White Gold

Yeah its original (ish) Sometimes its like watching Jay from the inbetweeners with a tash and a job and simon with the same problems and a job.

Theres only so far you can take something when you are recycling the same material within a series so to stop this from dying an undignified death it may be better to let it be.

However i have a feeling that timeshare will be next on the list and unless the writing at BBC2 comes up with something better a lower score might be applied later.

However some humour and laughter, good enough for a 7 even. Just no more.

I really liked Season 1, great set up, however it really did seem to drop the ball in season 2. Season 2 wasn't terrible, but as far as writing goes seemed quite lazy. It looks great, something that can be said for both season's, and has a very strong 80's feel to it - clothing and all that really well done. With a shift to the aspect ratio I might even have believed it could have been made in the 80s.

Season 1 is an easy 8/10. Season 2 more 6/10 (liked the characters, however the story lost its legs a bit).

I would like to see a season 3, though I wouldn't know where they'll go with it. End of season 2 didn't feel as though it was open to a season 3 that could include all of the same characters. I won't say why.

I would say if you like things like Benidorm (first couple of season), and or the Inbetweeners, then this might be up your street.

This is an enjoyable easy watch with many laughs, sometimes vulgar under the belt. A little trashy and filled with eighties nostalgia. There is no refinement, subtleties or finesse. Just raw spot on cynical comedy without political correctness. Be warned.

It is a fun way to spend some time off watching this if you have lots of free time to fill. Each episode is also short so easy watch now and then.

Some might love this kind of humour, others will be a bit offset by the crude style and dialogue.

Update 010619: After

Overall, a very good series to watch on a rainy day but not one to stay up for!

If you're looking for something like "The Inbetweeners", this is probably NOT the series you would have hoped for. Though Joe Thomas and James Buckley's characters certainly have similar personas in this series, the whole show being dominated by Ed Westwick's imposing character means that the overall vibe is less childish and juvenile without turning dark.

A clever and comic plot, with hints of irony and at times bitter humour, whilst keeping some with some scenes being humorous in a rather vulgar way. The plot is quite memorable, and some scenes certainly have a deeper meaning to them; the final episode leaves one thinking about the ending for a some time afterwards. You certainly want to binge watch all the episodes at once, but perhaps not as much as "Cuckoo" or "Fresh Meat".

Despite this, I would not say it is as funny or accomplished as other British comedies with similar target audiences ("Cuckoo", for example is much funnier in my opinion). The main problem with this new show is that we hardly feel any empathy for characters, Ed Westwick's character is quite unlikable and the only character we really feel sorry for is Sam Swan (Lindsey Cocker). We understand that the others are quite irritating and annoying figures, but that's about it!

The other reason I find that this show is not as funny as it could be is because its seems a bit restrained in terms of use of language and insults. The show was shown at 10pm, and words such as "c**t" are used throughout the series. Vulgarities are then certainly present, yet it feels as though Joe Thomas and James Buckley's insults are quite restrained. And those two characters' vulgar and overly-offensive insults were some of the most hilarious parts of "The Inbetweeners".

"White Gold" is then certainly good, but did slightly disappoint after shows like "The Inbetweeners" where I felt that Thomas and Buckley were at their best.

You know your getting old when they start making shows from an era you grew up in. As you watch it you start to point out the cars, clothes, music and haircuts the 80's really were the time that fashion forgot. The makers of the show have nailed that period in time superbly, and the script by Inbetweeners creator Damon Beesley is equally good. Anyone who lived through that period would have come across the lead character Vince Swan played by the impressive Ed Weswick. In the case of White Gold we have double glazing salesman all pushing for that big end of month bonus. But it could just as easily been Estate Agents Car Salesmen the 80s were all about excess and earning as much money as you could and that's really the premise of the show in a nutshell. There are natural comparisons to the Inbetweeners as Joe Thomas and James Buckley play pretty much play the same characters Jay and Simon in this show, nothing wrong with that the Inbetweeners was one the funniest sitcoms of recent years. And whilst White Gold may not reach those dizzy heights it's not far behind.