Siblings

From the music, to the faux cricket character in the first episode, it's like they've tried to remake IASIP, but badly. If you've never seen It's Always Sunny, you should, this isn't it.

It seems to me that the creators of this show intended to ride the wave in popularity of cringe sitcoms, repackaging a now familiar premise for a young, British audience. The writing comes off as a joke factory, where cheap laughs are sought by having selfish, insensitive protagonists make token politically incorrect gaffes. The premise of selfish and cynical people, oblivious to the havoc caused by their schemes and plans to get ahead, feels old hat in 2014 having been done over and over but with a great more success in shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Extras" and "Always Sunny in Philadelpia." The theme music of Siblings is almost the same as "Always Sunny," the music for which was chosen because it had Creative Commons licensing and had a soapiness that seems ironic in show with such cynical, politically tone deaf characters. I don't know if the choice of music was a coincidence or if it was meant to be an homage, either way, in the case of "Siblings" it added to the sense that I was watching a formulaic, gimmicky imitation of previous shows.

Every episode is a handcrafted masterpiece.

A perfect balance of writing, directing and acting.

Two car crash syblings racing through life at full pelt with absolutely no fear of consequences just let's try it and see. Of course in the best of traditions the audience know how badly it will go but somehow they usually come up trumps.

A true joy

This is definitely not a great comedy or particularly original but it is certainly enjoyable with a few genuinely funny moments. It is quirky and charming and although the two main characters are self involved idiots they both somehow manage to remain likable. Although they are selfish and irresponsible they aren't actually malicious and seem blissfully unaware of their own antisocial behaviour. Charlotte Ritchie is delightful as Hannah, the lazy ex-vice-deputy-head-girl; a title she apparently bestowed upon herself at school. Tom Stourton delivers a genuinely funny performance as her childlike 23 year old idiotic brother Dan. The theme tune, which is used as incidental music through each episode, gives the show an innocent and slightly old fashioned feel. It gives you the sense that this is a light hearted comedy and that you don't have to take their behaviour too seriously, however it is contrasted by genuinely odd and occasionally dark humour.

Hannah is a girl who has elevated socially insensitive self-serving behaviour to an art form. However, she regards herself as a wonderful and caring human being. The contrast between her opinion of herself and her actual behaviour is not exactly an original source of comedy but Charlotte Ritchie carries it off so beautifully that you never actually feel angry at her and in fact remain strangely on her side. Dan is a 13 year old boy trapped in the body of a 23 year old man; he careers through life without ever achieving anything and yet throws himself into everything he does with boundless enthusiasm. We have learned that he spent 8 months at university, a fact he recalls as if it's an achievement, and has also been in prison for an as of yet undisclosed crime.

It's not a classic but it is enjoyable and has it's own vibe, well worth watching.

Other reviewers class this programme as predictable and clichéd, and it might indeed be a little predictable at times, but the quality of the acting during the delivery of aforementioned predictable gags will make you laugh regardless.

The two leads Tom Stourton and particularly Charlotte Ritchie, as the siblings Dan and Hannah, really make the grade, and if you're a fan of crass-yet-clever British humour found elsewhere in shows such as 'The Inbetweeners' and 'Fresh Meat', you will probably find yourself binging the first 6 episodes of 'Siblings' in one sitting.

It truly is a great character comedy which ascends its formulaic appearance on paper with its delivery. Definitely worth a watch.