I Hate You

I found this show funny and genuinely heartfelt at times, with two funny leads, Sure, it was a little cringe from time to time, such as the incesty plot points, but so was Friday Night Dinner, and most leading comedy shows at the worst of times. It was easy to get into and watch, and I was sad when I reached the end of series 1. I liked that the in-jokes between the friends were explained naturally to the audience, as if you were meeting very close friends for the first time in real life. Got some real laughs out of me. Definitely needs more time to find its footing, but I can see a lot of potential in it.

When going into this show, I already knew that it had an uphill battle due to its association to other very well-known comedies and the fact that the two main characters are women. A lot of the reviews I have seen for the show are extremely misogynistic and uncharitable. Many of the common critiques can also be thrown at the Inbetweeners or Friday Night dinner. Protagonists with questionable decision making? Fine when it's a man, but apparently completely irredeemable if it's a woman. I think some of these reviewers are having trouble realising that the characters are fictional people, and their actions have no real bearing on the world.

So what would I say to someone looking to watch this show? Go into it with an open mind, there is some genuine fun to be found in this series, and try not to take everything so seriously!

Writer Robert Popper has worked on some real comedy gold like the Inbetweeners and Peep Show but this wasn't one to add to that portfolio. Despite a good cast and production values the premise and script fell short. It had some amusing moments and good one-liners here and there but the storyline was quite improbable and overall it didn't come off.

Would like to think it will get better over time but can't see a second series for this one as I'm not sure who the audience will be. Not traditionally structured and written sharply enough for older viewers and not 'hip' enough to attract a younger audience.

Bottom line neeeded to be a lot funnier. A middling sitcom that will soon be forgotten.

So for some reason they decided to start the series with the "edgiest" storyline, where the 20-something flatmates sort-of date a couple of pensioners. It's a ridiculous premise with very few laughs and to be honest I was going to not bother watching any more...

...but I've had a quiet afternoon so I came back to it and watched the rest of the series.

Any you know what - it's not that bad. The two lead actresses pull off the slightly awkward friendship between Charlie and Becca really well, a handful of the jokes are chuckle-worthy, and some of the supporting characters are very good (in particular Becca's boss and her stepbrother).

But there's plenty that doesn't work. Lots of the pre-launch focus was on the creator, Robert Popper, who's been involved in loads of British comedy shows over the years. He's an old man writing a show about two young women. And although some of the script doesn't ring true, the worst characters are the men. Charlie's boss is an unrealistic idiot, a man that has a crush on her is, well, an unrealistic idiot, and Becca's co-worker is, errr, an unrealistic idiot.

Highlights? Spilled coffee, an awkward Chess accident and a curious greeting.

Second series? Needs stronger jokes and better supporting characters to be worth it.

Feels like a lot of the bad sentiment about this show comes from a place of misogyny; god forbid young women make complicated decisions and have a libido. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone that enjoyed the same silly humour on Friday Night Dinner.

The lead actors perform the sharp, humorous writing well, and a convincing yet bizarre world is established around them. Again, anyone fans of one the previous lead's past experience (Sex Education), or of the creator's past project, Friday Night Dinner, should thoroughly enjoy the show.

The show covers a range of different concerns facing those in their mid-20s, especially those living around London and big cities, with a light, funny but, when needed, heartfelt touch.

Poor imitation of Friday Night Dinner.

Basically the same premise. Follows two people that constantly prank each other. However, instead of being siblings, they are flat mates.

This time the show is a little wackier and doesn't have the heart of FND. Acting is good, but not the same calibre.

Definitely not the worst show in the world; you might get a few giggles out of the first two episodes. After that it gets pretty repetitive.

The best thing honestly is the opening titles.

Doubt it will get a second season, so will look forward to what the creator does next. Hopefully something different.