Must Watch reviews: Meet the Rees-Moggs
Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.
This week, Hayley Campbell and Scott Bryan join Naga Munchetty to review new reality TV show Meet the Rees-Moggs.
The former Conservative cabinet member, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has invited the team at Discovery+ into his home to experience family life.
Filming began shortly before the 2024 General Election, so the team were able to document Jacob losing his constituency seat of North East Somerset and see how he was personally affected by the Conservative election defeat.
What do the Must Watch Reviewers think of 鈥楳eet the Rees-Moggs鈥�?
Scott Bryan and Hayley Campbell share what they think about 鈥楳eet the Rees-Moggs鈥�.
Naga: “Must Watch, Hayley?”
Hayley: “No.”
Hayley: “I think it was a joke that I was made to watch this.
“My issue with this is he's so traditional in every way that there’s nothing here that's a surprise. He does exactly what you think he's going to do because there have been people like him for centuries. I think the reason why something like The Osbourne's worked, do you remember this, this was Ozzy Osborne and his family?
“There was no precedent for an ageing heavy metal rock star from the Midlands and his family living in a giant house in LA. Anything could happen and it was silly but genuinely anything could happen. But here, Rees Mogg's kids go to boarding school…”
Naga: “Three of them do, the other three are at day school.”
We also learned that he has a ham and cheese sandwich from Greggs every day"
Hayley: “Sorry, yes, and Jacob likes to have his hankies starched - is any of this interesting or unexpected?”
Naga: “And his underwear…”
Hayley: “That's true, everything has to be starched!”
Hayley: “We also learned that he has a ham and cheese sandwich and a chocolate eclair from Greggs every day which is the most surprising information on the show.
“But in general, I didn't learn anything new or exciting from it.”
Naga: “Is that because you know lots of wealthy, posh people?”
Who cares how they're going to be adjusting to life after politics?"
Hayley: “No, but I've seen films.”
Naga: “So it's like Brideshead Revisited, is it?”
Hayley: “Exactly - it's just more of that.”
Naga: “Ok, Scott?”
Scott: “Jacob Rees-Mogg is one of the most divisive politicians in Britain. They are married with six kids. How will the family adjust to life after politics?
“My immediate reaction is who cares? Who cares how they're going to be adjusting to life after politics?”
Naga: “But I could have that view about every single reality show that's on TV.”
Scott: “This isn't a question that's been running through my mind. I'm not sure how many people have been kept up at night wondering how Jacob Rees-Mogg and his family are going to adjust to a life after politics, particularly when they're so wealthy.
“I think even Jacob Rees-Mogg doesn't care how Jacob Rees-Mogg will adjust to life after politics because in episode three, I have watched more than just the first two, he says after he loses his seat in this years general election, "life goes on, people need to get on with things, I'm no longer an MP and that's life.”
Scott continues: “Then we see in the first two episodes - it's pretty light.
“We see him loving Greggs, as we know. We see the nanny who looks after the kids. We see that his 成人快手 iPlayer account has been nicknamed 'Vote Conservative'.
“But I think there's a particular frustration about this because Discovery+ go out of their way to say he is one of the most divisive politicians in the country [but] they hardly mention that in the programme - they allude to it.”
Hayley: “What are you talking about? They've got loads of people shouting at him in the street!”
This show is indescribably boring"
Naga: “And he's interviewed by a local news station for a debate ahead of the election and he's called one of the most controversial and divisive politicians.”
Scott: “But his actual political opinions are hardly mentioned.
“His hardline views against abortion, including on all counts of rape and incest, are shown only briefly as a short news clip at the start of the first episode. His consistent voting record against same-sex marriage is not mentioned at all. His endorsement of the Rwandan refugee policy is talked about very briefly.
“From the episodes that I've seen, of course there's every chance that it could be later in the series from the episodes I've not watched, but I was kept wondering about why he isn't being challenged?
“It's all fluff and light and about the family and I'm thinking where is the political accountability?
“Also, for me, this show is indescribably boring - there's just nothing here. For example, in one scene, we learn that the family will be attending Boris Johnson's 60th birthday party - it’s the plot of the whole first episode. Only for the show's camera crew not to be invited to the event!
“So genuinely, we are then stuck at Rees-Moggs house where we witnessed a member of his staff changing the bedding. I think Jacob Rees-Moog talks about how he only sleeps in one particular position. I'm like, I really don't care.”
Hayley: “During the party, we watched his driver eat a packet of crisps, was that not thrilling for you, Scott?”
Scott: “I wonder what Meet the Rees-Moggs is for? It's just the fact that I found that we've had a trend in TV that has really frustrated me in which you've had either divisive politicians or politicians who have had a track record in decision making that have really split the public, crossing into entertainment programmes.
