‘Blunt Talk’ Review And Recap: Patrick Stewart Is Hilariously Flawed As Walter Blunt

Patrick Stewart is out of his element in the best kind of way. After an almost 50 year career as a dramatic actor portraying scenes of a serious nature, he has turned his considerable acting skills toward comedy. Blunt Talk is a new series on Starz in which Stewart plays an aging, if not somewhat aloof journalist, whose personal life seems to be taking a nose-dive. But Walter Blunt has a plan to restore order and purpose to his life.

‘Blunt Talk’ Review And Recap

Formerly a high-ranking British military officer, Blunt has seen his share of trauma. Especially in the Falklands War, which is where he found himself disillusioned with the politics of military action to the point where he resigns to pursue journalism. He hopes to speak the truth to the world and through media and improve life for all. He considers himself a father figure to his viewers. Somewhere along the way, he loses touch with his original purpose and his television show goes in a different direction. This is where the personal crisis begins.

Walter gets into trouble with the law when making a gentlemanly attempt to ensure the well-being of a girl on the street. One thing leads to another and he gets busted by PD in an alleyway with a sex-worker. It’s a Mr. Magoo moment in the show, and it solidifies Walter’s status as a particularly wayward son. He is jailed and a boardroom scene follows in which network execs brow-beat Walter about missing his chance to cover a storm. “Can you just give me a moment to be thankful that she wasn’t 16,” is the best response Walter can give to their reprimands.

He knows he must get his life in order. He speaks with his therapist who guides him to the realization that the emotional crisis he is going through may have something to do with his experience in the military and his show not living up to his original purpose in journalism.

Walter now must reclaim his journalistic edge, and he does so by interviewing himself on his own show. That’s right, Walter, in a split-screen near screaming match, asks himself the hard questions on live television. This is Walter’s way of airing his dirty laundry and showing the world that he is his own worst enemy.

Walter is an interesting character with many noble intentions wrapped up in flaws and played out with hilarious charm and wit. All this is complimented wonderfully by his relationship with the people around him. Adrian Scarborough plays Harry, Walter’s best friend, and the two are essential to one another. Harry is a full enabler of Walter’s alcohol, cocaine and speed habit. His subservience to the “Major” goes so far as to test his Walter’s drugs for quality beforehand.

What is to come in later episodes? Can we expect Walter to transform himself from the well-meaning wreck that he is into a more gathered personality, or will we enjoy the hilarious chaos rooted in the internal conflict that is Walter? Let’s hope for the latter.

Pictured: Adrian Scarborough and Patrick Stewart

https://youtu.be/miYYipdtLs4