This Way Up

I think if you're already a fan of Aisling's comedy style then this will be an easy watch. If you're not, then perhaps it may not be for you. But that doesn't mean it isn't good, it just means everyone has different interests.

Personally I already found Aisling plenty adorable and funny, so when this came out it was just a continuation of my fandom. Aisling is front and center most of the time. Honestly a few times I actually wondered if some things were pulled straight from her personal life and that made it feel even more compelling.

This Way Up is an incredibly raw and realistic portrayal of mental illness that steers away from cliches or stigmatization. It's not sanitized, but it's not sensationalized either. The show balances comedy and drama expertly. There are absolutely laugh out loud moments, but the show doesn't sacrifice substance for a laugh. Aisling Bea's storytelling is superb, and she's managed to create memorable and nuanced characters.

Depression is not pleasant to say the least, but this series brings the point home without labouring it. Laughter smoothly moves to tears and back to laughter... much like life. The most depressing part for me was realising I had just watched the last episode of series 1. I'm really hoping for series 2, and as quickly as possible please! If you haven't seen it, make sure you do, your life can only be a little poorer without it....

It's hard to tackle issues of mental health but I love how it was done in this series. It shows a woman trying to overcome it with both humor and with fear. I found the cast choices perfect and automatically could relate to each. This show is whitty and I found myself laughing at times but also feeling for the main character too knowing how hard it is to tackle a giant voice in your head telling you that you aren't enough. I binged this in an afternoon and hope for more episodes soon!

I had to leave a review since I've read some in here that are frankly childish, witless, and overly critical. Perhaps female led comedy is too scary for some? Or maybe the subtly of the humour went over their heads.

It's interesting to see a protagonist whom we can laugh with, rather than at, as is the way with many sitcoms. She is a genuinely funny character who hides behind the tears of a clown when it comes to her hidden mental health problems. The struggles portrayed are very relatable, and they're set in a modern, inclusive world.

It's clear that Aisling Bea comes from a standup comedy background, as her million-words-a-minute ramblings take up most of the screen time. There are moments that are genuinely hilarious, but also very moving as well.

This is a great new addition to Channel 4's abundant collection of UK sitcoms. Hope to see more!