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Made in Chelsea - S02 E02

In this episode, Spencer decides to test if Louise is really “ok” with him having relations with other female people by hitting on lovable Binky. Hugo and Millie break up. Gabby is obviously still not over Ollie, and most of the episode happens on a boat.

There are a lot of big points to make about this episode, to save time, I’m going to list them:

1) The audience is definitely not supposed to think that the characters know about the cameras

This is evidenced by a couple of moments, Millie and Hugo looking sad after their breakup, and Spencer and Louise having alleged post-coital chats. What, are we supposed to believe that Spenny and Louise spent the afternoon doing the nasty and then phoned up the camera crew and said “Yeah, we just had sex and we want to share it with the world.” While I can believe this of Spenny, it seems less likely that Louise would do this, being as she is, a human being with a soul.

The Hugo/Millie breakup also gave me the giggles because Hugo was so comically distraught. Even Spencer pointed out that he was wearing the baseball cap of misery. Apparently, when a human shark loses its mate, it sheds its stylish outer layer and dons a gross grey cardigan.

2) Spencer 100% believes women will do whatever he wants

I really hated the way that Hugo suggested Spencer should just “hook up with Binky,” as if Binky, lovable Binky, would just happily hook up with him at the drop of the hat. What I hated more was the fact that she did...kind of seem up for it... Which was a shame. If she weren’t so lovable I would be annoyed at her terrible taste.

Which leads us to point number three...

3) This show has a very defined social hierarchy

The Spencer/Binky story is a fun instance of the “Mortals vs Gods” hierarchy that I mentioned in the show last week. Binky, lovable Binky, is one of the “mortals”, who are a little bit more like the viewer than the rest of the gang. Spencer hitting on her elevates her for a moment to his level, but he’s only ever using her as a pawn in his game with Louise, who sits on a higher status level. At some point I need to draw a diagram of the status relationships in this show because they’re fascinating.

This isn’t the only interaction that we see between these groups in this episode though. In fact, the producers are taking an opportunity to blur the divide in this specific episode. Binky flirts with Spencer. Cheska is confronted by Hugo, who is angry that she (a mere mortal) has meddled in his relationship with Millie. It is important to consider that Louise’s position in the hierarchy is further asserted by Hugo’s choice to blame Cheska for passing on gossip, despite Louise being the messenger who passed the rumours of his infidelity to Millie. Finally, Chloe, Ollie’s new girlfriend, is shown to be allied with Victoria (uber posh and therefore super high status). When Chloe discusses her doubts with Victoria, she laughs at the petty games and fights that she may stumble into as part of her relationship with Ollie. Victoria sets herself aside as an observer by pointing this out, she knows the dynamics of the lower status groups, but is unlikely to get involved herself.

4) Jamie is introduced to make the male characters more likable

Jamie is an awful person, I know he is. He’s sexist, shallow and bad. He is just as sexist, shallow and bad as Spencer. However, Jamie is genuinely funny and entertaining to watch. His interactions with Rosie are charmingly awkward, and his banter with Spencer and Hugo while they play videogames induced a genuine belly-laugh from me (I know, I too was surprised.)

Jamie’s character, buoyed up with humour and boyish enthusiasm, poses an interesting question. Do we forgive morally questionable behaviour more easily when the perpetrator is funny? Even when I was watching this series back in 2013, I remember Spencer being a total asshole - but I have only fond memories of Jamie, and I still buy Candy Kittens when I see them at a reduced price. Jamie’s abiding quality, despite his clearly deplorable attitudes towards women, is that he’s likable and sweet. This rubs off on the other characters, meaning that the annoying dude-banter that is had during the videogame scene seems harmless and fun. This scene contains the assertion women cannot have a casual sexual relationship, the notion that Binky will automatically respond positively to Spencer’s advances, and the idea that a woman who can have a casual sexual relationship is a “slut.” And yet what did I remember from it the first time around? The belly laugh.

5) The editing tells most of the story

The way that this show is edited creates tension. Cutting to Louise when Spencer is talking to Binky. Cutting to Chloe when Gabby appears. Leaving the camera on Millie for a prolonged awkward silence when she breaks up with Hugo. All these elements create the story just as much, if not more, than the dialogue. Furtive glances can be created easily with enough footage and a good editor, as can awkward silences and filthy looks.

I bring this up partly because this episode has excellent editing for tension, but also because it is relevant to the current series of Bake Off. I have been watching The Great British Bake Off for years, and only this year have I noticed that the show seems to have been edited to create tension between the participants. Every now and then, we see one contestant glance at another with a frustrated or annoyed expression on their face, particularly during the judging for each challenge. I’ve no idea why the creative team behind the show have decided to do this, but it really alters the atmosphere of the programme. Bake Off is not like Made in Chelsea, because even though it is a competition it is meant to be good-natured fun. Made in Chelsea is posh people bickering with a storyline, and that’s good - it is it’s own thing (just like David S Pumpkins.)

Editing has the power to completely alter the mood of a programme, and it is disappointing to see Bake Off presented as such a snipe-y show. In Made in Chelsea this technique of editing creates some of the show’s most memorable moments, but in Bake Off it is honestly just spoiling the fun.