Episodes

I watched the first episode of Episodes and was not knocked out but saw that it had some potential. Matt Le Blanc really makes this show with a satirical take on himself and "stars" generally. I am now on the fourth episode and it has just gotten better and better. Most sitcoms are like this - they rarely hit their stride right out of the traps - though Frasier and Friends manage to buck that trend. I have never been a fan of Tamsin Greig or Stephen Mangan but I am beginning to appreciate their talents in this. Episodes is a great concept and is well written and performed. It benefits from having no laugh track or studio audience. Lots of reviewers here have written this off after the pilot episode but it is their loss - I really like this show and hope it works in the US as well as the UK. Added 22/02/11 Just watched the final episode of series 1 and I have grown to love this series-I just hope they recommission it. Matt Le Blanc should be lauded for the kind of bravery in acting that US stars usually forgo. He was terrific in this. Almost the end of December 2012 and I have just gotten around to watching series 2 in it's entirety in one afternoon! Series 1 was good but this is even better - the situation did not seem like a second series was on but how wrong I was. Matt warmed to his portrayal of himself and Tamsin and Stephen were terrific in it. I look forward to series 3.

The first two episodes are quite funny as it introduces the characters and get the story going but from then on it had me laughing out loud at the mix ox of clever and witty humour. The three main characters "Matt LeBlanc", "Stephen Mangan" and "Tamsin Greig" bounce off each other really well and bring the characters/plot alive and vibrant. Unfortuently there are only seven episodes so far but there will be a new second season nine episodes in length which I'm sure will be full of the same quick witted jokes that has become frequent in the new comedy. I hope if you read this you will watch and enjoy it. This is a must see 10/10

While the first episode wasn't the greatest, it set up the story of the show and the second episode was great from start to finish. The humour is dry and is a mix of British and US humour, but it's definitely heavier with the British humour. The head of comedy was brilliant. The head of comedy is one of those blonde bimbo's you see on TV that just say "that's so funny" instead of actually laughing.

To the people that say that the main characters have no chemistry, have you ever seen any married couple on UK TV. That's how they act. Married couples have their ups and downs, they act realistically. Do you want them to act like they have just met and they are so in love. Married life contains struggles and compromise. I think they conveyed this perfectly.

After watching the show, I do worry that most Americans will struggle to get the humour, which in reality is what this show is all about. Showcasing the difference in humour and the difficulty in creating a show that is brilliant in one country, but completely lost in another.

I was not sure what sort of comedy this was going to be. I have only just seen the first episode and as it turns out it is a little dark, uncomfortable, subtle, at times quirky and pokes fun. I found it amusing, with moments that made me laugh out loud. Some of the characters (particularly the 'Head of Comedy') are well cast and very funny.

There is no canned laughter, the pace is not breakneck, it doesn't feel like the script has been re-written and re-written until people laugh and jokes and gags are not shouted loudly so you cant miss them. This is not spoon-fed comedy TV.

It is very British in style and therefore I suspect it will not be a hit with an American audience. I am, however, looking forward to the next episode.

This show is very clever doing what it does. The only reason some people don't like it is because their sense of humor is skewed. I never expected the humor to be like friends because of Matt or David Crane. I expected the same commitment from Matt though. He pours his self in the character, since he is playing an extravagant fictional version of himself and creates excellent scenes between the two British writers. Sure it is dark and very hard to get into in the first episode, but after episode 2 I was sold. Episode 3 was even better as there was more Matt to go around!! His interactions with Beverly, their sniping at each other and fighting felt genuine and was extremely funny! Give the show a chance and try to expand your comical vocabulary!