Green Wing

Green Wing is, in my mind, one of a kind.

This show manages to successfully combine conventional elements of a drama/comedy (a compelling romance plot, likable characters, a seemingly grounded hospital setting) with wacky madcap slapstick, mind-bendingly surreal escapism and sketch comedy. Doing so is no mean feat.

Even after seeing the series multiple times, every time I watch the show I undergo the same process as a viewer. Initially I feel slightly weirded out by the unusual filming style (slow-mo and fast forwards are used an awful lot) and juxtaposition of comedy and occasional effective drama. It's so different from the standard TV fare even in 2019.

Then after a few episodes suddenly I once again feel totally at home with the style. By the end of the show I always feel a real final sense of sadness that there are no more episodes in this unique style and format with these great characters!

Perhaps my favourite aspect of the series is that despite it's insane surreal comedy and ridiculously over the top situations, it still manages to exactly nail the real feelings of social anxiety, social awkwardness, work stress and romantic failure that exist in real life. Somehow the show can be a completely mad melodramatic exaggeration of reality and yet still keep the bits of reality you most recognise and empathise with.

Caroline's house party is a notable example of this kind of blend; everyone's dressed oddly and behaving hilariously but at the same time the scene genuinely feels one hundred percent like every fun-but-sketchy-and-awkward house party I ever went to as a Uni student.

The cast is universally excellent, but my special shout out has to go to Mark Heap as Dr. Alan Statham. Heap has been a standout cast member in everything I've seen him in, from Jam to Spaced to Green Wing and the man possesses prodigious talent for both comedic acting and physical comedy.

I also really like Tamsin Greig as Caroline Todd, she brings a kooky humanity Todd that makes her a very compelling "everywoman" character. She's not as mad as everyone else (endearing her to the audience), but is still quirky enough to feel like one of the gang.

Perhaps my only disappointment with the show was the ending; personally, I feel like the series could have gone on a good deal longer and it's a shame it ended after only a couple of seasons. The latter half of Season 2 and the Special ending feels rushed in comparison to the rest of the series, as if the writers were simply told by the execs upstairs to make it a wrap.

Anyway, if you haven't seen it...see it!

It took me most of the first episode to come to grips with this show, but now that I've become accustomed to the characters and the constant speed-up/slow-down video methods used, I find that I really like it.

As someone who sees way too much US comedy that is utterly predicateble and done to death, it's nice to see something that surprises me, and I'm shocked about once a minute with Green Wing. The woman staff administrator (sorry - I don't know most of the actors' names) is an absolute howl. They should have 15 minutes of each show with her talking with Dr. Todd.

I truly hope this show sticks around.

This is the funniest series I have seen. It often left me gasping for breath after some outrageous repartee, while the next joke was already playing out. The characters have a three dimensional quality, with the relationships between them crucial to the electricity of the series. Mac and Guy and their 'love-hate' dynamic. Caroline and Mac and the respect and attraction that glides beneath the surface. Fresh and innovative. Where the personalities of the players bounce off one another, their little quirks identifiable as true to life. I am desperately awaiting the DVD release and, indeed, the next series. keep up the good work 'Green Wing'.

This show is so utterly brilliant. The other day my husband came home while I was watching it and said he could hear me laughing halfway down the sidewalk. May take one or two episodes to acquire a taste for this show, as it is so different from what you're used to watching, but there is so much richness and depth to Green Wing. The characters, while extremely quirky, are still real. While you may be screaming with laughter at some outlandish physical comedy moment or gag one moment, the next they will surprise you with a relatively sober, very dark scene (Joanna and her flip-book of Polaroids of herself as she ages).

In the US, this airs on BBC America. I would recommend it to people who love "Arrested Development." Of course, some of the most quirky and original shows can't last through very many seasons without losing some of their sting. I just hope "Green Wing" doesn't flare out soon, or disappear as its actors become stars in high demand in Britain and the US, as I'm sure many of them will.

By the way, for those of you who are sick of "hospital" shows, don't be fooled. This show couldn't care less about the patients! You almost never even see one, unless used as a meaningless prop beneath a sheet in the operating room. Definitely no "ER," this, thank God.

Love it love it love it!!

I can understand why some of its more outlandish sketches has received criticism from one-off viewers, but following through the series, characters and plots develop to hilarious consequence. Michelle Gomez (Scottish nymphomaniac) is a comedy genius - fans should check her out in the similarly underrated 'Book Group'.

My bet is that by series 2 the rest of the country will have woken up to just how good this show is - lets hope we see less of over-hyped Little Britain (does ANYONE out there find the Dennis Waterman sketch remotely funny?!). Green Wing deserves the comedy crown!! *****