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A black comedy about abusive relationships


This is a very black situation "comedy" about abusive / co-dependent relationships which gives every indication that much worse is to come for the characters. I hope the writers don't lose their nerve.

It took me some time to get into it and I don't like or enjoy every aspect of the mundane situations and toilet humour, but I do appreciate the dark observations made about dysfunctional relationships and friendships. The non-too subtle murderous aggression just beneath the surface is especially well done and menacing. Is it a British thing?

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Are you talking about Paul and Laura? Not Becky and Steve, I hope?

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Yes, mainly them. But also the in-laws! It was pretty blatant in S2E3 (don't want to add spoilers, but if you've watched it you'll know).

Where most people seem to see light comedy, I see something darker with this series - especially the way Steve is used and abused by Becky (throughout S1 we see her manipulating him and quite viciously siding with his "friends" at every opportunity) and he is too needy/weak to realise.

It's only TV, but I feel most reviewers have completely missed what this show is all about, all IMHO.

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Agreed. I don't find this show funny at all. I find it really disturbing actually and have stopped watching. The relationships were so dysfunctional and I agree with your comment that there is an underlying violence there that could explode any minute. I mean Becky and Paul are clearly psychopaths, Becky's sister has narcissistis personality disporder, Steve is beyond co-dependent, the in-laws are all wankers as the english would say. And OMG that neighbor is a perv.If this is what passes for english humour these days I am quite concerned about the state of mind of british people right now. So yeah, I stopped watching.

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"If this is what passes for english humour these days I am quite concerned about the state of mind of british people right now."

What a silly comment. Black Humour is not exclusively English humour, its just a sub genre of comedy. So you dont have to be worried about a nations state of mind because of a type of comedy.

Series 2 Episode 3 was by far the best as it was a lot stronger with the under tones of abusive relationships.

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I don't think it will explode any minute to be honest. Something bad might happen with Paul and Laura, but I don't think it'll be unbelievably dramatic (well...a little over exaggerated...it is Laura after all)it might bring up issues, but it won't be on the same par as dear old desperate housewives (D;).
This show's meant to have that mundane side to it, and I think it's really believable! Becky and Steve are great and yes they are a little dysfunctional, but you see in 'The Fight' she's not THAT much of a psychopath! And they're meant to be the normal ones caught up with these REALLY dysfunctional people (Shelly. Is. Amazing.)!
All in all I'm preferring it to these happy clappy sitcoms because there's none of that laughing behind it- Do you really need a fake laugh to tell you when to laugh? come on!
Honestly I can imagine a couple in Britain being like Becky and Steve. They're just so lazy! I don't know what it's like in the US but I'm guessing it's not one crazy scenario after another?It's just meant to be a humourous look into the lives of a plain working class couple and that's what you've got to treat it as...

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I wonder if Paul is more at risk than Laura?

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Of course music using sex to sell then covering it's arse with purity rings is not at all weird. You yanks are soooo dumb. It's not real! It is comedy where they do this thing called "EXAGGERATION!" Laura is not narcissistic, I think you have the meaning wrong. You haven't found out enough about her, and also she gets used by her husband! Steve is in love, sorry that doesn't involve cheating, killing, needing a therapist and have a weight problem whilst never swearing. Becky and Paul are not psychos. Paul is an archetypal skinhead trendy wanker that shops at Burton's. I think you would call them "redneck jock" or the suchlike. There are some beautiful moments. Us "Brits", though not written by a Brit, just don't believe in sugaring the pill. But if you analyse this so much please don't watch IT crowd (or you will think all nerds have mother issues and can't cope in the real world), Inbetweeners (you will end up thinking that all kids have a briefcase wanker for a friend) and please please don't watch Wilfred! I don't want you thinking that Aussies can all talk to their four-legged friends.

I am quite concerned about the state of the American mind right now. They seem to open their mouths or type without thinking. They haven't produced a comedy of true merit since American Dad... Which say something, as only Matt and Trey of South Park and Seth McFarlene's creations are of any merit... You can keep your Ugly Betty (or is that Devil Wears Prada?) and all those "comedies". Oh sorry I forgot there was one comedy that was good and made in USA - Freaks and Geeks... and that got cancelled... Whilst someone keeps letting crap like two and a half men continue... seriously...

/rant.

Lol. Sorry to any Americans reading this. I am simply angry that anyone could bash British comedy. My family is not English so I feel no patriotism. It is just simple fact that the French make the best food and wine, the Japanese make the best gadgets, Italians make beautiful clothing and cars and the British and Irish make the best comedy. If they didn't why do American networks keep buying up rights to British shows only for the remakes to be slammed by everyone with a brain?

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How many Americans spell the word "humour" with the "u" in it? The OP and the other poster you seem to be responding to used that spelling, and so I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that they may not be American.

So your whole rant seems a bit... superfluous... in regards to this thread.

On a side-note, I find it refreshing to see someone else who enjoys MacFarlane's creations as much as I do; the majority of those I talk to absolutely loathe anything related to him.

"Anyone who agrees to rub their breasts live on television is obviously inexcusably disturbed."

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[deleted]

If this is what passes for english humour these days I am quite concerned about the state of mind of british people right now



You should be concerned with what your fellow Americans are watching!! (assuming you are American, sorry if you're not)
Honey Boo Boo, Housewives of Atlanta/Miami/New York/New Jersey/Orange County, Kardashians, Jersey Shore, many more brain-dead "reality" shows, etc.


