As soon as the posh bloke with the tan and dodgy tash came on screen saying how good looking he was I became very worried about the fate of this review. This is only my second attempt at a review and unlike my last effort I am not talking about one of my favourite things. I haven’t ever really watched The Apprentice. In fact, unless Spooks is on the only TV I watch tends to involve sport of some kind so I wasn’t very hopeful for this being an enjoyable experience.
I hate the introduction to the show. The whole head and shoulders shot with the prescribed “I am *insert either pompus, arrogant or idiotic statement here*” introductions almost made me turn off. I get that we need to hate some of the characters and grow attached to others in these reality shows but considering Lord Sugar’s serious mandate about changing the way business works in this country this introduction segment is just a bit too Big Brother for me. Get on with the show and we’ll find out who is annoying soon enough. Needless to say Vincent’s arrogance was enough to keep me watching if only to see him look stupid at some point.
I was pleased with the change in format – the winner of the show no longer getting a cushy job working with Lord Sugar but instead starting a business thanks to a cash injection of £250,000. This brings something new to a show which was getting a bit dull, even for someone who only watches one or two episodes every series.
One of the strengths of shows like this is an excellent focus on quotes, with lovely parallels of the confident Del-boy figure ‘rolling with the punches’ and then the lass from oop North who ‘Don’t make much of that – it tastes like uncooked ragu’ and then suggesting that Southerners might pay for it anyway. No prizes for guessing who my favourite contestant was (I’m from Salford, in case you hadn’t heard me mention it before).
It hadn’t taken long for my cynicism to wane. I was hooked and also pleased to see Lord Sugar give Edward the boot. His exit with a naughty schoolboy look as he left the boardroom was just brilliant. And so I awaited episode two…
“Did you have an app-le?” Pure class. Vincent had stolen the show again for all the wrong reasons. Another strength is that to compliment the ridiculous lines the contestants come out with, the music is genius. The nursery rhyme style lullaby as Susan was told no, no and then no again only helped enhance the ridiculous mother/petulant daughter exchange between her and Edna.
Considering how uncomfortable Melody already makes me feel the small segment of her figures blunder was another piece of subtle yet brilliant footage. Add to that Vincent’s shocking presentation and I was now loving the show. As Leon said as the boys entered the lift, “you can’t hide general humour” and whilst I am assuming he meant “genuine”, either way I was near wetting myself.
My enjoyment and laughter however were short-lived as the show came to an annoyingly predictable end. The whole girls being worried, boys having ‘nailed it’ made it all too obvious which way this one was going to go. Despite how I much I enjoyed the explosion of contortions in Alex’s face when he was criticised it wasn’t enough to save the show from crumbling to an all to blatant conclusion.
I will definitely be watching again however but hope that the tasks and outcomes begin to run parallel to the cock-ups and bitching in terms of importance and interest. Vincent’s one-liners won’t keep me hooked forever…especially as I don’t think he’ll last much longer.
The Apprentice – 7.5/10
But what do you think of The Chancer’s review? Did he convey the show appropriately? Did you agree with his comments? It’s over to you to Review our Review.
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