SERIES 29, EPISODE 4 - GO OUT AND GET BUSYThe BBC video trailer (no longer available) and Radio Times episode review (below) promised much...
"Three of Casualty's junior members of staff - Lofty, Max and Robyn - decide to prove their mettle after being dressed down by an angry Tess and an even angrier Connie the Great.
What's needed is some calculated interference in the personal lives of their patients, because that's the Casualty way. You'll cheer when little Robyn acts heroically after a disaster at a wedding party, while Lofty and Max do their best to bring comfort to two women who are unhappy in different ways.
It's good to see the kids get an episode pretty much to themselves. They are a nice bunch, so nice that when Max gives his patient a Lesson In Life, you won't be too annoyed at his impertinence."
And we were not disappointed - this was my favourite episode of Casualty since Lee joined the cast. His character has been allowed to develop slowly, and tonight we saw plenty of the humour we have seen from Lofty before, but also a touching vulnerability stemming from his desire to please and a steely determination to do the right thing by his patients, and his colleagues, regardless of the personal consequences. Oh, and I shouldn't forget his fabulous super-hero swagger! It's taken a while, but I very much like where the writers and producers are taking Lofty now - I hope the journey continues.What's needed is some calculated interference in the personal lives of their patients, because that's the Casualty way. You'll cheer when little Robyn acts heroically after a disaster at a wedding party, while Lofty and Max do their best to bring comfort to two women who are unhappy in different ways.
It's good to see the kids get an episode pretty much to themselves. They are a nice bunch, so nice that when Max gives his patient a Lesson In Life, you won't be too annoyed at his impertinence."
It was fitting, then, that it was clips from this episode that featured when Lee was nominated in the Newcomer category at the National Television Awards. He lost out to Maddy Hill, then with Eastenders but who has of course followed in his footsteps by joining the cast of Casualty!
As always, there are screencaps and, with my ever grateful thanks to the anonymous editor and my apologies to those of the cast who have hit the cutting room floor, here's the satisfyingly long 'Meady bits' edit!
Details of all Lee's episodes can be found at HOLBY & CASUALTY INDEX.
Last updated: 02/11/2014