After last week's live-show taster of the New Zealand comedy duo The Flight Of The Conchords, the series proper started last night on BBC Four. You'll remember that FOTC comprises Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie (though the New Zealand accent had me convinced he was called 'Brit'...) and this HBO series follows them as they try to break America, and 'get girls'.

Like all good double acts, Jermaine and Bret have a natural chemistry that clearly has nothing to do with acting, but unlike most, there's not really a defined difference between them. They're both deluded, both outwardly convinced that they're great, and massively popular, and inwardly aware that they're not.

Tonight the plot, such as it is, followed Jermaine as he started going out Bret's ex-girlfriend, but really it was just a getting-to-know-you episode. As well as the boys, there's their woefully ineffective manager, Murray (who'd got them a gig at an aquarium, only to find that what was really wanted was 'sand', not a 'band') and their one and only US fan, Mel.

But when you've got a fan like Mel - who's played by acclaimed stand up Kristen Schaal, by the way - you don't really need anymore. She hangs around outside their apartment, offers advice on their relationships, and waited at that aquarium until two in the morning. Ultimately, though, she's quite sweet, and Jermaine and Bret seem happy to tolerate her gentle stalker-tendencies. Murray has started calling her the band's 'fanbase', as opposed to 'fan', by the way, so you can't tell that it's just one person...

This comedy - I hesitate to call it a sit-com - certainly wears its influences on its sleeve. On one hand, there's a definite Peep Show influence (first person camera work is used) and Murray definitely had an Office/David Brent feel to him. The low-key acting and slow pace also bring to mind indie films such as Garden State - and it all makes for a rather understated affair. The show really comes alive, though, when the guys go into music video fantasy sequences, such as Jermaine's Prince-style falsetto ballad or a Daft Punk-inspired electro number. Actually, that music video isn't just fantasy: Murray films in on his mobile phone.

This wasn't side-achingly hilarious, and you get the impression that you only really get the full FOTC experience if you go and see them live. But still, you wouldn't want to miss any of the songs, and I'll definitely keep watching - I just hope it breaks out of its Curb Your Enthusiasm-style fixation with being low-key, and instead focuses on the quirk and the charm. [annawaits]