Reviews

It hurts to write this as I love Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West. I also really enjoy shows that shed light on mental health issues and find a way to add a comedic slant, however, this one really misses the mark. The main actresses deserved better. The first ep is decent, but with the show in its entirety, I struggled to see the humour. There are very, very few funny moments littered across the episodes but just a handful. I personally felt that the show generally deals with the issue of mental health quite poorly. Maggie's bi polar episodes are almost ignored by her friends and even more so, her long time best friend - It's bizarre, Eddie seems to lack compassion and empathy for Maggie whilst she's in an episode. I appreciate that Maggie is not her responsibility, but the second episode is nothing short of bizarre. It's heartbreaking to watch the ignorance and lack of understanding, especially with the party. The portrayal of friendship between the "best friends" is lacking substance and even ep 5 can't save it. If anything i'd rather have see more frustration and angst from Eddie towards the disorder as opposed to pretending it's just a bad mood or a phase, and a little dance and cake will help it all go away and Maggie will instantly be cured. Besides that there is no coherent storyline, depth or anything gripping to unfold, there is little development or journey and very few laughs. This show should have taken guidance from the myriad of shows in this genre like Big Boys, This way up, Alma's not normal, Everything now or Tell me everything. However, Nicola's performance is great throughout and I'd have loved to have seen more of it. Her character's battle should have been the whole show yet it seems likes an alternate subplot going on in the background . Otherwise I do usually love a C4 comedy, however, it saddens me to say that one is severely lacking.

It's brilliant, really enjoyed this so much that I binged it. It's refreshing and different instead of a re-hash of the same old cliches. Some sweet moments and laugh out loud moments. It's not perfect, but pretty much representative of what dating is like this days. The main characters are flawed, but often relatable and endearing in many ways.

One thing I will say, another reviewer mentioned political correctness - The show has no reference to race, ability or any political issue. How bizarre that in 2023 seeing an interracial couple or someone in a wheelchair on screen is viewed as a political statement or PC when it's just life in London. It's representative of where the comedy is set and everything on screen is pretty much the norm in modern London - The main actors are seasoned BBC, Channel 4 actors and in this, they are just people, people who have good chemistry, make sense in their situations and give good acting performances.

It's ok, but I honestly can't recommend it. After watching the whole series I didn't feel like I wanted or needed more. It left me feeling a bit deflated, the show is full of toxicity to a fault. Most of the characters are incredibly unlikable with unredeemable qualities, and the ones that aren't unfortunately don't have much depth or screen time. There's a lot of gratuitous sex and I'm usually ok with it, but it's very out of place. It's not steamy, hot or titillating - it's awkward, cringey and uncomfortable most of the time and not in a way that's trying to portray reality, but more just random. Most of the relationship bonds lack real on screen chemistry and intensity, I didn't really feel that crazy type of lust/love that emits from some onscreen couples. There's not a lot of suspense or drama to keep the intrigue, it moves quite slowly and feels uncomfortably tense at times. I get that we make a lot of stupid relationship mistakes in college, but this has to be the worst of it all, one after the other. Also, not loving the female portrayals, certainly doesn't pass the bechdel test. Many of the women simply don't make sense, but I guess it is supposed to portray a time where a lot of people tend to be insecure and are finding themselves and it is a show about relationships. A lot of the show is centred around an incredibly narcissistic sociopath guy and his toxic girlfriend playing out an unhealthy relationship, not even one where you feel the passion/intensity/longing. It's where you're irritated and annoyed at how callous, cruel, manipulative, self serving and delicately horrid they are, but not even in an exciting Cruel Intentions way, but a more realistic depressing way. The last two episodes are probably the best, but still not enough to carry the show. I didn't feel satisfied with any of the storylines either. I normally live for these college/teen/young adult type dramas but this wasn't for me - although the characters and scenarios seemed real enough, it was too much doom, gloom, manipulation and continuous subtle and sometimes not so subtle, abuse.

As much as I appreciate, commend and stan what Tyler Perry has achieved, I generally don't resonate with his brand of humour. This one seemed a little different, so I gave it a try. Season 1 starts off really well, I really enjoyed it for light entertainment. I was actually surprised at the bad reviews and then I finished the whole season and unfortunately I could completely understand the poor ratings.

