The Drinker has gracefully outgrown his most obvious influence – the curmudgeonly Charlie Brooker - a former television critic, turned producer, who is best known for Black Mirror. He has also, in my opinion, outgrown those short snippets from films and TV shows that fulfil the role of a retarded Greek chorus in his reviews. Arguably the 'and I'm drunk while I'm saying all this' shtick is also played out. He is, without a doubt, a cut above the 'Kathleen Kennedy, reeeeeeee!' crowd that he associates with online, and he will outlast them.
Out of curiosity I read one of his books. It was an enjoyable page-turner. His writing is nothing that you haven't read before in the thriller genre, but it's well executed, by a man who understands his audience.
He embodies a baseline of professionalism which works both for and against him:
There is nothing particularly original about his persona or his work. He's a deliberate composite of more wayward and eccentric talents, dialled down, while still retaining an edge, and maintaining a level of buoyant energy that raises him clear of cynicism. Wild, creative tangents are not his forte. He will never deliver an overreaching, autistic magnum opus that has you shaking your head in disbelief, unable to frame a response. On the plus side, he is unlikely to be unmasked as the admin of a Telegram group of Glaswegian dog sex enthusiasts.
This might sound like damnation through double-edged praise, but there is a reason why the Drinker's videos are so well received and he continues to grow in popularity: He is insightful, he is articulate, and he is succinct. Unlike many of his contemporaries who have made careers out of perpetually grinding an axe, he balances well thought-out critiques and endorsements. I can see him following Brooker into TV or film. In fact I will more surprised if he doesn't make that career transition.
