My wife, 41, and I, 45, love Gavin and Stacey, largely due to the fine writing and interesting character development of the show's supporting players, Ruth Jones and James Corden. Catastrophe, on the other hand, stays with its leads -- thank goodness -- through an abbreviated six-episode opening season, and we're both hooked.
Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney star in this frank and funny look at two generally kind-hearted adults in London. One's a frustrated Irish school teacher; the other's a knuckle-headed American ad executive. They hook up, then team up, after Horgan's Sharon Morris is knocked up by Delaney's Rob Norris during a week-long sex slog.
That this odd, endearing couple is surrounded and supported almost completely by assholes is just part of their troubles, and it's a flaw that must be addressed if this Catastrophe is going to grow. Indeed, it's almost solely to the daffy duo's credit, both on screen and as co-writers, that the show avoids the mean-spirited ditch lurking around each episode's next twisted turn.
The serious events Sharon and Rob stumble through -- often based on the personal experiences of 45-year-old Horgan and 38-year-old Delaney - - are handled delicately or bluntly as warranted. But it's the honesty of the leads, who riotously portray two human beings with big mouths and big hearts, that's so attractive.
We look forward to their next Catastrophe.