The comedic parts are actually funny and I think they should have stuck to that genre because the dramatic parts aren't done well at all. They are badly acted with misplaced hyperbolic scenes and outlandish storylines. The haphazard script unravels halfway through season one and continues to decline, a lot of the things the female characters say and do don't make sense and come across as stereotypical of what a man thinks a woman would do in that situation, but is actually very unrealistic. The characters lack depth and proper development, most of the things they do stop making sense. The character Andy and all of her storylines should have been left out- This would have drastically increased the quality of the show. As beautiful as she is, her nonsensical telenovela style acting and confused storylines are unnecessary, cringeworthy and painful to watch unfold. This show is an example of why no man should be an island, perhaps if TP had someone else writing and others producing, just another set of eyes ... sometimes we need to be checked and also, doing it all spreads anyone thinly.

As I said it starts off well, but declines into WTF am I watching real quick. I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to run it in the background or for very light entertainment and that's only because of the earlier eps which had a nice Girls Trip vibe. All in all the show is ok, I see why people feel it's bad though. If you want a good show with a similar premise about female friendships/career/relationships, etc... I'd recommend Run the World or Harlem.

So for context I watched the original SATC series when I was in high school through college and I was probably slightly younger than it's intended audience, but I was in love with the fashion, the characters, the snapshot of supposed life. It was bold, brash and liberating. Even though it was a exclusionary, I still found the dating situations/ struggles, sex scenarios/dilemmas relatable, some of the problems were very real and absolutely hilarious. So many things I was afraid to ask and talk about were on screen and the fashion was jaw dropping! This grown up version is NOT THAT! It is MUCH older and I just can't relate, I guess I watched it when I was too young so I haven't grown with them. What I see now is a big cringe fest, big generational differences, it's not as funny, the fashion is a bit try hard (definitely missing Patricia field's sparkle). In the context of today's shows that feature female friendships/sex/dating, this falls very short. Also, I hate to drone on about the lack of Samantha, but you can definitely feel it...Maybe if one of them was single and actively dating again or poly/swinging or something...it might be more interesting, but the way sex is addressed isn't as bold and trailblazing as before, it's prudish and clumsy with very random references thrown in. Their problems are boring as opposed to titillating, but I guess that's real life. For me, Anthony is the only interesting character - wish he had more air time . This feels very much in keeping with the movies as opposed to the original series. The original series had its flaws but it was brilliant for its time. To be honest, this isn't terrible, it's just not Sex and The City... but I guess that's why it's called something else. If you like the movies, you'll like this. If you like the series you'll find this mediocre at best.

Feel Good is definitely not your run of the mill series or a nice, neat, formulaic comedy. Instead it's original, funny, authentic, quirky and presents issues in such an honest way. We get to see what's going on in Mae's head, even when words aren't being said. It took a few mins to get into the first ep of season 1 because I wasn't sure where it was going, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I binge watched both seasons in a couple of days and loved it, especially season two- They definitely upped their game - It's pure brilliance!

Issues of addiction and trauma are touched on in an unexpected way that we rarely see on screen. It's not the typical way we see these storylines conveyed, but the way it unfolds is more akin to reality. There are also plenty of laugh out loud and awkward humour moments to break through the darkness that loiters throughout. Mae Martin did a brilliant job and I look forward to seeing more!

Mario Casas and the first couple of episodes are brilliant but the story goes downhill shortly after. Half way through it stops even being about his character. I don't want to add spoilers or reveal the story, but I'll just say that it's not really about him, the synopsis is a bit misleading and if I could go back I can't honestly say I'd watch it or recommend it. There are so many plot holes, a whole different story is told and things just get a bit silly and unbelievable. It's a real shame as the first couple of episodes had me hooked, there's a lot of great acting talent. I thought it was going to be brilliant but it really wasn't. Some plots were underdeveloped, others got too much time and the overall story seems disjointed and misplaced at times, almost like you're watching a completely different series.

