dilution. If you are an avid book reader, go for the book. For those who enjoy watching, the TV series is brilliant because of the hilarious portrayal by Paul Eddington (the bumbling and naive minister - Jim Hacker), Nigel Hawthorne (the arrogant and cunning permanent under secretary - Sir Humphrey) and Derek Fowlds (the well meaning private secretary - Bernard, caught in the crossfire between the former and latter).
What the series achieves is that it gives a realistic portrayal of the challenges a government faces. On one hand, a government has to serve the popular mandate of the people but at the same time grapple with the challenges of implementing them. While Hacker is worried about pleasing the people and trying to foist his own grandiose ideas, Sir Humphrey is equally and absolutely convinced in opposing them to protect his fellow civil servants.
After Yes Minister, the writers followed it up with Yes Prime Minister. It too was converted to a TV series portrayed by the same group of actors. Margaret Thatcher was a great fan of the series and apparently even offered to play a part in it.
Watch this series and when you pick up the newspaper the next time, you will see that Yes Minister brilliantly mirrors some of the compulsions of governments from all over the world face. And I will guarantee that more than anything, it will bring a smile to your face.
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