I posted this review against the final episode of the season a few years ago when it felt like the series might return, I'm pretty sure that's not the case now, so I thought I'd add the review here too.
I really liked Robert Popper's "Friday Night Dinner" and seeing that he had a new sitcom on Channel Four I made sure to catch it. I can see why it's divisive, particularly with anyone who just knows Popper from "FND" but I really liked it, and watched all six episodes in one sitting.
Best friends Charlie (Tanya Reynolds) and Becca (Melissa Saint) live together in a London flat enjoying the sort of messy, antagonistic friendship that only true best friends would tolerate. Becca is a curtain saleswoman, for the abrasive Mrs. Plant (Chetna Pandya) and Charlie is the PA for professional autograph dealer and sometime narcolept Bob Oxygen (Jonny Sweet).
Where I can see it losing the "Friday Night Dinner" crowd is that it's a touch more surreal than that sitcom ever was. It was a farce, and characters were extreme, but it was always set in the real world. That's not necessarily the case here, particularly with a character like Bob Oxygen, or his Wife Miriam. I really like the two leads, I've not seen much of Melissa Saint before, but Tanya Reynolds I know from "Sex Education" and though the character is different she's just as good here. The various supporting characters are also great with a shout out for Jonny Sweet making Bob Oxygen have the best delivery of any character not played by Matt Berry.
Admittedly, it front loads the series a bit. With the first couple of episodes being the best, though the fall off isn't that pronounced and it does really pick up again at the end. There are some storylines that run through the series, as well as running jokes that come back and pay off later in the run.
It really won't be to everyone's taste, I can see that, but it was to mine, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Hopefully it won't be too niche for Popper to be allowed to make more.
