Not Safe for Work

This is definitely a slow-burner but, wow, does it get good! I wasn't sure whether I'd stick with this after episode 1, but I did and I'm really glad. It is not what it initially seems to be. As the series goes on you get to know every character really well and find out why they are as they are. Each person is so realistically developed as it progresses. They actually speak and act like real people. That is so rare, and you start to really care about all of them. There are no villains or heroes, just like in true life, only people struggling to survive and to make sense of what sometimes seems like a pointless and ridiculous world. It is hysterically funny in places and genuinely moving too. The acting, writing and direction are second to none.

Acting fine, premise ok, anything close to reality not so much. Nothing terribly funny or entertaining around the characters. In fact they are all sad and depressing. I'm being generous with my rating because they all seem to have tried so hard.

I opened my IMDB account to review this. Not Safe For Work is, I believe, my most favourite mini-series of all time.

This is not your typical office comedy. This is the story of a group of people failing at life, but in a realistic way. It's both very funny and very dark, and while at first it may seem cringy and over-the-top, you quickly get into these weird people's weird lives and personalities - as Morticia Addams says, 'normal is an illusion'.

At first you start with archetypes, such as the junkie, the awkward chatterbox or the guy with anger issues, but the characters unravel and become absolutely attaching (especially the Danny-Angela duo, as far as I'm concerned).

In the end, these people and their stories are really touching and I simply didn't want to let go of this lot.

My only complaint is that it's way too short!

While covering much of the same ground as the deservedly celebrated "The Office", this flawless comedy augments the cringe facter with an affecting drama that ups the pathos as the story works its way to its inevitable conclusion. I do not think I have ever seen a better comedy show of any nature and it deserves the types of accolades given to "The Office" and indeed any renowned show of the past. That it was not renewed is bittersweet, as it is it remains perfect in its construction but a chance to see the characters developed further would have been great. All of the cast give their best and the satire is spot on. This is a show that reminds you that all those other semi-successful series with intermittent laughs need not be so bad - so why are they? Here, everything gels. Magnificent.

I JUST STARTED WATCHING AND COULDN'T STOP. EVERY MEMBER OF THE CAST IS EXCELLENT AND ENGAGING. THE GREAT TALENT IS THE REASON TO WATCH THIS. I LOVE THAT THE SOUNDTRACK IS OFTER SILENT SO THERE'S NO CANNED LAUGHTER OR ANNOYING POP MUSIC MOST OF THE TIME SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON THE DRAMA OR COMEDY.

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN JUST EXACTLY WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT BUT THAT'S ALSO WHAT MAKES IT ENGAGING. WONDERFULLY DIRECT DIALOGUE BUT FOCUSES ON THE PAIN MORE THAT SHOCK VALUE.

WHILE GENEARLLY NOT A FAN OF FLASHBACKS THEY WERE USED BRILLIANTLY HERE.

THE VISUAL BONUS TO THE TALENT HERE IS A VERY YOUNG ATTRACTIVE CAST THAT MAKES THIS EASY TO WATCH AND YOU FORGET THAT MOST OF IT TAKES PLACE IN AN OFFICE. DEFINITELY AN ATYPICAL OFFICE SERIES. ONE OF THE BEST CONTEMPORARY SHOWS ON BRITBOX. THE BLURB OF WHAT IT IS ABOUT ONLY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF THE STORYLINE. BRILLIANT. I'M DEPRESSED THEY ONLY MADE ONE SEASON AND IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO FIND THIS. I NEVER EVER REMEMBER SEEING THE TITLE UNTIL THE LAST WEEK VEN THOUGHT IT WAS MADE ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO.