Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited: S1E6, The Creeping Moss From The Shores Of Shuggoth

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Episode: The Creeping Moss From The Shores Of Shuggoth

Air Date: 3 March 2004

Summary: Another mist has appeared over Darkplace but this time, it’s green! On this occasion, it gets through the air vents and the result is a young woman named Linda getting infected and turning into cosmic broccoli (of course). Unfortunately for Sanchez, he falls in love with Linda, who is now terminally ill, and this even results in him contracting the broccoli disease (much like an STD) and has to have emergency surgery. This episode is not only a commentary on the issues of AIDs in the world, but is also a story of love and loss.

broccoli

What Else? More new music is played in this episode such as Matt Berry’s song: One Track Lover which features some wonderful rapping from Thornton Reed. Somehow, the tapes that contained a part of the programme have been destroyed (under mysterious circumstances) which means that these must be explained through the use of photos of the events and a commentary from Dagless. There is also a brilliant and entirely not un-realistic fight scene between Dag and Sanchez.

Quote of the Episode:

Thornton Reed: “When I heard my wife died, I could barely finish my lunch.”

Familiar Faces: Julian Barratt appears for a third and final time as the priest. We also see Graham Linehan as a member of hospital staff and Kim Noble as a barman (as well as his usual role of Doctor Jim).

THE END:

So, that is the end of my revisit to Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. I hope you enjoyed reading about them and maybe hearing about them for the first time (or just remembering how much you loved the show in the first place!).

THE REVISITED SERIES

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited: S1E5, Scotch Mist

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Episode: Scotch Mist

Air Date: 26 February 2004

Summary: This episode really sums up what Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is about. It is dark and mysterious, but most importantly: radical. A mysterious mist has been looming over Darkplace and claiming various victims who happen to be wondering around outside. Doctor Rick Dagless knows something about the mist: it is, in fact, Scotch Mist. Dag, Liz and Sanchez decide to go outside into the cold to try and find out more about why the Scotch Mist is there, armed with miniature handheld fans to keep the mist away. Meanwhile, someone has given out Thornton Reed’s number as a massage parlour and it is causing him considerable distress…

Scotch Mist

What Else? There is some new music in this episode which is interesting for us to hear but we also receive some life lessons. For example, we learn that you should never buy cheap batteries from a dodgy market stall because your handheld fan won’t work for very long at all. Another lesson we are taught is that you should never be racist (which apparently, not a lot of people know). This is because Rick Dagless has said many racist things about the Scots when he spent the night in Glasgow: he had to learn the hard way.

Quote of the Episode:

Rick Dagless: “I ran. Ran like my life depended on it. Which it did.”

Familiar Faces: Kim Noble is featured a lot in this episode as Doctor Jim as he is one of the first victims of the Scotch Mist.

THE REVISITED SERIES

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited: S1E4, The Apes Of Wrath

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Episode: The Apes of Wrath

Air Date: 19 February 2004

Summary: There is something mysterious in the water at Darkplace yet nobody has realised it yet. Despite the fact that Sanchez transformed into a horrific ape-man within seconds of having a sip of his drink. Despite the second fact that eventually everyone in the hospital is infected except the only two who prefer to drink coffee: Rick Dagless and Thornton Reed. Finally Dagless discovers what is causing people to change and pays a visit to the water store room, and is surprised by what he finds there…

The Apes of Wrath

What Else? In this episode we get insight into Dagless’ presence in the hospital, and let’s just say, you can definitely tell that Garth Marenghi wrote the episodes because everyone on the ward seems to think Dagless is the best doctor that ever walked the Earth. The fact that nobody could work out what was causing the ape transformations highlights the stupidity of the characters at Darkplace, and makes the experience all the more hilarious for the audience. The secret also comes out that since filming Darkplace, Madeleine Wool, who plays Liz Asher, has disappeared and is presumed dead.

Quote of the Episode:

Lucien Sanchez: “Not my fault, monkey bastard hands.”

Familiar Faces: Julian Barratt returns as the (slightly evil) priest and we see Noel Fielding as a criminal ape.

THE REVISITED SERIES

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited: S1E3, Skipper The Eyechild

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Episode: S1E3, Skipper The Eyechild

Air Date: 12 February 2004

Summary: This episode is allegedly based on a true story. A giant eye impregnates one of the patients at Darkplace which results in the birth of a mutant eye-child. Rick Dagless MD has emotional wounds regarding his dead son, Skipper, (who was born half grasshopper) which leads him to steal the baby eye and hide him from everyone at the hospital. He also calls the new child Skipper in hope of filling the hole in his life that was left by his son when he died. Unfortunately, Rick is eventually backed into a corner and this results in him being bitten on the hand by the mutant eye and he panics…

skipper

What Else? This instalment of Darkplace is, yet again, packed full with top-of-the-range special effects. There are some authentic-looking wires to hold a helicopter in the sky and very realistic makeup, such as fake blood (it definitely doesn’t look like Ketchup at all). We get insight into Sanchez and Dagless’ special handshake and also see how it only takes mere seconds for Liz to ruin her makeup with tears after an insult, which isn’t particularly convenient for the busy woman.

