Army affairs
The Last Post sets the standard for ’60s military mischief.
Six- episode miniseries The Last Post (2017, stream it on Showmax) follows the military – and personal – affairs of British soldiers stationed in Aden in Yemen during the 1960s. It’s all stiff upper lips versus loose slips as bored base wives amuse themselves with the military men. It’s that or fight over what Mary did with the croquet hoops for the 20th time. Newcomers Military Police Captain Joe Martin (Jeremy Neumark Jones, playing a man with a nasty secret) and his wife Honor (Jessie Buckley) find themselves under-prepared for this “Dynasty in the Desert” drama.
Series writer Peter Moffat says that “young couples in the heart of the ’60s living in extremely close proximity in a very alien and dangerous environment has always struck me as ripe territory for drama. Men full of vim, vigour and desire to be heroes in a situation where that isn’t always possible; alongside young women who are starting to feel the emancipation of the 1960s and a sense of new freedoms but who are living in a constrained setting where their role is meant to be merely supportive.” Here’s what will have traditional sticklers tutting into their teacups…
ALISON & ED LAITHWAITE
Alcoholic, suntanned smoker Alison (Jessica Raine) is a warning of what Honor’s life will become if she doesn’t find some way of amusing herself. “She is witty but hums with dissatisfaction, and she’s on a path of self- destruction littered with downed gin and tonics. I imagine her stalking in her apartment, climbing walls with boredom. She’s desperate to have fun but there’s not much of the type of fun she wants in the strict military environment,” says Jessica. Whether she’s hanging her frilly undies up to dry, beating a scorpion to mush with a magazine while wearing a negligee or falling pregnant by her lover, Alison gets the men’s hearts racing like a grenade lobbed onto the patio. But Alison’s marriage provides some measure of hope. Not even the fact that he’s been passed over for promotion because of her shenanigans shakes Ed’s (Stephen Campbell Moore) faith in her. “Alison has a reputation among Ed’s friends. But his utter support of her is one of the most touching and surprising things about their relationship. I love how they are both rule breakers. Together they are a very subversive couple,” says Jessica.
MARTHA FRANKLIN
US journalist Martha (Essie Davis) ruffles feathers as soon as she arrives in episode 2 since she’s there to expose the British police’s oppression of locals. Flirting is her second language and she doesn’t hesitate to unbutton her shirts to show off that naughty sweat-stained vest. Shocking! But when Honor most needs help, she will discover how deeply Martha’s courage runs and that doing “the done thing” is not necessarily doing the right thing.
MARY MARKHAM
These women are all rather shocking when you contrast them with Mrs Keep Calm And Carry On Herself, base commander’s wife Mary (Amanda Drew) – her behaviour is the standard for army wives. “Mary feels that it’s not her role to question or to rock the boat, but I don’t think that makes her judgemental or snobbish toward anyone else. She understands the deal: Army first, then wife,” says Amanda. “She’s stoic and she is the last person to complain.”