A Very Peculiar Practice Ii (bbc 1988) S02e05 V... [UPDATED]

The second series of the BBC’s black comedy (1988) reached a thematic peak in its fifth episode, titled " Values of the Family " . Written by Andrew Davies and directed by David Tucker , the episode serves as a sharp satirical critique of the ideological shifts in British higher education during the late 1980s. Plot Overview: " Values of the Family "

The series used the microcosm of a university medical center to critique Thatcherite ideology . In Season 2, these themes are amplified through: “A Very Peculiar Practice” | Film Quarterly A Very Peculiar Practice II (BBC 1988) S02E05 V...

Originally broadcast on , the episode finds the medical practice at the fictional Lowlands University caught in the crossfire of the new Vice-Chancellor Jack Daniels' aggressive corporate restructuring. The second series of the BBC’s black comedy

: Professor George Bunn emerges as a primary antagonist to the Vice-Chancellor’s policies, representing the "old guard" resistance against the marketization of the university. In Season 2, these themes are amplified through:

: Ever the opportunist, Dr. Bob Buzzard attempts to integrate himself into the university’s new elite by befriending a famous athlete. Core Satirical Themes

: In a move that puzzles Dr. Stephen Daker and Dr. Jock McCannon, the ruthless, American-influenced Vice-Chancellor suddenly begins championing "traditional family values".