Reviews

Was really looking forward to a reboot following the disappointing Jodie Whitaker years. The first episode was appalling, this one was even worse. Perhaps just the kernel of a good idea, but as presented, simply meaningless drivel with no apparent point at all. Being able to use elaborate special effects is no substitute for a good plot and great acting- both sorely lacking in this series to date. Both stars have performed well elsewhere, so please give them the scripts they deserve. This show seems to have been significantly dumbed down for the Americans and if this is the Disney influence, then frankly we can do without it.

Robert Popper wrote the excellent Friday Night Dinner, so I had high expectations for this new venture. How sad. Not one of the characters are likeable, not even a little bit. Indeed, I genuinely hate most of them. And it's just not funny. Not at all. Ok, changing the sign to dog abortions was quite funny the first time. We expect some running gags (nice bit of squirrel, salt, spray cream, etc), but the EXACT same gag, every week with no variation or evolution at all, soon gets boring. Unfortunately, that really was the high point. Downhill from there. I have to admit to having given up by episode three. If it happens to get (a lot) better later on, then hopefully that will be reflected in later resided. If not, please don't make a second series.

There are some good actors in this, so maybe nobody told the writers. There seems to be a lot of effort put in to trying to reproduce a Newark accent when the focus really should have been on humour. Sadly, there wasn't any. Three episodes will be more than enough.