Buiten de Zone

So true! And world fame is deserves! Best series ever made in Belgium, maybe even globally! Too bad there's copyright trouble, otherwise we could've had a DVD edition by now... I think the strength of the series lies in the uniqueness of its concept, but also in the wonderful performers of the actors, who have become good friends in real life and it shows on the screen. Understandably, they had to stop some time because you can't make a youth series with people in their thirties, but even with another cast I think it wouldn't have been quite the same. Actually, when you look at it this way it's quite positive that they stopped where they did: keeps it special and not totally "worn out".

I can only concur with my fellow reviewers (and compatriots!) and re-establish that "Buiten de Zone" is an absolutely brilliant comedy series and actually way too good according to our country's usual standards! Anyone who ever saw this show, even if it's only one single episode, knows what nearly dying with laughter truly feels like! The premise is so incredibly simple and yet every single episode feels totally refreshing and original, even after a million repeated viewing. We have the naturally gifted writers to thank for that, but also the super-enthusiast regular cast as well as loads of guest appearances and cameos. Every actor or actress who means something in Flanders popped up in this show sooner or later and they clearly all loved their little parts. We follow the five volunteers of a helpline center where teenagers can anonymously call to whenever they face typical social problems or questions regarding adulthood. There isn't that much work and thus the main characters constantly flee into a world of fantasies, dreams and absurd hypothetical situations. Every episode features a main theme (sex, drugs, death,) on which all the fantasies revolve but there are also running gags that return in every episode, like the negative comments of a family that supposedly watches the show on TV. The brilliance about the humor in "Buiten de Zone" is that the jokes are always genuinely hilarious without getting crude, vulgar or offensive. Even with vulnerable topics, like religion or suicide, the humor is always effective. This is comedy for all generations, even my parents never missed one episode, and it's the most creative formula that ever hit Belgian TV-screens.

This series is about a group of 5 voluntary people in their early 20's who operate a callcentre where teenagers can call to to talk about their problems at school, with their parents or even personal issues.

While there, the main characters have nothing on their hands since there aren't many phone calls except from an 'annoying kid' making pranks. During this boring time, the 5 engage in discussions on various subjects, letting their mind and fantasies run wild which in turn are visualized on screen by hilarious sketches. Also, every episode had one or more themes on which the story was based.

Although the series ran for only 2 years, it was top quality most of the time as far as I can remember since the series is over 10 years old already. Even the last episode, set 10 year in the future showing the characters in 'old style' looking back on their 'last day' together, was done very well.

All in all, a great series which they should release on DVD so you can see the episodes whenever you want. Too bad there isn't a series like this on TV anymore.

(This is going to be my second attempt at a review. The original review I wrote was the first one ever, so...)

Five young people are hired in order to provide telephonic advice to children and adolescents with life problems. However, it turns out that the blooming and flowering youth of Flanders is blooming and flowering nicely without outside assistance, meaning that the people manning the help line have time to spare. They spend their hours talking, thinking and daydreaming about subjects such as adventure, rapture, patriotism and death...

With "Buiten de zone" Belgian television punched far above its weight. When the series first aired, about a generation ago, it was considered fresh, bold and daring. It still IS fresh, bold and daring. It is also very, very funny and about as addictive as heroin. The best episodes are a fluid blurring of dream and reality, resulting in a concatenation of comico-surreal ideas, running gags, spoofs and impressions worthy of "Monty Python".

Originally, the series was meant for a young viewing public, but it soon proved irresistable to nearly all Flemings between the ages of 8 and 88. As a result, it became a considerable hit. In retrospect, it becomes clear that the series also worked as a breeding ground and laboratory for budding Flemish talent. Many of the people involved went on to have rich careers as actors, writers, entertainers.

Most Flemings have a favorite "Buiten de zone" gag or vignette inscribed on their memory. My favorite goes like this : a teenage girl receives a visit from her boyfriend, without her parents knowing. Sadly enough the boyfriend is stoned out of his tiny little mind. The parents arrive, in the company of their young son ; the father looks critical, but the mother goes out of her way to offer hospitality. When offered a cup of coffee, the boyfriend refuses, saying that he doesn't want to get over-excited, since this would involve him getting buried under the lascivious attentions of naked and voluptuous women. The looks on everybody's face are priceless - this is pretty much why television was invented.

Buiten de Zone is a series about 5 young people who work at a callcentre which adolecents can call if the have questions/problems. But it's nothing as you would imagine. The episodes consists of sketches which are based on the dreams and fantasies of the 5. Always hilarious and surreal they still have a satirical undertone (in the tradition of monty python, but certainly not a rip-off). After only 2 series, 10 years on it still has a strong cult-following. I'm sure that if it would have been made in England/USA it would have gone on to be a global success, and would certainly have been critically acclaimed everywhere.

Series: 10 out of 10