Back

It definitely takes a couple of episodes to bed in, and for you to get the feel of it, but once you do, you will be well and truly hooked.

If you're expecting something similar to Peep show, forget it, this is an altogether different, and individual piece of work.

The one question you'll want the answer to, what exactly is David's game? What's he up to, and what is he after?

The humour is dark, it's bleak, but it is so deliciously satisfying throughout.

I love the characters, they're all great, Geoff is outrageous. I can't think of I've see Penny Downie in a comedy role before, but boy is she good.

I am so glad there's a second series.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, 9/10.

Good concept, good characters, and definitely a more intelligent series than (what Mitchell & Webb will always be compared to) Peep Show, but certainly not as funny. It's not a fair comparison really, as the two series are very different, and Back is more of a drama which targets quite sensitive topics and does so well.

Ultimately though, it's not hilarious, and whilst there are definite laughs, usually from Mitchell's pessimism, it's not as enjoyable when Webb plays quite a dislikeable character. It has a good arc which you do invest in, it's worth a watch, but not their best.

The writing is satisfyingly excellent. Dark humour, much as with peep show, causes that pleasingly awful cringe. Where this differs is that the tension arches its back from the first episode to the last, like a malevolent cat performing a tickle stretch.

The level of observational comedy in this is so consistent, I begin to wonder if the writers discovered an unwritten diary of mine labelled "things I half-noticed, but neither properly analysed, nor was diligent enough to write down."

As for the compelling darkness, "Back" opens out intrigues to outdo much "serious" TV drama. These are the shadows of comedy - a perspective on real lives that can handle being pushed into caricature.

One of the best things I've seen on TV.

First episodes are always tricky for sitcoms and with a lot of setting up to do and a fairly large cast to introduce, it can bring immediate criticism before even given a chance for the story to evolve properly, which is unfair especially for a show with so much potential as this one. I thought it was brilliant, laughed loudly for the most part of it and smiled the entire time... and that's what sitcoms are about. This one hit the nail on the head for me and I'm looking forward the next episodes.

Better than Peep Show in my opinion. PS seemed a bit too infantile at times, while this has a great story line. Good writing, with funny "down and out" characters. Especially Webb makes a strong performance. A must-see for Mitchell fans.