There's not one thing I dislike about Brassic. The cast is perfect, down the extras, and the layering of the storyline makes it fun to rewatch over and over because there's always something new to find. Small touches in the background (like the repeated "Carl Slater bums dogs" graffiti you see throughout the town) thread the episodes together so the storyline feels more real. But I don't want to drop spoilers here and potentially ruin it for you, so I'll steer clear and stick to more general stuff.
One of the most wonderful things for me about Brassic-apart from the stellar soundtrack-is the humor and familial love between the members of the group. It just makes the whole thing so damn enjoyable. Even some of the background characters, who would be throwaways in other shows, are treated with affection in Brassic (the few exceptions being those who don't deserve it). And there are so many hilarious support characters adding to the show's colorful palette, like Steve Evets's gruff Jim the farmer (who has an intense rivalry with his Farrah Faucett-haired farmer neighbor) and Vinnie's lunatic therapist, expertly played in a surprising turn by Dominic West.
Speaking of Vinnie, I thought I loved Joseph Gilgun after This is England and Preacher, but Brassic sealed it for me. The fact that the show is loosely based on his life makes this one more personal, and the way he integrated his experience with bipolar disorder into the show was handled with honesty and candor. Every aspect of his performance in Brassic, from the comedic to the dramatic, is truly brilliant.
Some of the episodes have unexpected features that make it magical, like floating graphic images and sudden breaks in tone (it's so hard not to insert spoilers here!), but one of my favorites is a seemingly small one. No matter how chaotic or disastrous their antics get, Vinnie always manages to crack a smile at the end. Just a nod as each episode wraps, affirming the charm and heart of the show.
