Daddy Issues

Aimee Lou Wood is new to me, but so impressed. A very engaging, natural actor who the camera seems to love. A UK Jenna Ortega even? Fresh presence, who I could also see being deeply effective in a heavy tv drama.

Have enjoyed David Morrissey for decades and will be intriguing to see how his weak/wet father character develops.

Hoping this show maintains the fresh approach and sharp splashes of wit ("Argos vouchers" etc).

Could be a great year for BBC comedy, who have already blessed us with inspired female roles and writing, allowing them free reign. I'd also recommend Such Bad Girls. Well observed and arrived fully-formed. Inspired slapstick and clever throwaway lines, while not shying away from mental issues with a deft / realistic touch.

A solid first episode, with 2 unusually strong, individual leads. Hoping the show continues not taking the obvious routes and flushing out support roles.

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.

(Reviewed after watching the first episode.)

Bravo BBC for making an actual comedy, rather than something that thinks it is a comedy but is not actually funny.

There are some nice lines here. I especially liked the one about Argos vouchers.

Getting David Morrissey on board as the dad is a good sign. Being the only person not to have watched Sex Education (2019-2023), I'm not familiar with Aimee Lou Wood, but she also seems like a real catch. (Perhaps she looks a little bit too comedic, but she does resist the urge to ham things up.)

It's clear a lot of thought has gone into the scripts and the performances. I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series.

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 😂

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.