Maybe you are just one of those people who don't 'get' British humour .



Listen! Do you smell something?

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Becky and Steve seem to be getting stronger and their relationship to me feels far less dysfunctional than in series 1.
Paul and Laura, however, are clearly going somewhere dark - they made it yet more obvious by (spoiler) having Paul literally shove Laura against a wall last episode.

I'm kind of hoping that he might murder her, she's so annoying. Maybe they were hinting at that when a couple of episodes ago Steve asked Becky if she'd like Laura more if she were dead. (wild speculation)

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I don't think the comedy is THAT dark. Laura is narcissistic and Paul is a bit deranged and they are an odd couple... but murder...really?! I think it's already been shown that Paul is a big girls blouse, in "The Fight" episode S2 ep4. Paul is the type who acts tough but is actually a wimp. Laura is always trying to outdo her sister and is full of bitchy comments to that effect.

Becky and Steve seem fairly normal. They are a couple of lazy so and so's but they seem like they are really into each other. They spend most of their time trying to deal with the weirdness that is Laura and Paul.

I think some viewers clearly don't get the humour in this show. I think foreigners and especially Americans really struggle with British humour. And this is a very British show.

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I have to agree with you with what you said about Steve and Becky's relationship becoming a little more stable. The dark humor i oddly enough like, but its truly the laziness that gets to me! The show is sort of hard to watch because of that. But humor of it brings me through.

Also, I'm American and i 'get' this show, but i do agree that most Americans wont be able to see the appeal to a show like it, (little do they know, they are probably in Steve and Becky's shoes!). Its kind of a tedious, frustrating humor for me. For example, one of the things im waiting to happen (which probably never will) is for Becky to FINALLY tell Laura off (ugh, she really deserves it), but she doesnt, she just says "Thats enough, laura." And for Steve to stand up to Paul and not let Paul walk all over him in his own flat. But its not likely these things will happen because they're too passive aggressive with other people and too lazy to put much energy in it so they just sigh, and deal with the idiots that are in their lives. Tediously frustrating, but entertaining none the least.


*And by lazy i don't mean it in a necessarily negative way, its more of a "i dont feel like it" kind of mood, which they always happen to be in lol.

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I just have to point out that when i said that thing about Laura being murdered I was only joking. I don't really think that would happen :)

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I think some viewers clearly don't get the humour in this show. I think foreigners and especially Americans really struggle with British humour. And this is a very British show.


Completely agree with this. Its a very similar concept to The Royale Family, probably the most British example of working class comedy you can get. I am amazed that other natinalities are such big fans of it, and that isnt for one second to call Americans etc..stupid, not at all. Its just the humour is so inexplicably English it seems difficult to grasp that others would get it.

Im sure someone is going to accuse me of being patronising now, but it honestly isnt meant that way at all. I just think with things like TRF and Him and Her, you either like the concept or you dont.

A narcasistic side of me would love to see Laura get murdered, as entertaining as she is to watch, she is a vile character lol. I personally think it is more likely that she will murder Paul though!

"What, you don't like rice? Tell me Michael, how could a billion Chinese people be wrong?"

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Yes thank you! That's exactly what I mean - she's so entertaining, and the actor is hilarious and plays her brilliantly, but she's just so awful. Although I don't think narcissistic was the word you wanted.
(I am British by the way ;)

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Yeah maybe I got my words mixed up, I should have just said evil side of me. lol

"What, you don't like rice? Tell me Michael, how could a billion Chinese people be wrong?"

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masochist? That might be a little strong ahahahah.
But yes, I totally agree!

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It could easily happen, she is just so evil.

http://www.poker-on-android.com/

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I'm really glad to read this post as I know so many people who just don't get it. I think it's superb. It's not perfect - I think the nastiness of Laura (and her dad) is overdone sometimes and she's more infuriating than anything else - but the murderous aggression you mention is spot on. It's funny that it's even more in evidence in series 3, proving your observation. An exchange between Becky's parents: 'I need you to help with something in the bedroom'. 'Oh, it's been a while since she said that. So, you need a real man?'. 'Yes, but you'll have to do'. All said with bright smiley faces. Brilliant.

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I really think this should be considered a comedy-drama rather than comedy, even black comedy, as this show has a lot of dramatic moments broken up by splashes of comedy.

I do think Steve is a very put-upon guy... Becky is incredible mean to him at times but very loving at others. On the other hand Paul and Laura are just terrible... especially Laura... with almost no redeeming qualities at all. Dan is kinda creepy but am glad he and Shelly hooked up - she was callously treated by Laura and it was brilliant to watch her tear Laura a new one (even if Laura hardly noticed).

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This is a very black situation "comedy" about abusive / co-dependent relationships which gives every indication that much worse is to come for the characters. I hope the writers don't lose their nerve.

It took me some time to get into it and I don't like or enjoy every aspect of the mundane situations and toilet humour, but I do appreciate the dark observations made about dysfunctional relationships and friendships. The non-too subtle murderous aggression just beneath the surface is especially well done and menacing. Is it a British thing?



I am so new to this show and started to binge watch it... made it to most of season 2. It's hard to stay with because of the 'mundane situations' but most of all I kept thinking why are the these characters so lackadaisical? And how do they survive without working? Are they both unstable but not clinically diagnosed ..as they Becky and Steve seem more like preteens at time. Laura and Pete seem also like mental patients who found each other...it's not LOL funny just strange people.

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