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Must Watch reviews: ‘Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country’

Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.

This week, Hayley Campbell and Scott Bryan Naga Munchetty to review ‘Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country’.

Co-writer and star of the hit BBC comedy, This Country, Charlie indulges his obsession with English legend and folklore in this new three-part series.

The show sees Charlie hunt for the mythical Black Shuck dog which is said to have stalked the East Anglian coastline for centuries. Before learning about crop circles and finishing his journey searching for King Arthur’s lost treasure in Wales.

Naga: “Did you like it? Is it a Must Watch?”

Scott: “I surprisingly did. It's a show that you think is going to be one thing and it ends up being another. Charlie Cooper talks about being a fan of folklore, rituals and traditions and it's all set up to be very straightforward documentar'.

“You expect it to be one thing, but then over the course of half an hour, you can't work out whether it’s actually real, what you're seeing, or whether it's essentially a comedy where he's playing an exaggerated version of himself because some of the stuff gets increasingly obscure and wild as the series goes on.

What do the Must Watch Reviewers think of Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country?

Scott Bryan and Hayley Campbell share what they think about Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country.

It wasn't just a traditional straightforward show
Scott

Scott continues: “He travels around in his own Scooby-Doo style vehicle, trying to work out whether these myths are real or not and tries to get to the truth, but it's a completely knackered old AA van. There's one scene that I'm pretty sure I'm not going to able to really mention exactly why, but he pulls up to sleep for the night and it ends up being a spot that maybe is used… for other activities (rather than seeing whether there is a demon dog that lives in the local area)”.

Naga: “That was one of the most entertaining parts”.

Scott: “Yeah, but I found it entertaining because it wasn't just a traditional straightforward show. Now, whether it will attract a mainstream audience, I'm not so sure”.

Naga: “It doesn't have to”.

Scott: “It doesn't have to, but it's a bit left field for BBC Three, a bit left field for Charlie Cooper. I know this is based off a podcast he did, but it's just the fact that you can't really tell what's real and what isn't… bizarrely, that makes it more of an appealing part of the programme”.

Naga: “Can't you?”

Scott: *Laughs* “I'm guessing… were you not a fan of this?

Naga: “Hayley, what did you think?”

As soon as you dig into any country's folk tales, you're going to find something bizarre
Hayley

Hayley: “I agree with Scott, actually. I thought this was going to be one thing, and I didn't think I was going to love it, but I actually thought it was pretty great.

“It's a lightweight introduction to the stuff that makes Britain a weird and interesting place. I think as soon as you dig into any country's folk tales, you're going to find something bizarre. There's something particularly weird about the British ones. He's read up on it, but he also interviews folk academics and also locals who claim to have seen whatever the thing is. Like Scott said, it's presented as this silly little adventure in a yellow van, and it's people telling each other unlikely stories.

“But that is how folk stories exist. It's people telling each other stuff. I like how he's careful not to take the mickey out of anyone or their beliefs, which I think is crucial to a show like this being watchable, because I like that there are these stories, and I like that there are pockets of people who believe them in a way that isn't harming anyone. So the idea of watching someone going around and mocking them is not something I would ever be on board with”.

Naga: “I agree with you there”.

This was a joy and I thought I was going to have to trudge through it
Hayley

Hayley: “I sort of think this is probably the most wholesome Halloween thing we've got. It's also funny because it's got Charlie Cooper, so he's got jokes in it. I thought this was a joy and I thought I was going to have to trudge through it”.

Naga: “What do you think? Do you like this?”

Hayley: “For the benefit of the tape, she's been doing faces”.

Naga: “I've been concentrating. I have a lot of things to manage here, you two can just give your reviews”.

Naga: “I get your point Hayley. I think it was a good look at the bizarreness and quirkiness of British culture and that I enjoy. But as a Brit, I know that.

“I did sit there and even if he wasn't laughing at some of those people, I don't know if it was set up for the audience to laugh at some of those people. I didn't see the point because I didn't come away knowing anything. I came away just going, 'well, obviously, that's not going to happen, that's not going to happen, that's rubbish, that's nonsense’ and that's what I came away thinking. I didn’t get to the second episode, I couldn’t be bothered”.

Scott: “I did and I enjoyed it. I mean, it's only a three-parter. I'd say that it's either a show that you will get and you will like, or it won't relate to you”.

Hayley: “But you'll know it within a minute or two”.

Naga: “You've got to give it 10 minutes, and then you'll get what it's about. I do think that scene when he was spending the night in his van was very, very funny. I would watch the first episode just for that because honestly, I was roaring”.

All episodes of Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country are available now on BBC iPlayer.

Must Watch is released as a podcast every Monday evening from BBC Sounds and all other podcasts providers.

This week the team also reviewed Showtrial and Sweetpea, click here to listen to the latest episode.

And email Scott and Hayley on [email protected]

Your reviews

As always, we like to include your reviews - on shows you love, loathe or lament.

Message @bbc5live on social media using the hashtag #bbcmustwatch or email [email protected].

LUDWIG

We’re still getting reviews for Ludwig - the BBC comedy thriller with David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell-Martin - which Scott and Hayley reviewed two weeks ago. You sent us your takes…

David: Fantastic programme and a must watch from me. Logic and sub plots. Maybe some won't get it but recommended for those that do!

Nads: I binged Ludwig (okay, paced over two very strategic nights) and absolutely loved it. David Mitchell, the rest of the cast. The writing etc - it’s excellent! I’m just sorry I don’t have more episodes to immediately dive into. Please don’t leave it 6 months before season 2!

Dave: I've just finished watching the whole series of Ludwig. It was absolutely brilliant! Best thing I've seen in a long time. I don't care how unbelievable the premise might seem, I just really, really enjoyed it. I hope there's more to come. I want more!

NIGHTSLEEPER

A few weeks back, the team reviewed the BBC’s Nightsleeper. Dave got in touch to share his review…

After watching the ' Nightsleeper' on BBC1 there was, I believe, an obvious error.

During the journey some cast managed to 'split' the train with the last few carriages rolling to a halt and the front couple together with the power car charging on towards London. If a train 'splits' the brakes automatically are applied to the train’s rear and front sections. This is due to the air operated braking system being compromised. Any driver would not have any control over this action. The front section then carried on to Victoria where the signalling was set at red, causing the train to brake and eventually stop in the terminus.

Surely others must have noticed this error?