I really don't understand how I missed this show when it originally came out but I'm glad to have discovered it. The writing, storylines and more so, the acting performances are brilliant. Season one starts off a little slow but the quality of everything just increases as you go, so stick with it. I haven't watched a show with such a strong main cast performance from all actors in such a long time. It's hard not to fall for every one of these tragic characters. The character development, transformation and even minor facial expressions are top quality - so much is said and expressed without words. Standout performance from Jonathan Tucker!!! He was phenomenal. Paul Pauser, Matt Laurier and Nick Jonas's performances were a pleasant surprise, along with Frank Grillo, they were fantastic - would love to see more of all of them on screen.

The storylines and subplots are unique to the bog standard on tv, they're developed well and also engaging. I'm not into fighting, it usually makes me wince to see people take hits but I loved every part of this show. There's depth, action, violence, sex, addiction, pain, emotion, heartwarming moments and humour - Everything you could want from a show. I just wish they would revive it, it did not deserve to be cancelled. I would definitely recommend this to any adult audience, there's enough for everyone to enjoy/like/relate to.

It's a good show but I get some of the mixed reviews. I love the production quality, fast pace, style and artistry - it's definitely something different and each character plays their role well- a few caricature, stereotype portrayals but typical of how 80's and comic book characters tend to be played. The series starts off amazingly - the action, the drama, theatrics and plot development were great up until about episode 5 and then the quality of storytelling and character development declines. It's still highly entertaining, well worth the watch but it was sad to see that drop in quality and rushed randomness in the direction of the story. Within the realm of the genre it's in, it initially made sense and unfolded in an intriguing way...then it just went a bit left, as if the storytelling was rushed to cover specific storylines, then more and more holes started to appear. In spite of this, I still really enjoyed it and I'd recommend it if you like these kinds of shows - it definitely deserved another season.

It's not meant to be real life but neither is something like Kill Bill. Take it for what it is and enjoy it. After one episode it'll be easy to tell if this sort of thing is for you.

Decent watch, but not great. The concept is a bit different because it focuses on teen girls stuck on an island -it's like a Lord of the Flies meets Lost, but with Teens. You do have to get past the first episode to start enjoying it and it does get a bit better. I was entertained but could have also easily have given it a miss, there was nothing profound or groundbreaking that happened and although there were diverse characters with varying backgrounds, they were hard to relate to.

I think a lot of the negative reviews are because it takes a few episodes to get into it, understand it and mainly because the majority of the characters are unlikable. Most of them (aside from one or two) have little to no redeeming qualities and are irritating beyond belief. I don't know if it's intentional but most of them are horrible, and despite having "reasons", they're portrayed in a way that makes it hard to feel compassion or relate to. A few characters also don't quite make sense, the major plot has a number of alarming holes but maybe these will be addressed in the subsequent season. There is some bad acting and after a few episodes I now understand what the reviewer who said it's for a reason, meant. I do also have to say, as much as I despise Leah, the actress who portrays her gave a great performance - she plays unhinged brilliantly. I also think Fatti is underrated.

Generally, I feel like they missed an opportunity to do more with this type plot- There could have been more suspense, drama, more character development and more interesting questions on ethics. All in all if you have time to kill it's not awful but it really is anything great or even that I'd feel comfortable recommending.

Really enjoyed it. Of course there's some dramatic licence in comparison to reality, but a lot in reference to the culture did remind me of many of my experiences in finance on a grad scheme. It's a good portrayal of a dominant toxic culture.

I like how realistic the sex scenes are and I felt like they actually helped the story as opposed to just being there to titillate. Yes, most of the characters are very unlikable but aside from Harper who seems unexplainably, unhinged at times, most are types you'd be accustomed to if you've worked in finance in the city.

All those expecting it be some sort of Billions- I'm genuinely confused as to this assumption, especially as it's a show clearly based and built around the graduate/grad scheme experience in finance - no inkling of billionaires ...Also, I personally did not find it predictable, the main characters did not behave in ways I expected, it took a few unexpected twists.

Thought I'd write something as I saw a rant about tropes of people of colour and "white men bad"- That person has issues and is projecting. There is a female PM (she's no Angel) but the majority of the politicians are depicted as white men, it's Britain so this should be expected. The people of colour are side characters and the majority are in prison, the other notable main person of colour is a morally bankrupt barrister and that's it so I'm not seeing all this good that PaulSpencer chose to see. I'm also confused as to what could have been the expectation considering they're supposed to represent the Tory party. Also, I didn't think of the main Hugh Laurie character as bad, he's just a politician, has done no worse if not less than our current politicians, but his character is very likeable. After the things our ministers have done they still manage to survive and carry on- This is no different. Despite his failings he still manages to make us like him and even root for him. The portrayals of some of the female characters are a bit 2D and questionable, something seems unfinished so I can understand people having issue there. As a Brit I didn't see the anti-right sentiment, I simply see snippets of what we have now with the Tory government and I don't think it would been much different if they were portraying a labour government - These are the political workings of our government.

Overall this isn't groundbreaking but it's a decent watch, it's entertaining. They could have done better with the material and stretched it out over a few more eps but for the talent alone I'd watch another series.

It starts off a little slow but picks up through the episodes. It's a good representation of teenage life, the characters actually look and act their age. The teens also wear real/normal clothes instead of couture or outfits a 25yr old would wear clubbing. The storylines are engaging. Not as gripping or as much drama as say, Euphoria but very relatable ...Teens do drugs, are mean, insecure, have sex, have crushes, have fun, party, are trying to discover themselves and find their place in the world, all the while doing stupid sh** sometimes...that's this show.

Without giving too much away I liked the way consent, impact and agency are explored, its very much real but not often shown this way on screen. We tend to be shown extremes.

Also, this show is not "BLM crap" ignore that review. Not that it should be an issue but BLM barely comes up, it's given about 5 mins of screen time - a subtle subplot that crops up occasionally alongside other storylines, but is by no means dominant or even a storyline I even noticed until trying to understand what the triggered review was about. I'd say in terms of general themes, sex and belonging dominate this show more than anything. This show is contextual, current and has varied storylines. There are a diverse range of characters of varying heritage, developing different subplots. To be honest this is what Brooklyn looks like in 2020. There are white people, black people, brown people, East Asian people, Jewish people, Muslim people, wealthy people and poorer people, and they all have problems. This show has all the diversity without the Disney style cheese, it's as real as it gets for an American high school. Enjoy it for what it is, Teens in Brooklyn growing up in 2020.

As a huge fan of SATC and Younger and I mean HUGE fan, I really wanted to love this. I was excited for this to come out, but sadly it fell flat for me. Lily Collins's performance was surprisingly a bit caricature and her portrayal of Emily was cringeworthy type of cheesy most of the time, instead of endearing. There's something off. Also, the nanny character is so random and makes no sense...

I expected a lot of "obvious" French stereotyping and the typical American obsession with over-romanticising Paris, it's certainly there. Of course some bits ring true and some are overkill. The reviewer who said Emily's outfits looked like they were taken from Carrie Bradshaw was right lol and they didn't always fit so well with the scenes. With Emily, there wasn't much character development, depth or backstory as to who she is. Even for a light show Emily is too two dimensional for the main character. Also the storylines aren't plausible or entertaining enough to run with. I get that it's meant to be light entertainment but a lot either didn't make sense or fell flat. I don't know, Younger managed to pull off a whole load of unrealistic, outlandish story lines and still make it relatable and entertaining, etc... This doesn't have the drama or relatable/fun relationships that draw you in...Maybe it gets better, but I tried 5 eps. Even with time to kill I couldn't get through the whole season. I lost interest and dare I say, found it a bit boring. I can see how some might like it, but for me I'd opt for something like Good Trouble instead.

I'm really glad I stumbled upon this gem, I really do love it. At first I felt like it was a guilty pleasure, but now I say it's a straight up pleasure! I've never watched the Fosters so I can't comment on who Callie and Marianna were, but only their portrayal in this. They're two young women growing up, figuring out who they are at work and trying to make their way in the world...not perfect by any means, but human. The range of the supporting characters is great, not only are they rich in diversity, but also in personality and there are still obvious common shared values that connect them. There's also a decent amount of character development so who they are in the show makes sense.

I really enjoyed the way that they deal with and cover dilemmas...everyday issues that women face at work, life-situations, dating taboos, sex, colourism, trans vets and the Asian LGBTQ+ experience. TV shows tend to gloss over a lot of these things, especially the common micro-aggressions. They rarely address it so boldly so it makes the show very relatable and current.

Although I enjoy the discussion and exposure of topical issues, it's also a part of my only criticism. So many social issues affecting marginalised communities come up in season 1. They also could have easily drawn out the issues of season 1 over 3/4 seasons. I feel like sometimes they could have also been a bit more subtle to reflect reality. Regardless, it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the show, it's a good watch, highly entertaining and I'd still recommend!

Manage your expectations... it's average at best, but not the worst way to kill time. I really wanted to love this as I enjoy sci-if. I also like a good British production/drama, but it wasn't anything special and it was quite slow with very few lukewarm twists/decent moments of gripping drama thrown in sparingly. To be fair, most of the actors were good (namely Harry and some supporting roles), they performed well...after about three episodes it does get better, but just not great.

Just to clarify a couple of other things; someone compared this to the brilliance that is Sense 8. This is nothing like Sense 8. The storyline/plot is VERY different, context completely differs, the scenery and cinematography are also very different. This is more static, less sensual, less versatile, has a lot less drama, suspense and action. It's based in one or two countries max and there's minimal cultural crossover. Sense 8 was a feast for the eyes and mind so I wouldn't want anyone to get their hopes up. Anyway, this is also not as realistic as some are claiming. It might be more so than an assumed glossy, soapy American produced version, but a lot of the interactions between young people are far from realistic. A lot about the runaways and how they run, the hospital, club scenes in Shoreditch how they survive, etc...does not make sense and is far from realistic or believable. I understand that we can be young and dumb, but they often take dumb to unrealistic levels.

It's not worth the watch unless you're simply trying to kill time. The trailer looked amazing, yet the whole thing was very anti-climactic and underwhelming. Not much that means anything actually happens. I see what they tried to do and it just didn't quite work. Visually it's nice to look at, the colours, contextual setting, backdrop and clothes. The erotic element is also intriguing, but its not enough to carry the show, which doesn't really make sense. There is not enough character development of the main characters and lots of caricature acting/portrayal of the characters - have to assume it's intentional but didn't stop me cringing. Also, there are lots of subplots littered all over that aren't developed properly. The whole thing is a bit all over the place with a few "taboo" and kink scenes to shock or titillate... but most didn't really make sense or help advance the story. Overall it was just nonsense, then more nonsense upon nonsense. Could have been a really good drama, but sadly fell flat.

I love this series and was upset to learn that it was cancelled. It's stunning, a visual delight to watch with a great script that's lovely to engage with. What's even better is how real footage and lifetime events are woven into the script. Generally speaking, I'm a huge fan of Baz Luhrmann so I'm already aware of the style of his work and this did not disappoint. If you do not like Baz Luhrmann films then you may have trouble connecting with this. I loved every minute of it and so did those around me. It's art in many forms, it's brilliant.

Really enjoyed this series, so easy to watch. Nice, light, funny entertainment- not too cheesy or slapstick, but sitcom style without canned laughter. Focused on an African family with a British born son and their neighbours all living on the same London estate. It uses comedy to touch on the difficulties and differences faced by migrant families living the U.K. in the 80's. Well worth the watch!

I'm only writing this review to clarify a couple of things that I saw in other reviews. Before I that I'll say that this series is by no means perfect, but it's enjoyable and there's enough good material there to binge watch. It's not a must, but it is an intriguing look into a dark world.

People are saying that they don't like that the characters come from wealthy families and have little relatable problems or that the prostitution element is not realistic- FYI - The series is based on the real life underage prostitution scandal that erupted within a wealthy community - the "Baby Squillo Scandal". Wealthy prep school girls from a private school and also appeared to have little problems (on the surface), were at the centre. The only thing that isn't touched upon enough is the corrupt officials that were clients. The real life client list held the names of politicians, police officers, UN Ambassadors etc... and police believe the high profile clients were aware that the girls in the real scandal were only 14 and 15. When you think about Baby in real life terms, it's actually dark and disturbing but it also shows how easy it is to groom teens. It reminds us that young people are not completely aware of the impact of their decisions and what they are really doing no matter how "grown up" they try to act.

Loved it! As a young British woman from London it's very relatable, from language to interactions. Some hard hitting scenes mixed in with Michaela Coel style dark humour. It's not meant to be girlfriends or SATC and it doesn't pretend to be. It's not a sitcom or light comedy, it's devastating at times, yet humorous. It's witty and real, covers some of the darker life scenes that aren't ordinarily placed on the screen. Think more of skins/euphoria etc... better yet don't compare it to anything at all... yes, people get wasted, do drugs and shock, horror they talk to their friends when on the loo. I'm confused by the lower scores claiming it should be a thriller or that the characters are one dimensional when we see the depth in their nuanced facial expressions and fleeting moments of raw honesty between friends. I can only say that those people appear to have completely missed the story being told. They didn't understand that it's not meant to be a whodunnit or sanitised portrayal of sexual assault according to how society expects victims to behave. It's about consent, the shades of grey, the acceptance/lack of it, how we understand it and how it's interpreted by the aggressor and victim...How sexual assault survivors cope with the aftermath and then have to exist with daily life. It's brilliant and has left me excited for Coel's next project.

I really enjoyed this show and hope they renew it. Anyone who thinks it's preachy is definitely projecting, there are a few lessons woven in, but it's not that deep. It's funny, but not slapstick or typical sitcom so I see how it may not suit everyone. Its the type of subtle humour you see in arrested development, uk the office and curb your enthusiasm. My only critique is that it can at times come off as a variation of black ish and it could have done with more originality.

The story itself is engaging and definitely challenges our perceptions of society, morality... what's right and wrong, how people are treated...however, the majority of the characters are very unlikable making it hard to connect with them even when it's intended. The two main characters, the mothers (Reese Witherspoon & Kerry Washington) are both toxic and equally detestable. You really need to push past the first few eps to get the best out of the story as it is initially quite slow. I personally feel that Kerry Washington's performance in this was not her best and I'm normally a fan (I loved her in Scandal) but she overacted and expressed lots of unnecessary extremity in emotion. Her character would have been better off with a more nuanced portrayal. A lot of the anger was unwarranted and it was a constant state which just didn't make sense, even by the end. Her reaction was the same whether it be to a "Hello" a genuine compliment/good news or a blatant disrespect/racism and insult... to a stranger/her daughter... etc... it was weird, there was no range and I feel that you can be dark and melancholic without anger, anger is different. In general the kids and teens gave good performances, captured the essence of privilege, ignorance, approval seeking/wanting to be loved/accepted well and with more realistic subtleties. Joshua Jackson was a good addition , would have been nice to see more of his character

It's not groundbreaking, the story is unrealistic and the script is cheesy, but it's a nice easy watch. Got OC in the outer banks type vibes from it, definitely a 90's/early 2000's type teen drama. Lots of others have mentioned it but it has to be said, most of the characters look way too old to be 16. I thought maybe they were supposed to be 18/19 even though they look like they're in their 20's... but 16 is just ridiculous and now that we have more shows trying to give a more realistic, gritty representation of teen life, it's harder to thanks ever before to ignore. On another note, Rudy Pankow, Jonathan Daviss and Madison Bailey- looking forward to seeing more of them on screen- lots of talent! Madison reminds me of a mini Michelle Rodriguez lookswise.

So first off, this is nothing like Euphoria so ignore those comparisons otherwise you will be very, very disappointed. The only things they have in common are; they used characters who actually look like they really could be in high school and it's more gritty and relatable (at least until the latter eps). The show is a decent watch, not your typical high school drama. Its engaging, but I wouldn't say it's a must watch although I enjoyed it. Not all the characters are developed well but Herizen is brilliant in her role. The show goes a bit wayward and left field around episode 8, I'm still struggling to understand the relationship between the coach and the girls, especially as there appears to be no real rationale behind it... I'm not sure they quite pull it off... I'd watch season 2 if it came out though. I think teens and young adults will enjoy it but I understand why people are undecided about this one.