Line #39 Series/TheBleakOldShopOfStuff


1	SpiritualSuccessor slash SoundToScreenAdaptation of the radio series ''Radio/BleakExpectations'', this is a [[Creator/CharlesDickens Dickensian]] parody written by Mark Evans with an all-star cast including [[Series/ThatMitchellAndWebbLook Mitchell and Webb]], Creator/StephenFry and Johnny Vegas. It follows the story of [[MeaningfulName Mr. Jedrington Secret-Past]] who tries to win his family and his business, [[TitleDrop The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff]], back from AmoralAttorney Malifax Skulkingworm.
2	----
3	!!''The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff'' has examples of:
4	* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: London's three great alliterative clocks, Big Ben, Massive Morris and Tiny Terry.
5	* AffablyEvil: Skulkingworm shifts drastically between being a horrible old bastard and being rather pleasant.
6	* AmoralAttorney: Skulkingworm, the main villain of the pilot. [[spoiler: Curiously, when he's in 'client' mode he's an evil, cackling old scoundrel, but when he's in 'lawyer' mode he's actually quite friendly and pleasant.]]
7	* AndroclesLion: The orphan Jedrington treats like any other customer at the beginning of the {{Christmas episode}}.
8	* TheArtfulDodger: Parodied with the Artful Codger ("codger" being slang for an older person) who has had to spend his life with a gang of urchin kids because he failed the exam to graduate to "vagabond" or "ne'er-do-well".
9	* BazaarOfTheBizarre: The eponymous shop of stuff.
10	* BigNo: Servegood delivers one at the end of Episode 2.
11	* BritishBrevity: It aired starting with a one hour ChristmasSpecial before Christmas 2011 with another three half hour episodes.
12	* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Hatred of the French and extreme sexism. Both PlayedForLaughs.
13	* GRatedDrug: Treacle. Exaggerated to the point where it's actually dangerous.
14	* EvilLaugh: Skulkingworm seems to love them.
15	* TheFundamentalist: Secret-Past's adoptive aunts.
16	* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Harmswell Grimstone considered trying to find a business partner by [[Series/TheApprentice putting a group of candidates through demeaning weekly tasks and firing them one by one]], but rejected the idea as ludicrous.
17	* MeaningfulName: Almost every single character has one.
18	-->'''Uncle Writes-Prompt-Thank-You-Cards''': [[LampshadeHanging Dear boy, your name is ... not without meaning.]]
19	-->'''Jedrington Secret-Past''': [[ComicallyMissingThePoint What, Jedrington?]]
20	* ManBehindTheMan: Subverted. [[spoiler: Skulkingworm's "client" is...Skulkingworm.]]
21	* MayContainEvil: "[[MagicallyBindingContract Contract]] may contain traces of evil."
22	* McGuffin: The (final) codical to the will.
23	* MookFaceTurn: Fearshiver has one, [[spoiler:Skulkingworm killed his parents. "He placed a large amount of legalments and injunctions on them. [[DroppedABridgeOnHim Literally - they were crushed to death]]."]]
24	* TheNicknamer: Maggoty the treacle fiend, who calls people by the names of birds.
25	* OnOneCondition: Jedrington can only ''avoid'' being heir to his grandfather's debt if [[spoiler: his parents]] get married.
26	* OverlyLongGag: Mrs. Christmasham, describing the circumstances of her wedding.
27	-->'''Mrs. Christmasham:''' I was due to be married on Christmas Day, and I waited at the altar for my beloved husband-to-be, and I waited and waited, and waited and waited, and I waited and waited, and I waited and waited, and waited and waited, and wait --\
28	'''Jedringham:''' Did he basically not turn up?\
29	'''Mrs. Christmasham:''' How could you have possibly fathomed that?
30	* ParodyName: Skulkingworm is a handful of letters away from Tulkinghorn of ''Literature/BleakHouse'', who's also an AmoralAttorney.
31	* ThePollyanna: Jolliforth Jollington, a man so optimistic and good-spirited that the mere mention of happy things causes him to spontaneously become stouter and jollier.
32	** [[spoiler:TheCynic: As Jolliforth lies dying of consumption in a flophouse, driven out of business by Jedrington's strong-arm tactics, he assures Secret-Past not to worry for him, as he's chosen to cope with the experience by becoming extremely bitter.]]
33	* PunchClockVillain: Skulkingworm's first scene has him act the part of an AmoralAttorney, interspersed with him apologising and saying he's just acting on behalf of his client (who's "a meanie"). [[spoiler: His client just so happens to be himself.]]
34	* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: When Grimstone is brought to trial, he arranges matters such that the jury is composed of his cousins, and his uncle is the judge.
35	* ShoutOut: To Bleak Expectations. Harrumble indeed!
36	** [[spoiler: PS Little Nell has died]]
37	** While Jedrington is having a sword firght with Skulkingworm he says [[Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock "I .. have had ... enough ... of you!"]] before disarming him.
38	** The business with the statues is a nod to "[[Literature/SherlockHolmes The Adventure of the Six Napoleons]]".
39	* SkipToTheEnd: The wedding of the Christmashams, who must be married before Christmas Day, takes place at midnight on Christmas Eve.
40	* YetAnotherChristmasCarol: Deliberately [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by Grimstone, who dresses up as the Rabbits of Easter Past, Present and Future in order to terrify Jedrington.

Context Series / TheBleakOldShopOfStuff