Coupling

2000s British tv sitcom

The uneasy realtions between people who are dating, used to date each other or would want to - six thirty-something friends share their views on relationships.

Let’s face it - the subject of dating and relationships are the most overused topics in comedy series and sitcoms especially. Why? Because it is rather easy to create a couple (all you need is two people and nothing else needs explanations) and such story can pretty much run forever (like any soap opera). Coupling in some ways is very typical sitcom showing problems people have while they are in the relationship or they are looking for one. But creator Steven Moffat added some nice twists to the whole outlook of the show by mixing together people that already had relationship within this group.

Steve breaks up with Jane and starts relationship with Susan while she broke up with Patrick, who is Steve’s friend. Meanwhile Susan’s friend Sally tries to start relationship with Patrick and Steve’s friend Jeff thinks his single date with Susan changed his life. The whole outlook of the show would be just average if Jeff wouldn’t interfere with other character’s life, but with him the show actually worked very well. After his departure for short time his unique approach to life took over Jane’s boyfriend Oliver, but it seemed forced and didn’t bring anything useful to the show. Rest of the characters are not bad, but to be honest they lacked the originality and situations they have created could be found in many other series.

To summarize: risky main subject (dating and relationships) presented in enjoyable way, characters perhaps not very original, but still suitable for this show. As for the level of episodes the first season was very good, but deteriorating with each following season. Season 4 wasn’t really needed (the character of Jeff missing, plots not so good).

Rating	6.4
Funny	6 / 10
Entertaining	4 / 5
Characters	3 / 5
Nonrepetitive	3 / 5