The Thick of It - Malcolm Tucker's final scene

[@jammygitz]

Tucker's final line "... it doesn't matter" I can see shades of Hamlet: "the rest is silence". After so much noise.. anger... chaos... the only thing left is absolute resignation.

[@fluorosco]

Life

[@olivernorgate9485]

Also reminds me of Michael Corleone at the end of Godfather II

[@xwhateva]

I don’t think that it was resignation, I believe that it was a final act of defiance and a way to disempower the press in his final moment. They trusted him to speak and gave him their silence, in return he gave them nothing. You don’t fuck Malcom Tucker, he fucks you.

[@CheerfullyCynical829]

Yes.........because ultimately politics doesn't matter. It's all a bunch of lies, doublespeak, and BULLSHIT.

[@bakedbeanishdragon]

I find it really interesting how he could have so easily come up with a fantastic final monologue that would've been the most epic finale moment in the show but just decided to say nothing, very clever indeed.

[@fyodorseriencha6538]

The final statement wasn't really clever, sort of like- I'm going to stare down the jury, oh but yes I'm leaving politics for good

[@eamonnca1]

A lofty speech with soaring music and dramatically panning camera angles would be too cheesy, too American, not very believable, and not as nuanced as this.

[@MorphingReality]

I think he wanted to exercise his power over the press, implied in their silence, one last time.

[@bakedbeanishdragon]

@@MorphingReality that's quite an interesting interpretation, perhaps he was trying to still have the last laugh.

[@MorphingReality]

@@bakedbeanishdragon I think he's even hiding a smile before he says it doesn't matter

[@benjoplin8302]

one of the absolute best shows ever put on television.

[@benjoplin8302]

@Spartacus Maximus You too, brother!

[@ClaraFinn]

I always yearned for another TTOI but there can never be for two very good reasons. The first is that actual real life politics is more outrageous than anything in TTOI these days (boris Johnson hiding in a fridge). The second is this ending is just perfection. After all the madness and screaming, it makes sense that when he finally runs out of time, he is silent and defeated. But at the same time there’s a strange sense of relief from him, almost that he feels he’s finally free from the political chaos that’s essentially consumed his life for god knows how long. Sometimes the thick of it didn’t feel like a comedy

[@georgebunn813]

Clara Finn I particularly love how the very last shot is DOSAC getting another crisis they need to solve. Glen’s resignation, Malcolm’s arrest, Nicola’s ousting and it all just kind of goes back to square one and starts all over again.

[@wibblywobblytimeywimey459]

I always thought that the last shot with Malcolm in the taxi looking back at all the media frenzy behind him, was him feeling defeated. But you're right: there's also a sense of relief there. Almost like, he just wanted to be fucking done with all that. I think that's why Malcolm didn't say anything at the last moment to the media. He just didn't care enough about it to try and spin. He was so completely done with that game.

[@p.atrick.]

@@georgebunn813 thats honestly one of the best endings to a show ive seen, and manion's "what a shit day" wraps everything up in the best way before you think about how nothing has actually changed and everything will continue from the beginning again, square one

[@emperorreign6154]

I wouldn't have minded so much that Malcolm (possibly) went to prison, but only if that little twerp Ollie and the odious creeps at DOSAC went down with him, as they clearly were guilty of perjury themselves.

[@Darkstar263]

Yes I agree they deserved some sort of comeuppance as well. Sure, Ollie now has Malcolm's job but I doubt he'll be anywhere near as successful in doing it. He wouldn't last long. At least Glenn was able to recognize that he committed perjury and wanted to hand himself in. Though he didn't bother in the end.

[@saintniccage2818]

@Stefano Pavone the guy in the cop station does say " you can hang yourself" too Malcolm.

[@adwitiyamishra4325]

@Stefano Pavone Malcolm doesn't strike me as someone who would kill himself. He's too much of a survivor and fighter to actually give up and kill himself at the prospect of doing time. If I'm not wrong, at one point when Malcolm and his lawyer are running around the police station looking for an exit, a cuffed prisoner tells Malcolm that he can exit if he hangs himself. Malcolm's response is a disgusted 'Fuck off'. I like to think Malcolm eventually found a way and got acquitted. Although he could not join mainstream politics due to the scandal, he became something of a consultant or wrote a book and managed to somehow turn the whole controversy to his benefit.

