GAMESMASTER EPISODE I REVIEW: A MASTERFUL RECOVERY
After a long time, GamesMaster returns to UK TV screens with a new series. The revival features Reviews and Challenges, new presenting teams, and a new GamesMaster, Sir Trevor McDonald, an experienced newsreader. Dear reader, I won’t lie to you; the original GamesMaster program is one of my favorite programs growing up. It’s amazing; if it weren’t for that show, I wouldn’t even be writing this blog!
Although rumors of a return to television have been long-rumored, it has never happened. With the magazine that aired from the show’s end dying in November 2018, I was worried that any hope of the show returning would be lost. We are nowhere with a program that is a perfect continuation to the original. It does have some rough edges.
GamesMaster will be broadcasting on E4 UK Wednesdays at 10 pm. The first episode can currently be viewed on the E4 YouTube channel.
STORY – ERR…
GamesMaster is a light entertainment/gameshow. It doesn’t have a story. Instead, it’s a show in which people play video games and occasionally give reviews. But that doesn’t mean that a script can’t be scrutinized. The episode begins with a monologue about the time since the original show began and its last airing. It feels like the original but doesn’t feel self-promotional. This sets the tone for the entire program. It is also a compliment to the original.
This is a show that I enjoyed growing up, as I said in my intro. The revival of this series comes from a place where passion is evident. All the people involved in this program have a deep love for the original. This version feels very much made for and by the fans.
HERE IS A GOOD TIME…
Passion alone won’t make something work. As the old saying goes, you need to have the skills to pay the bills. This GamesMaster version is nearly perfect on every level. This makes it feel like the original but also fits in perfectly with the modern world. I was able to smile big throughout the entire run and felt satiated when it was over.
To address the issue at hand, the revived season will only be three episodes. While I enjoyed this week’s episode, some aspects give the program an air of a pilot rather than a fully realized entity. It’s testing the waters, trying out new features, and seeing what works.
I hope that this will be the case. This program is beyond nostalgic. This program deserves a longer run, with some trimmings. We’ll get to that in a moment.
A NEW MASTER: CHARACTERS & PERFORMANCES
Dominick Diamond’s presentation skills were key to the success of the GamesMaster. His presentation style was like a British gaming magazine’ brought to life by Dominick Diamond. He even gave it a Scottish accent. They tried; it was horrible. He was so woven into the program that he was almost irreplaceable. It was going to be a difficult task to replace him in a consistent way with the program’s style and not just a copy. They have, for the most part, succeeded.
