Never Better (BBC Two, Thursday, 10pm) is one of the strangest TV shows I've seen in ages. The set-up is a familiar one, which is basically a calamitous type at a self help group ready to cock things up. However, that alone doesn't stop this from being very very odd. The show stars Stephen Mangan (read a brilliant interview with him here) and depending on whether you liked Green Wing, he's a popular chap indeed. If you can see past the credit card adverts, Who Gets the Dog? and the fact that he only ever seems to play one character.
In this show, Mangan plays a bloke called Keith who is a recovering alcoholic attending AA meetings. He also a dad who is clearly trying to get back in the family good books. Mangan delivers crushing lines and creates superbly odious moments... but there is something slightly missing.
The opening programme seemed to be devoid of any real plot and, more unusually for a new comedy show, didn't set the scene for us. We don't really know who Keith is. Do people generally like him? His family? Hell, does he have a job? If you're the kind of person who needs some kind of context for a show, then you'll be left frustrated by Never Better.
That said, those aren't reasons to write the show off. I mean, Mangan is a decent comic actor who sticks well to the script... a script that's tighter than a camel's rump in a sandstorm, and last night's show left me tittering a few times. A bizarre and, at first glance, pointless story revolving around a 4x4, climaxed so gently that you could blink and miss it. Basically, it seemed like Keith had bought a big car with an even bigger horn just to toot it at the parents of his son's bully. It seemed petty... and then, the fleeting grin and knowing look to his son showed us that this character wasn't a git, but rather someone who cares... but keeps getting it wrong.
I can't say whether this show is going to be great, but I would imagine that the characters will develop over the series and as we learn more, we might care more. Of course, our caring isn't the be all and end all... you only hurt the ones you love after all. This could end up going in any direction and to find out if it's good or bad, we'll have to keep watching. For the time being, I'll stick with it for the flashes of quality seen in last night's strangely enjoyable programme.
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I agree that it was a bit odd and there was something missing, but I don't agree that Stephen Mangan always plays the same character. This Keith bloke was nothing like Dr Guy Secretan!
In fact, as I was watching it I was thinking what a good actor he must be since Guy is such a strong character, but I never thought of "Keith" as "Guy" for a minute (if you know what I mean).
I enjoyed this. I liked that Keith was actually quite likable, and you're so right about the tight script - all made for a very satisfying end. Will definitely keep watching.
Yes there was something missing. Two things actually: Humour and anything of entertainment value.
It seemed laboured and tedious to me - and I love Mr Mangan. I probably won't bother with episode 2 - life's too short.
I think this went so close to the edge that it fell off - wincing through Brent's shinanigans was funny, but this had such a low git-with-foot-in-mouth:laughs ratio that it was almost painful to watch. I kinda liked it... but at the same time I was kinda glad when it ended. Didn't exactly leave me wanting more. If I was a critic I'd probably have to give it a second chance, but I'm not, so I'll just watch another CSI. I have a hunch they're going to catch the killer with forensic evidence this time.
I thought it was great And it's that rare thing in British comedy both intelligent and funny - and not too self satisfied. Definitely going to stick with it.
I think the comments above sum it up very well. I imagine it will be a very enjoyable series if you are willing to let it be, the development, as with the comedy, is very subtle at times as mentioned in the entire lack of background coverage. We are never told how bad he had been to any degree. With the flexibility of iPlayer etc I would say it is certainly worth following.