[@JavertRA]

@@adwitiyamishra4325 Like in the book "The Missing DoSAC Files."

[@firmanchristiansianturi4794]

@@adwitiyamishra4325 Simon Blackwell said that Malcolm is probably live in a house on a coast somewhere married to Sam

[@CptDobby]

I feel like when Malcolm ssys, "I want to say something," he doesn't really have anything to say at all, he just wants to have the national press waiting on his every breath one last time before he starts to slowly fade into political irrelevance.

[@harleyb7880]

Exactly...

[@hopesy12u4]

Give Capaldi an oscar

[@kallum96]

john smith he's actually got one 😂

[@jeckjeck3119]

Kallum96 Give him 1 MORE!.....ACTUALLY, MAKE IT 12.

[@Paul_1971]

@@kallum96 From what movie?

[@Wh0v1an]

⁠@@Paul_1971it was a movie he directed actually, its called Franz Kafka Its a Wonderful Life

[@toffeelatte6042]

You don't get Oscars from TV shows.

[@b34113411]

what an underrated show :(

[@MsPea]

I admit I got a little teary eyed when Malcolm was confronted by the press, despite his efforts to hide from them. There are so many shitty people in politics that should be arrested and never are that arresting Malcolm seems unfair really.

[@joehook5533]

His expression at 0:23 makes me laugh every time

[@salemgelidi3266]

@Stefano Pavone i'd say his face gives off an impression of ridicule, not whatever you're implying lol

[@georgelinford5576]

it makes me really sad :(

[@powerplayer84]

he went from one iconic role to another...still wonder who looked at this guy and said "He should be the 12th doctor"

[@salemgelidi3266]

@Bilal Khalid you baffle me. capaldi was one of if not the best doctor there has ever been ever.

[@salemgelidi3266]

guess it's all opinion, but capaldi was very good, we can agree on that much right?

[@silkworm2595]

The Zygon speech

[@wibblywobblytimeywimey459]

Steven Moffat. Duh!

[@georgelinford5576]

@Bilal Khalid did you even watch The Zygon Inversion? Or Heaven Sent? Or The Doctor Falls? if so, I don't understand you. Opinions are opinions though

[@sheep1903]

"Out of my way you human mooncup" Hahahah

[@michaelnixon525]

Perhaps more like Iago - ' From this time forth I never will speak word'. And he didn't.

[@kukuricapica]

It was kinda sad, because he knew what had be done. He actualy did what's right and shut his fucking nob. Well I would like to see Special where Frodo turned into fucking Malcolm.

[@Gatsbyy]

Sidy Baldé shut his nob?? That's a bit fucking odd.

[@christopheryoung3819]

Sidy Baldé I

[@dancingdan1994]

Like the media in the show Malcolm leaves us wanting to see more but we know that will never happen. Perfect ending to a perfect show

[@albertjester]

whether you liked him or loathed him, it couldn't be more appropriate for Malcolm to end the same way he ended countless other people. Thrown under the bus to save the skins of his "colleagues" and hounded by the press he used to wield like a weapon. (Honestly the brass neck on him to ask Ollie for his dignity)

[@filmreviewer117]

I've always seen it as Malcolm taking one last second to hold the presses attention before letting all the spin and life of politics go forever.

[@anizioassis4694]

Wonderful, plain and literally wonderful is the thic of it

[@BingBongGump]

those shots at 0:51 are fucking sinister

[@salemgelidi3266]

don't forget 1:05

[@HamburgerTime209]

There’s an X over him. He’s a marked man

[@bethaniie_]

@@HamburgerTime209 Omg that’s a really good observation

[@suzannerider9460]

He got screwed over during Season 4. but he goes out with dignity.

[@sams7068]

He absolutely screwed himself over by holding out a folder with the NHS numbers for Tickel WHILE he was orchestrating a press photo for the other folders to be photographed. Loved a series but that seemed like a stretch to me with how they've set up Malcolm, he's screwed up before but never in as ridiculous of a way.

