Human Remains

Wonderfully understated black humour, as only the Brits can do it.

There are a few misses along the way, but for the most this is top notch stuff and highly recommended. The second (?) episode about the couple that run the Bed and Breakfast is pure comic heaven.

This series of "days-in-the-life" (6) is without a doubt one of the funniest and best-acted pieces I've ever seen. The two principles, Julia Davis and Rob Brydon, have a very well-defined sense of comedic timing, and their characters are at once hilarious and pitiful.

The makeup deserves credit as well; I was half-way through the second episode before I realized that I was watching the same acters. (that's "acters" as opposed to actors, as opposed to actresses)

This is good stuff, and I can hardly wait until this is available on DVD. I just hope we can get (at least) another six out of Davis and Brydon...

Human Remains is an odd name for a comedy series and thats because its a bleak comedy told in a fly in the wall documentary style and it only lasted one series.

The series stars and was co-written by Rob Brydon and Julia Davis. It was scrip edited by Henry Normal and Steve Coogan was one of the producers.

Each of the six episodes documents a different couple all played by Brydon and Davis and most of the episodes showed that relationships being unhappy and the humour black. Both actors are also heavily and at times bizarrely made up.

Death, violence and depression seem to feature in each of the episodes. For example in the episode 'More than Happy' Brydon plays the optimistic shopkeeper Les while Davis plays his wife Ray, she has suffered the loss of children, business worries, battles with depression and her only solace is to give her husband prolonged anal intercourse through an object she purchased second hand which he finds deeply uncomfortable but she finds immensely pleasurable.

Having only the vaguest of recollections of "Human Remains" from it's initially screening on television back in 2000, I was in for a real treat when I finally got round to re-watching the series on DVD.

The series follows six separate couples (on per episode) with each pair's relationship in varying states of disrepair or marital bliss. The spoof documentary style of the show, brilliantly executed and just as well implemented as it is in "The Office", is one of the two main reasons why the show works so well and justifiably merits such a high rating on this site. The second reason why the show is so brilliant is the writing and performances of Julia Davis and Rob Brydon.

Both Davis and Brydon are not only great writers, but have a great comprehension of the sub-genre they're working in, delving into their characters with such depth that it's not only incredibly easy to believe them as their comedic creations, but barely recognize them from each episode as they don a different disguise and slip into a new persona. They also complement each other fantastically well, with neither overshadowing the other. The regular moments of solid improvisation are also gems in this show, and it's great to see how both Davis and Brydon instantly understand the other, allowing each other to carry off the line.

All in all a brilliant show that unfortunately doesn't have wider recognition. A real showcase of Julia Davis' talents and probably the best thing Rob Brydon has ever done.

The reason i have done this review now is because i was watching the comedy awards the other night and one of the series that had won thanked the makers of it for giving them the chance in the first place.

The makers were the company baby cow (steve coogan) who also made human remains an absolute classic of a series and in my opinion never received the credit it so deserved. At the time this was made both brydon and davies were not the household names they are today and i just thought to myself what an eye for comic genius coogan must have.

The writing and performance in all six episodes just shows how talented brydon and davies really are. One of the best British comedy series ever made and should be up there with the likes of python and milligan.

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