Ron_Bacardi
Joined Aug 2023
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Reviews7
Ron_Bacardi's rating
'Outnumbered' has always been a show about parenting at particular stages of family life. Series 1 introduced us to Sue and Pete, a couple in their 40s with three young children under 11. Almost two decades later, and this Christmas special finds the Brockmans at another stage of a family's development.
Jake, Ben and Karen are all 20-somethings and it's a delight to see how they have - and haven't - changed. Karen is as headstrong as ever; sometimes causing problems but, more often than not, solving them for everyone else. Ben has matured into a calm, confident young man whilst maintaining his curiosity and enthusiasm for the world. And Jake has outgrown his youthful arrogance and is now a (very tired) father himself. (Don't worry, the bags under his eyes are make-up, Tyger isn't ill!)
In the early series, Ben and Karen frequently stole the show with their largely-improvised questions and conversations; as authentic a presentation of childhood as there's ever been on TV. This is of course absent from this episode but it couldn't be otherwise! Those wonderful scenes captured the joyful chaos of young children but time - unfortunately - does not stand still. It's also worth remembering that 'Outnumbered' hasn't really been like that since Series 4 onwards.
Sue and Pete, now in their 60s, have down-sized to a smaller house and are dealing with how to break some health-related news to the kids. And whilst some reviews have criticised this storyline for being too bleak for a Christmas episode, I think it's perfectly inkeeping with a show that's never shied away from the realities of life, aging and how families change over time. This particular plot point also allows us to observe that moment when one's children stop being solely receivers of care and become givers themselves. Which is pretty Christmasy, if you ask me.
Viewers are also treated to the return of one of the show's most prominent reoccurring characters, Sue's friend (and emotional trainwreck) Jane. She's been present right from the beginning and featured heavily in the 2011 and 2012 Christmas specials, so it's fitting that she makes an appearance here. As unlucky in love as ever, perhaps it's reassuring to know that some things, at least, never change. But Jane's doomed love life aside, this Christmas episode is stuffed full of change and is all the better for it.
The Brockmans have survived all the arguments and accidents, lost hamsters and ensnared doggers, underage poledancers, infected tattoos and the many, many trips to A&E, and no one died or went to prison. I imagine Pete must be happy with that. Although he can't retire his velociraptor impression just yet.
Jake, Ben and Karen are all 20-somethings and it's a delight to see how they have - and haven't - changed. Karen is as headstrong as ever; sometimes causing problems but, more often than not, solving them for everyone else. Ben has matured into a calm, confident young man whilst maintaining his curiosity and enthusiasm for the world. And Jake has outgrown his youthful arrogance and is now a (very tired) father himself. (Don't worry, the bags under his eyes are make-up, Tyger isn't ill!)
In the early series, Ben and Karen frequently stole the show with their largely-improvised questions and conversations; as authentic a presentation of childhood as there's ever been on TV. This is of course absent from this episode but it couldn't be otherwise! Those wonderful scenes captured the joyful chaos of young children but time - unfortunately - does not stand still. It's also worth remembering that 'Outnumbered' hasn't really been like that since Series 4 onwards.
Sue and Pete, now in their 60s, have down-sized to a smaller house and are dealing with how to break some health-related news to the kids. And whilst some reviews have criticised this storyline for being too bleak for a Christmas episode, I think it's perfectly inkeeping with a show that's never shied away from the realities of life, aging and how families change over time. This particular plot point also allows us to observe that moment when one's children stop being solely receivers of care and become givers themselves. Which is pretty Christmasy, if you ask me.
Viewers are also treated to the return of one of the show's most prominent reoccurring characters, Sue's friend (and emotional trainwreck) Jane. She's been present right from the beginning and featured heavily in the 2011 and 2012 Christmas specials, so it's fitting that she makes an appearance here. As unlucky in love as ever, perhaps it's reassuring to know that some things, at least, never change. But Jane's doomed love life aside, this Christmas episode is stuffed full of change and is all the better for it.
The Brockmans have survived all the arguments and accidents, lost hamsters and ensnared doggers, underage poledancers, infected tattoos and the many, many trips to A&E, and no one died or went to prison. I imagine Pete must be happy with that. Although he can't retire his velociraptor impression just yet.
The worst thing about 'Daddy Issues' has to be the title. To my mind, it hints at a much crasser, less emotionally intelligent show than the wonderfully sweet and hysterically funny comedy that it is. And I don't even dislike the title that much, but I wanted to start this review with a bit of tension because the rest of it is going to be nothing but glowing praise. How boring.
David Morrissey and rising star Aimee Lou Wood are perfectly cast as estranged father and daughter Malcolm and Gemma. Just like her standout performance in Netflix's 'Sex Education', Wood delivers the comedy lines with perfection and handles the emotional drama just as well. She really is very, very good and brilliantly funny. But I knew that already; the surprise for me was David Morrissey. I had no idea he could turn in a performance like that!
When we first meet Malcolm, he's separated from Gemma's mum and living in a dilapidated bedsit. He is - with all due respect, Malc - a bit useless and pathetic, doing his shopping at the local garage and hanging out with other bachelors like the cringe-worthy 'king' Derek (played with relish by David Fynn). It's the most purely comic performance I've ever seen Morrissey give and it's stunning in its simplicity and humanity. We all know a bloke of a certain age like Malcolm, who wouldn't survive 5 minutes without his wife or his mum or - in Malcolm's case - his daughter. Morrissey captures the subtitles of the character beautifully and can play the big moments for laughs without ever becoming a caricature.
Gemma and Malcolm's relationship is the heart of the show - in more ways than one - and it's rare to see a comedy (and this is definitely a comedy more than a comedy-drama) handle big emotions so well, or even have the guts to take them on. It's all down to series creator Danielle Ward's fantastic writing and the brilliant performances by the two leads and wonderful ensemble cast.
At about 25 minutes per episode, this six-episode series is immensely bingeable. I've just watched the whole thing tonight! Every episode is laugh out loud funny and the finale will have you in tears. But happy ones.
David Morrissey and rising star Aimee Lou Wood are perfectly cast as estranged father and daughter Malcolm and Gemma. Just like her standout performance in Netflix's 'Sex Education', Wood delivers the comedy lines with perfection and handles the emotional drama just as well. She really is very, very good and brilliantly funny. But I knew that already; the surprise for me was David Morrissey. I had no idea he could turn in a performance like that!
When we first meet Malcolm, he's separated from Gemma's mum and living in a dilapidated bedsit. He is - with all due respect, Malc - a bit useless and pathetic, doing his shopping at the local garage and hanging out with other bachelors like the cringe-worthy 'king' Derek (played with relish by David Fynn). It's the most purely comic performance I've ever seen Morrissey give and it's stunning in its simplicity and humanity. We all know a bloke of a certain age like Malcolm, who wouldn't survive 5 minutes without his wife or his mum or - in Malcolm's case - his daughter. Morrissey captures the subtitles of the character beautifully and can play the big moments for laughs without ever becoming a caricature.
Gemma and Malcolm's relationship is the heart of the show - in more ways than one - and it's rare to see a comedy (and this is definitely a comedy more than a comedy-drama) handle big emotions so well, or even have the guts to take them on. It's all down to series creator Danielle Ward's fantastic writing and the brilliant performances by the two leads and wonderful ensemble cast.
At about 25 minutes per episode, this six-episode series is immensely bingeable. I've just watched the whole thing tonight! Every episode is laugh out loud funny and the finale will have you in tears. But happy ones.