Coming of Age

OK, I'm an American (Anglophile) with some good taste. I enjoy independent films, art, and theatre, however there are times I enjoy the occasional comedy situation that is FAR from reality. I think those who gave this show a 1 out of 10 really need to take their own age into consideration before berating the show. Yes, I think most of the material is dry and objectionable, but that is what make the show gratuitous fun. The show has thankfully been commissioned for a third series coming in 2011. I think Ellen Thomas, who plays the principal, is brilliant; she was the best permanent addition to the show! This is the type of comedy that some either love or loathe, but if some find themselves loathing, give "The Inbetweeners" a try; that may be a better choice.

This show is just so strange. It's an awful blend of childishness and lurid innuendo. It's just a string of poorly thought out jokes connected by a very loose plot. That's even hard to say. It's not really a plot. Character is scared of needles is not a plot.

The characters are both wildly inconsistent yet flanderised and near indistinguishable between episodes. The show seems to pretend that it's serialized but aside from a few episodes you could jump in anywhere and have no issues at all.

It had some great guest actors like Stephen K. Amos and. Miriam Margoles. They were both fantastic and could have been even better with a barely competent writer. I've watched it. I'm glad I did. I will never be watching it again. Go watch the inbetweeners.

To think at one time the BBC was know for it's great comedies like Fawlty Towers or Black Adder, Red Dwarf and Only Fools and Horses and countless more. But now The BBC seems to lower their bar each time with what the exhibit on BBCThree. Although to be fare we should all be aware that if a programme was any good the BBC would put it on one of their real channels. Coming of Age has managed to make Two Pints look mature, now you could say 'That's the whole point it is about young adults' well then have a look at a far more sharply written comedy on CH4 'The Inbetweeners'. This is dumb, crude humour, no wait Family Guy and the Young Ones had dumb crude humour they where still funny. What is it with this? Oh it's just not funny in the least it's like a sitcom that's been written by a 12 year old.

BBC as a license payer I expect a refund.

For me, this show has single-handedly facilitated a complete loss of all faith and respect I had for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Now I recognise some people will like this show. I also recognise some people will not like this show. However, the current IMDb rating of 3.8 and the almost ABSOLUTE lack of positive reviews from other sources lead me to believe that most people despise this show. And as well they should.

The only reason I can think for its recommission is that it enables the BBC to tick its 'young' box and think nothing else about the matter.

The main problem I have with the show is that the writer simply cannot writer. Simple as that. As Charlie Brooker would say; 'It's like watching a play written by a dog'.

There is no storyline to each episode. Full-stop. In a show professing to be a unique, young insight into college life it, in reality, shows us nothing at all. It could have enthralled us with the intricacies of college relationships, politics and all the agony that comes with college life (Inbetweeners, anyone?)! Instead, the most utilised set is a shed.....yes a shed.......where the characters' sit, exchange euphemisms for sex, and occasionally talk to a cardboard cut-out of Jeremy Clarkson, who is no doubt appalled at the use of his effigy in a show quite so diabolical.

The irony is that for a show about college life, hardly any scenes are shot in the college (Sheds are far more interesting you see). Invariably, in the few college shots there are I tend to find the extras wandering about in the background of far more interest and attraction than the principle cast (does anyone else find this?!). Perhaps for this reason the producers thought it best to shoot the core elements of each episode in a shed, eliminating all other more interesting stimuli so that we have to focus on the characters' forced, poorly delivered diatribe.

The characters are flat, undeveloped, devoid of any charm and seem to soley exist to give me something to hate and to effectively terminate the future careers' of the cast.

Coming of age has no redeeming features, not one. I take it as a personal insult to the license player and to the intelligence of young and old alike.

I'm 23. I was a student not so long ago. This does not show student life. It does not show comedy. I am simply lost for anymore words. I think I'll go weep in the corner now.

Be ashamed of yourself BBC

I heard about this gem on a worst programme list and was absolutely delighted to find that my instinct to give it a try led me to a hilarious and fresh comedy from BBC 3.

Every episode has it's moments but sprinkled throughout the three seasons are moments of pant pissing hilarity.

I implore everyone to check it out because it's one of the best televisual discoveries I've made.