“There have been questions about the lack of political accountability. You’ve had Nigel Farage on I'm A Celebrity, also former Conservative Health Secretary, Matt Hancock on there too.
“They have been challenged by other celebrities on those programmes, but those programmes rely on the celebrity doing the heavy lifting. And of course, a celebrity doing the heavy lifting doesn't realise that they have to do the heavy lifting.
“In this, they do say he's divisive. They have people yelling at him on the street that he responds to. But the real reason why he's been so divisive is not even explored. It's just light, fluffy and everything's great and that's it - that really, really frustrated me.”
Naga: “Is it a Must Watch?”
Hayley: “No.”
Scott: “It is not.”
Hayley: “There was another thing I found annoying… the children lost their ball in a neighbour's yard and then they got their nanny to go and ask for it back.
“I think one of the big things about being a kid is figuring out how to get your ball back.”
Naga: “Yeah, not to cry over it.”
Hayley: “You've got to get it back by being nice or by subterfuge.”
Scott: “Subterfuge!”
Naga: “Always more fun. I've done that, I've had some stories.”
You can watch all episodes of Meet the Rees-Moggs on Discovery+ now, so long as you’ve signed up to the streaming service.
But before that, why not contact Scott and Hayley with the shows you’ve been loving, loathing or both on mustwatch@bbc.co.uk.
This week, the team also reviewed Black Doves and Matlock.
Must Watch is released as a podcast every Monday evening on 成人快手 Sounds.
Your reviews
As always, we like to include your reviews - on shows you love, loathe or lament.
Message @bbc5live on social media using the hashtag #bbcmustwatch or email mustwatch@bbc.co.uk.
This week, the team reviewed the Netflix show Black Doves and the reboot of Matlock starring Kathy Bates.
Matlock
Scott: "Kathy Bates lifts it [but] it’s almost too polished, there’s no realism at all. The premise of her talking about older women being invisible in the work place provides an interesting premise. It’s very conventional but her character is engaging. It’s neat, it’s predictable, it’s not going to change the world but is actually better than some American legal shows I’ve actually seen."
Hayley: "It’s a reboot - but not quite. Because it keeps a premise of the idea of Matlock as a lawyer but goes somewhere else with it. It’s kind of about the invisibility of older women. She’s using her age as an invisibility cloak and she’s able to do spying that no one else would expect of her and she’s using it to figure out something in her own life. I really wanted to like it but it almost feels exactly like something I would find on cable accidentally while babysitting at the age of 15."
Black Doves
Scott: "The characters Ben Whishaw, Keira Knightley are strong characters, I think tonally it’s a little bit all over the place. It can’t really work out at times whether it’s a serious spy thriller or whether it’s a fun, dark-place comedy. It feels like several shows. However the first episodes I found to be quite disappointing then it gets better every subsequent episode."
Hayley: "It’s basically silly, expensive spy nonsense with some actors in it that you love. If you want a proper spy show, you’ll have a much better time with Slow Horses."
The Cockfields
Greg wrote in to suggest The Cockfields…
"It’s heart wanting, comedy genius. It's a cup of tea with a warm ice of buttered toast with humor thrown in. I recommended it to my Mum which is the highest accolade I can give it."
Ollie’s also been enjoying it…
"Such a lovely poignant and gentle comedy about a son's (the brilliant Joe Wilkinson) relationship with his mum and the dynamics that come with his brother, father and girlfriend. Sue Johnstone is absolutely fantastic and reminds so much of my late mum and the things she would do upon meeting a new girlfriend. I got seriously choked up when both Joe and Sue's characters grab quiet moments to chat alone. It makes me miss my mum all the more."
Rivals
And Ruth is enjoying Rivals which we reviewed weeks ago…
"Can I tell you that I am loving Rivals way more than I expected from your latest reviews!
I even love the show’s theme tune and haven’t skipped it once!! I’m loving everything about it - it’s both hilarious and poignant, the storyline is ultimate 80s."
Until I Kill You
Jo thinks Naga should stick with the ITV drama…
"I heard Naga say she couldn’t stick with any other episodes of Until I Kill You. My 22 year old daughter said the same thing but I’d advise you to stick with it! Anna Maxwell Martin’s acting is just so good."
Mafia Only Kills in Summer
Guido wrote to us all the way from Switzerland to recommend Mafia Only Kills in Summer on Channel Four.
"It’s an Italian series based on a movie of the same name and tells the story of a family in Sicily at the end of the 1970s who, without wanting to, come up against the mafia. The series skillfully balances humor and drama and is, in my opinion, an absolute gem."
