Sunday 20 September 2009

Trinity, ITV2

I've just had to review Trinity for Orange, so here it is; at least that means I'm getting recompensed for the hour I've lost.

I'm too tired to think of much else to add. The whole thing was a mess - there might be an interesting programme in there somewhere, but there's way too much noise and not enough signal.

And poor old Christian Cooke should be having a word in his agent's shell-like after being landed with the awful character of Dorian so soon after Demons.


Oh dear - this one was a bit of a mess. ITV2 clearly have high hopes for Trinity to be the channel's next Secret Diary of a Call Girl, but the new show makes Billie Piper's series look like The Sopranos. Characters without two facets to rub together, an inexplicable mixture of storylines and the most laughable sex scenes since Showgirls – this one's got the lot.

The action centres around the old-school wood-panelled setting of Bridgeford University's Trinity College. Trinity has been a poshos' playground for centuries, but the winds of change are threatening to blow through the institution, led by modernising new warden Angela Doone (Claire Skinner). The college is now even opening its doors to overachieving plebs like Theo McKenzie (Reggie Yates) – a streetwise kid from Lewisham.

The people behind Trinity obviously came up with a wish list of stuff they'd like to stick into what executive producer Ash Atalla called their "high-octane, ball-breaking drama". So, we have sizzling teen sex and drug-taking (Skins), exclusive social cliques tormenting their victims (Gossip Girl), a dark scientific conspiracy lurking behind the institution's facade (X Files) and two loveable stoners desperate to lose their virginity (just about every teen comedy ever).

If it wasn't for the other 90% of execrable guff, about 10% of Trinity could be quite intriguing. Professor Maltravers (Charles Dance), the dean of the college, is keen to discourage change in case it leads to the uncovering of a sinister project involving something or someone called Galahad (as well as some shadowy figures with unconvincing American accents).

Meanwhile, one of the new intake – Charlotte (Antonia Bernath), a po-faced, strait-laced Christian – is determined to find out why her recently deceased father Richard (who had a lucky escape by being menaced to death by one of the "Americans" at the start of the show) suddenly left his promising academic career at Trinity a few years earlier. Every mention of his name brings raised eyebrows among the senior members of staff, and it's obvious that there are startling revelations and discoveries to be made.

So while Trinity tries to pile everything in, it might end up satisfying no-one. Dem Yoof might tune in for the Skins-style shenanigans, but will they give a monkey's about the Dark Secrets From Years Ago waiting to be atmospherically unravelled? And will any viewers reeled in by the mystery element be able to sit through the cardboard antics of the students? It looks like being a difficult first term at Trinity College.

4 comments:

polyphemus said...

I enjoyed it.

You'd have to be an idiot to take it seriously - it is a great tongue-in-cheek take-off of typical TV elements mixed with panache. First 10 minutes were bad, admittedly, but there were some great one-liners. Watch the second episode; you might like it more.

Anonymous said...

I agree with polyphemus on this. I did think it was a bit of a waste of time at first but persevered and by episode three I couldnt wait to see what happened in the next. As to Christian Cookes portayal of Dorian I think it's first rate. He's the funniest character in it and Dorian is the type of character you have to grow to like.

Anonymous said...

just like very other good tv series i.e. F.R.I.E.N.D.s trinity has recieved a bad rating for its first season. hoever, i think it really good i really can't wait to see what is going to happen next; cause the actors are only going to get better.

Anonymous said...

What has happened to Trinity? Has it been cancelled, or moved? I've always had to watch it on 'catch up TV' but Virgin developed a fault a few weeks ago with the catch up channel and i've not been able to find Trinity anywhere in the programme guid for ages now. I hope it hasn't been dropped - I found I couldn't wait for the next episode to find out what happened next!