Daddy Issues

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.

This actually made me giggle, which is quite a rare thing these days. BBC has pumped out lots of garbage since 2020, but this was a good mix of sweet and funny. I did not expect to enjoy this in the slightest, but I was pleasantly surprised. The main characters are great actors - it was good to see some familiar faces in the casting, and the storyline was very simple but still interesting. It's also nice to see a father-daughter storyline. I really hope this gets another season. Will definitely be watching again.

Well played BBC. You definitely got this one right! I look forward to next season.

The answer is there's a common theme amongst those who slated this - they all start by saying how little of it they actually watched! One proudly boasting they only managed 10 minutes, yet feel qualified to trash the entire series, having missed 99.9% of it 😂

We all know you can't please everyone, but the opinions of keyboard warriors with neither the patience nor respect to consider all of someone's hard work, before glibly trashing what they didn't even watch, should simply be ignored or laughed at themselves!

Brilliantly written and performed by all. Even the smallest of parts are well thought through and hard worked on. This had my wife and I laughing and talking about it for days. But that's just our (well considered) opinions 😉, your mileage may vary 😂

I find it particularly intriguing how this show elicits such polarized opinions among its audience. It's a whimsically crafted series that masterfully weaves together elements of humor and absurdity, offering a fresh perspective on storytelling. The performance by Amy Lou Wood as the lead is nothing short of delightful; she brings a vibrant energy and charismatic charm that truly captivates the viewer. The show's charm lies in its ability to embrace lightheartedness, inviting viewers to indulge in its playful narrative without any reservations.

Personally, I found the experience both entertaining and thought-provoking. The clever writing and quirky character dynamics kept me engaged throughout. If you approach this series with a relaxed mindset and an openness to its unconventional style, rather than scrutinizing it through a serious lens, you'll discover a treasure trove of joy and laughter. It's certainly a gem worth watching for anyone seeking a delightful escape from the mundane.

With two great actors leading the line up in David Morrisey and Aimee-Lou, a fantastic pairing, who brought this comedy to life. The straight up one liners, contrasted by a great cast throughout the scenes within the show, really took this show to another level.

The writing, acting and direction of the show, all came together to bring together a hapless young person, who is following a certain energy, to becoming a young mum, whilst her dad evolves and becomes a true dad and grandfather, after a poor marriage.

A great series and glad to have watched this. A great show, worth watching! Ignore the other reviews.