Starstruck

Today's version of Notting Hill! I thoroughly enjoyed this story, connected with the characters and laughed in almost every episode. Definitely worth a watch!

Rose Matafeo's sitcom debut is quite a shallow story on the surface - being entirely about an aimless twenty-something who becomes romantically entangled with a film star. The series takes place over a year and manages to be both frustratingly inconsistent and strangely compelling. Whereas it doesn't have the emotional depth of other similar comedies, Matafeo and Patel have solid chemistry and the smartly framed deflation of romantic tropes helps give the central premise some real life. The problem comes whenever they're apart - and the series often feels colder the further you get from Matafeo, with the surrounding characters barely getting much agency or story of their own outside of their relation to her - which makes you wonder where the much-touted second series might actually go. The great Al Roberts feels hugely underused and Minnie Driver (as Tom Kapoor's cynical agent) barely get a look in, which feels like a huge shame, and the whole thing is shot with this wildly abstract wide-screen lens which looks dead fancy but robs it of even more warmth. So, overall, not as charming as it could be, but an intriguing start.

The whole will they or won't they get together storyline gets old pretty quick, I found it all rather frustrating, didn't warm to the characters and most disappointingly, I didn't find it very funny.

It's very well made however with solid performances and a great soundtrack.

EDITED REVIEW - Originally given an 8 for Seasons 1&2 combined, down to a 5 when you include Season 3 (which is terrible).

There was a danger the show was going nowhere - and Season 3 has just proved it. Silly situations that force a retread of the same old ground, an unconvincing "new" romantic interest, the ongoing weakness of the supporting cast, and a very downtempo atmosphere makes it a hard watch.

When you find yourself booing Nikesh Patel's character when he appears on screen, you realise the charm of the first season is long gone.

Please do not make any more.

ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW: Season 1 is fantastic - brilliantly written, with a great performance by Rose Matafeo and many of the supporting cast, especially her flatmate Kate (Emma Sidi). Brave enough to explore the vulnerability and mis-steps that we've all made in relationships, with plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments.

Season 2 suffers from a lack of a clear dramatic arc. More supporting characters are introduced (which was necessary to broaden the scope of the show), but generally speaking they don't add much to the story, or are quite unconvincing. Still has a good share of laughs, but the relationship between the two leads is less engaging.

I would like to see a third season. But I'd also like the writing team to be a bit clearer about the direction they want the show to take.

I'm not sure what it is about shows like this where everything revolves around the actress and they are also involved in the production, but I'm liking them a lot.

Basically the main actress is front and center the entire time which takes a lot of guts. On top of that they are involved with the writing and production of the show as well. So hats off.

The Flight Attendant and Russian Doll were similar and also totally worth your time.

Can't wait for season 2 of Starstruck and of course more Rose. Also a shout out to Emma and her character, so much fun!