Quote of the Episode:

Dean Learner: “I haven’t acted since. Some would say I didn’t act during, but er, those would be unkind people. I did my best.”

Familiar Faces: Graham Linehan as a hospital security guard.

THE REVISITED SERIES

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited: S1E2, Hell Hath Fury

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Episode: S1E2, Hell Hath Fury

Air Date: 5 February 2004

Summary: This episode begins with a problem: the chef at Darkplace is too slow and the chicken is late. This has made all the staff waiting in line very impatient and annoyed, which results in multiple people being incredibly rude to poor Doctor Liz, and she doesn’t appreciate that at all. Within seconds, the chef has been mysteriously attacked and nobody can work out who did it: Rick Dagless M.D- “We’ve asked everyone in the hospital if they’re the mystery attacker, and they’ve all said no”. After many many hours, and various new attacks, Thornton Reed finally works out that the attacker is Liz, and she’s developed dangerous telekinetic powers.

What Else? This episode is about “love, loyalty and sacrifice”, which is definitely, and hilariously, not really that significant to the episode, and in places where it is, it is brief and lighthearted. A hilarious aspect of this episode is the terrible camera skills, where many characters only have the top half their face on screen at some points. We see many wonderful special effects: Dean Learner: “An eagle eyed viewer might be able to see the wires… if you go to a Punch and Judy show and look at the wires, you’re a freak!”

Quote of the Episode:

Rick Dagless: “I ran the only way I knew how, by placing one leg in front of the other in quick succession.”

Familiar Faces: Stephen Merchant as the chef (“you son of bitch”).

THE REVISITED SERIES

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited: S1E1, Once Upon A Beginning

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Episode: S1E1, Once Upon A Beginning

Air Date: 29 January 2004

Summary: Rick Dagless M.D. is reminiscing about his old friend Larry, with whom Dagless accidentally opened the gates to Hell many years ago. There is something wrong at Darkplace Hospital, Dagless can feel it. Plus, new doctor Liz Asher (“You’re a woman,” “Yes, I hope that’s not going to be a problem.”) has had a psychic vision and it becomes apparent that Larry Renwick is at the hospital once more, as a patient. And when Larry explodes, everything gets a little bit worse…

What Else? It’s hard to express how hilarious this episode is in words because the true skill is in the performance. The combination of the deliberately terrible acting and pathetically poor props (such as fake cars) makes for very funny viewing. There is frequent use of extreme gore that is not for the faint-hearted but is obviously not real, along with absolutely ridiculous plot devices, such as an exploded man being buried with his body intact and a controversial amount of sexism (yet again, not designed to be taken seriously).

Quote of the Episode:

Thornton Reed: “If that’s how you treat your friends, imagine how you treat your enemies! Worse, I expect!”

Familiar Faces: Julian Barratt plays the very Howard Moon-like priest and Kim Noble appears as doctor Jim.

THE REVISITED SERIES

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited

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Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is a wonderfully stupid but very sinister cult comedy classic. It aired in January 2004 so celebrated it’s tenth anniversary at the start of this year. Sadly, the show only ran for one series but I want to relive the chaos of Dark Place with you. This new weekly feature will see a short analysis of an episode each week and I hope it will either help you to remember the things you loved about the show or even introduce you to something you may never have watched.

Darkplace is a medical drama based in Romford; talked through to the audience by the writer of the show’s screenplay, Garth Marenghi. It features a cast full of wonderful comedic actors, many who have also worked on The Mighty Boosh and The IT Crowd.

dean and garth

The immediate cast include Matthew Holness as “author, dream weaver, visionary, plus actor”, Garth Marenghi, who plays the part of “maverick doctor”, Rick Dagless M.D; Richard Ayoade as Garth’s manager, Dean Learner and also as his role of Thornton Reed, Dagless’ boss and Matt Berry as horror film star, Todd Rivers and his character, “hot shot surgeon”, Lucien Sanchez. Finally, Alice Lowe has the part of Madeleine Wool, a mysterious actress who later disappeared, who plays the part of Liz Asher, psychic lady doctor.

In addition to this, there are many other familiar faces that pop up, including Noel Fielding, Julian Barratt, Kim Noble, Stephen Merchant and Graham Linehan.

Many shocking and disturbing things happen in Darkplace Hospital, including a portal to Hell being opened underneath the building, a contaminated water supply resulting in people turning into apes and the arrival of Skipper the Eyechild. Is any further explanation needed? Stay tuned for a look into each episode of this brilliant show with Garth Marenghi, Revisited.