This series has a lot of potential, as its central characters Rob and Sharon navigate through their unplanned pregnancy together.
The series tackles the serious risks and worries which go hand in hand with a “geriatric pregnancy” in a serious and yet funny manner. Sharon voices her concerns and rightly so, not worried about being judged for being heartless or insensitive, she voices her concerns for her baby.
The way Catastrophe has dealt with changing situation of Rob and Sharon’s lives is not glossed over or polished off the way many American sitcoms have a tendency of doing. It’s unpolished, it’s wrought with situations which we’ve all dealt with every day, they’ve just managed to make it funny.
The supporting characters, especially Fran (Ashley Jensen) and Chris (Mark Bonnar) are a particular joy to watch. Rob and Chris develop a secret friendship, they go on dates together, quietly behind their respective partners’ back, especially Fran’s. It’s cute and oddly understandable that they would do this.
And therein lies the charm of Catastrophe, it is believable. You believe the relationship development between all these characters, and you want the best for them. They’re normal people, with normal jobs, doing normal things. They’re not sitting around a café drinking coffee all the time, or hanging out at the same pub.
Catastrophe quietly tackles the sad truth that as you age, you lose the majority of your friends to their commitments with their families. Your parties are no longer raging benders with 100 of your closest friends whom you barely know anything about. They’re just a handful of your closest family and friends.
It’s a comedy which will not appeal to everyone, but for those whom it will appeal to, they will think it brilliantly scripted and executed.
It’s no Inbetweeners (UK version), you won’t burst out laughing non-stop, but you will laugh at the quick wit of the characters, the dry sense of humour which is often associated with being British.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Sharon and Rob’s relationship develop, and yes, sometimes, the language is a little colourful. But in truth, that’s how quite a few people I know speak. We swear, we have sex, we talk about our friends, and we are awkward when we’re unprepared.
I look forward to season 2, and to see develop further Rob’s relationship with Chris, a new bromance in the making there. The advice that Chris has given Rob is somewhat scary for anyone who has not had a child before.
Rating: 7.5/10, the characters are endearing, even the ever annoying Fran.
See it again: Yes, this show is quite true to its name, every little minor catastrophe that can happen, kinda does.
Worth my time: Yes, if for no other reason than to learn that giving birth is a horrible experience and should come with a buyer beware warning.
Take my mother: N/A
Talking points: For me, it was Chris (Mark Bonnar), he’s the long suffering husband of a woman whom he clearly loves. But he manages to get his own back, quietly, but he does. And wondering where you know both Ashley Jensen and Mark Bonnar from. For me, Ashley is the seamstress from Ugly Betty, and Mark is from The Paradise.
Annoyance factor: 3/10, 7 or 8 months is covered in 6 episodes, I wish there were more.
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