Vexed

"Vexed" was a promising series that ran for two seasons in England. It starred Toby Stephens and Lucy Punch in the first season and Stephens and Miranda Raison in the second. It's a derivative series, about plainclothes detectives solving murders. One nice non-derivative thing is there's no romance. Stephens' first partner is married, and his second barely puts up with him. So there is a lot of repartee.

The first three episodes were outrageously written, with someone looking at an apartment as a possible rental after stepping over the dead body in the room. In the second season, there were still some great moments but it was toned down.

In part, this was because Lucy Punch left the show and was replaced by Miranda Raison. Punch is a more interesting type than Raison, who is certainly beautiful and a fine actress. Punch is more comedic, with long blond hair of no particular style, a tall frame that is normally informally dressed, and a unique speaking voice. She and Stephens were a scream together.

Also, Punch's character had a more interesting private life than Raison's. Convinced at one point that her husband is cheating on her, she reacts in a way that sends him to the hospital and puts him on crutches.

The Stephens character is a sort of overblown DeNozzo from NCIS - he only thinks of sex, swaggers around, is a misogynist, and it all hides a lot of hurt. And some of his comments are too much. When he suspects a woman's late husband might be gay, he asks her, "Did he have a particularly strong reaction when Princess Diana died?"

I've read some complaints on this board about Stephens. I think he is very good and handles the comedy well. I have seen him do other things, and he is a wonderful and versatile actor. How bad can the son of Dame Maggie Smith and Sir Robert Stephens be, after all? He is a successful stage actor as well as a film and TV actor. And he's handsome to boot.

I enjoyed both seasons, though I know a lot of people were disappointed in season 2. Season 1 was edgy and funnier; season 2 was a little calmer, but still good.

OK so let's start with the obvious. What is Vexed? Vexed is a new BBC2 hour-long comedy focusing around two newly partnered DCIs (Detectives for USA,) Kate (Lucy Punch) and Jack (Toby Stephens.)

The outline is simple. They go solving crimes in their own way. With Jack being an arrogant, self centred, shallow man and Kate being a neurotic, violent and yet endearingly cute at times.

I like the fact that they are new partners, it gives license to explore what first impressions they give each other, and also is a very clever way of introducing the characters as they can ask questions about each other without it being strange, helping the viewer.

The comedy in the show is very British. Irony, sarcasm and quick-wit. Sometimes immature. The acting is first class. I rarely say that but this time it's spot on. Punch's and Stephens' on screen chemistry, or rather purposefully the lack of it, is near genius.

The stories are original and well thought out.

The only problem is that this show needs, and I mean needs, to be given time. 3 episodes should get you. Unfortunately this will probably be cancelled because it's not some two pints/coming of age rip off. Or rather because it hasn't got the now annoying Russell Howard.

If you love sarcasm and irony. Love misogynistic jokes being torn apart by a woman, enjoy good acting, well written stories and some genuine laugh out loud moments then you'll love this.

If you love arse and tit jokes along with ott accents and slang - then go watch repeats of two pints on Dave or Gold.

Have now watched 2 episodes of this comedy and I am hooked - it does what it should do - it's funny and it makes me laugh - Brilliant ! The two lead characters interact well and the unfolding of their private lives becomes more interesting as the series progresses and the villains /suspects characters all appear to have motives and are also amusing in their own irreverent way. A bit predictable in places but generally a good funny series with some nice observations on the habits of the individual lead characters.

I believe that this series will improve as time progresses and hope that the remainder of the series achieves the viewing figures that this funny, quirky comedy deserves.

Full marks to the writers for producing something different ...... and succeeding in their efforts to make us laugh.

This show is aptly named "Vexed", as the switcheroo that occurs after the first season is truly vexing! The all-too-short season 1 was such a delightful introduction to a cadish, but lovable, Jack and his hapless partner Kate; it rates a solid 9+ in my books. The chemistry between these two was excellent, and they were well matched in their comedic abilities. We particularly delighted in Jack's insensitive remarks, from which much of the humor stemmed. Unfortunately, all that changed quite dramatically in the second season. Lucy Punch was replaced by Miranda Raison as Jack's new partner- an earnest know-it-all who sucked all the humor out of the show. Jack's character was also toned down to a disappointing shadow of his first season's character. What a waste of Toby Stephen's great comedic talent! I would love to see this show brought back in the format of the first season, but I suppose that ship has sailed as the actors have moved on to greener pastures. Again I say, what a waste!

It is always very tempting to write a comedy drama off if the laughter factor is low from the start. It is a dangerous thing to do so so early - I only have to point to the Blackadder First Series and the first two series of Only Fools and Horses and say actually they weren't that funny to be honest.

With the pedigree of the writer of Misfits and the Producer of Little Britain I expect this series to develop positively. The first episode went along at a lightening pace and I have to say it sucked me in. The jokes hit my spot. The idea of building a comedy around a loyalty card stalker is a nice one - and there were plenty of one liners to please. Not everything came off - no "pussy cat" jokes again please - they went out with Mrs Slocombe in Are You Being Served.

OK it is not easy to replace the very excellent Sherlock but no comparison should be made. I'll be tuning in hoping to see this one progress. Toby Stephens and Lucy Punch were a delight but they carry the whole show on their own. Deepen the involvement of secondary characters and we might see this improve.