This Country

Loved this series, hope they get the nod to make another 6 episodes. I was a little unsure after the first 10 minutes of episode 1, being new to the characters I instantly noticed a striking similarity between Kurten and Gareth Keenan from The Office which I found a little alarming, but as I became more familiar with the show, it gradually grew on me. One of the unsung hero's of this program is the unseen mum of Kerry Mucklowe, all you hear is the strains of the mother coming from her bedroom shouting at her daughter..and in one episode, a Playstation comes flying out of the window. It's a big shame that this series didn't get a much wider audience , I only happened to hear about it via an interview with the main actor/writer Daisy May Cooper on my local BBC news show 'Points West', it definitely deserves a 2nd showing on BBC2 at a much more reasonable time than the 11:30 BBC1 slot it was getting after Match of the Day on Saturday night. This show is a little gem.

Fans of 'The Office', 'People Just Do Nothing' and 'Summer Heights High' will recognise the mockumentary format and enjoy the unapologetic realism of Charlie and Daisy May Cooper's 'This Country'.

We follow the lives of Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe, two cousins living in a rural Cotswolds village. Much of the show's humour centres on the love/hate relationship between the cousins (played by real-life siblings and show creators, Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper), who typically squabble over the most seemingly insignificant things; anything from the spelling of 'Justice' to who gets what space in the oven. Despite their differences, the two are fiercely loyal to one another, and this is exemplified by the way they often band together against the trappings of their pastoral locale.

Across the episodes, we are introduced to a host of colourful characters; from a terrifying neighbour with a licence to ink, Mandy, to the unfailingly patient locale vicar, Reverend Seaton, who does his best to keep the wayward cousins on the straight and narrow. It's a real microcosm of rural life that attempts to add more depth to the cultural stereotypes put forward by the likes of 'The Vicar of Dibley'.

For though there are laughs aplenty throughout the show, there are also subtle and often heartbreaking moments that resonate long after the laughter stops. Kerry's unrequited affection for her father, for instance, or Kurtan's foiled romantic endeavours. These are characters we grow to love and feel sorry for, which, in a six-episode run is something of a feat for a mainstream writing debut.

Quite what the future holds for this series is anyone's guess. I think there are more stories to tell and more characters to meet. One thing is for certain, however: Daisy May and Charlie Cooper have embroidered themselves into the rich tapestry of British comedy, and have proved to be formidable writers and actors with lots more to offer.

Watch the show by any means necessary.

I tend to find I don't laugh out loud when I'm watching comedy's on my own but I was crying with laughter sat by myself through every episode and for that I just had to give it a ten. The series writers brilliantly capture a specific region of the country with characters very unlike myself, and yet I still found the dialogue really observant. The humour was often that great mix of being silly yet perceptive. I really like how understated the settings and story lines where it really brought out the strength of the writing and performances. I also thought the structure of each episode was really strong as each one came to a satisfying conclusion often with an emerging reference to something that was said or done at the start and through out there was never a line or comic moment wasted!

Quite simply one of the funniest programs ever. A beautiful comedy in the same vein as The Detectorists. Appears to be subtle, then you realise you've been hit with a seven pound sledgehammer. Utterly utterly brilliant.

This is the only review i have ever wrote on IMDb and here is why. This show, in my opinion has not had the recognition that it deserves. It is a fresh, crisp and comical series which is great fun to watch and will have you laughing, loudly from start to finish. The 2 main characters, despite being delinquents, are surprisingly lovable and portrayed brilliantly!