[@madophelia4322]

@@sams7068 you’re rotgut, it feels out of character for him to do that

[@bethaniie_]

@@madophelia4322 maybe the pressure finally got to him and he made a massive slip up due to all the stress he was under

[@jeremiesdavidson4450]

his face at 0:25 is the embodiment of what the fuck

[@bowathand]

"It doesn't matter"

[@dfrew2529]

Malcolm Tucker's lawyer is Senator Agsby!

[@Bansidhe]

"He was talking in the middle of the rally, he just gets out his dick man!"

[@olivergille8305]

Maybe now he presents a morning show on daytime tv...

[@declancochran2882]

He's Philip Schofield, he fucks lobsters for money.

[@carmeloanthony6424]

Ollie clearly orchestrated this.

[@RandomPerson-rn4cn]

I don’t think Ollie is politically competent enough to do it, but in the show it also shows the government wanted the press with Malcolm

[@madophelia4322]

It makes the most sense that Ollie did it.

[@PaulSmith-mh2yq]

Why did Malcolm Tucker put me on edge the moment he walked into a room ?

[@MegaNorman007]

We need Glen's rant!!!

[@donkaler213]

FUCK TINKY WINKY

[@Adamgoms]

He's go Glenntal

[@bethaniie_]

He’s gone Glenntal ‼️‼️

[@Zombiewithabowtie]

I wonder now... Is it that he decided against saying what he intended: or was, "It doesn't matter" what he wanted to say?

[@xwhateva]

I believe that he was going to admit his resignation and defeat but instead decided to say fuck the cabal and disempower them yet again; they silenced themselves because they trusted him to speak, he broke that trust because that’s who he is and who he will always be, he has not given up, he is still the same Malcom Tucker.

[@121Swaleskid]

The inquiry he pushed for got him arrested forced him to resign

[@callumsvids55]

What do people think Malcom originally wanted to say but decided against it?

[@concon09090]

"Everything ends, and it's always sad. But, everything begins again, and that's always happy."

[@banzaiboy1597]

I think he would have made a scathing speech about the ineptitude of politicians and civil servants and that he was only the one that got caught. But then he realises he is done and just gives up.

[@ArmandD]

Smile, be gay, smile smile smile!

[@nightowl8477]

I'm pretty sure the whole joke is that Malcolm's oppositions wanted the world to forget about him, and make his career redundant. By leaving on an enigmatic note, people will never forget. Malcolm wins.

[@reysom619]

@@nightowl8477 no I think the point is no matter what he says it will be spinned and misquoted and completely forgotten by the time the next political scandal comes about, so it doesnt matter.

[@SP-ny1fk]

Communication just goes around in circles. You can be fooled into believing all the talking makes a difference, even make a career out of this belief - but you will sooner or later discover the futility of it.

[@Ed-en8br]

Is that true that something you say can help you in court in the uk? That’s so strange

[@1chish]

This character reminds me of Alastair Campbell ...

[@Darkstar263]

Alastair Campbell was apparently the inspiration for Malcolm's character.

[@1chish]

Darkstar - They would have had to tone down the character then because Campbell was a total bastard...

[@PaladinQuinn]

Oh trust me, he was not toned down, look up some of his rants.

[@Jimbo8012]

@@1chish - Campbell was also an alcoholic coward and a bully. It's easy to be tough when you've power of people. Not so easy when you don't. He was coward as a tabloid journalist. Any difficult job which involved even the slightest amount of danger he'd weasel his way out of. That's when he wasn't literally pissing and shitting himself in public due to his alcoholism. The fact that someone as fucked up as Campbell rose to the job of UK politics and the Labour Party should really tell you how broken our political system is.

[@927ismynumber]

After slaughter so many souls, all there is left is to fall on his own sword

[@keiranclarke2955]

Down Goes Tucker

[@JohnChoidotOrg]

I will forever hate Ollie for this.

[@bethaniie_]

I wonder what actually happened to him after this. The director said he’s “either dead or in prison” but I don’t wanna believe that lmao 😭😭 Maybe he went to jail for a bit and then settled down properly

[@michaelpoirier39]

I heard he became a grumpy Doctor Who hung out w/ young women.

[@franksloe5087]

Melcombe embracing absurdism