Yes, it gets better every week.
Home Time Page 4
It is getting better. The bit about racism being wrong was brilliant. There were actually quite a few laugh out loud moments.
Too dry. Story's interesting enough, but far too dry and humourless. Not much liking this new fad for series narrative in these kinds of comedies either.
A nice episode, some good melancholy moments and nice bits of pathos.
My concern is that this series seems to be relying on the one main joke, i.e. where Gaynor - and indeed everyone else in Coventry, including her parents - is in a state of arrested development. OK, so no-one has really (at heart) changed/matured in 12 years? The show may be questioning the philosophy that in life no-one ever really changes, but I'm starting to find it a little tiring.
I'm occasionally viewing the show as something akin to Dennis Potter's play Blue Remembered Hills, where adults played the roles of children. (Coincidentally, Baby Cow's Mr Coogan was in the remake of that.)
Although there were some lovely lines, the dialogue (again) veered towards the melodramatic. Nothing particularly wrong about that in comedy, but to the degree it's sometimes used it can make the whole show feel a bit laboured. My favourite moment tonight was the pre-title snippet with her mother complaining about not being mentioned as we hear Gaynor's steamy diary thoughts. An excellent joke.
I said before that I thought that keeping Gaynor's past a secret might be a mistake. Perhaps it will at some point become a proper area for exploration, who knows? I just think that without addressing it the show doesn't have a great deal to say. (Indeed, the lead character often literally has nothing to say.) It may just be a bit one-dimensional? It's fair to argue that well, so what, it's only a comedy - why need it have a message? Just that the initial set-up of the show did seem to suggest it would have more depth than what we're currently seeing.
It continues to be very well written. It is also shot, directed and performed wonderfully well and I look forward to next week's episode. 
(Oh, and this show most certainly has cross-over potential to a BBC One audience.)
Audience figures of 500,000... this will be binned.
It's been given a very weird slot, to be fair. Monday night, BBC 2, 10pm - not exactly the best place for a new sitcom. (What happened to 'Thursdays Are Funny'?)
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 29 2009, 12:56 PM BSTIt's been given a very weird slot, to be fair. Monday night, BBC 2, 10pm - not exactly the best place for a new sitcom. (What happened to 'Thursdays Are Funny'?)
Didn't The Office go out in the same slot all those years ago? And 10 on a weeknight isn't too bad. Although I really don't think this has got much audience appeal and will be quietly retired after one series.
I'm not sure such poor figures can be blamed on the slot; it's shed 300,000 since the first episode. People saw it ans switched off.
I watched it last week and the only good thing I can say about it is this: at least it's not Lunch Monkeys.
I'm enjoying this more than having to sit through yet another BBC 3 cock and tits gags-fest.
Quote: chipolata @ September 29 2009, 1:04 PM BSTDidn't The Office go out in the same slot all those years ago? And 10 on a weeknight isn't too bad. Although I really don't think this has got much audience appeal and will be quietly retired after one series.
Referencing what I was alluding to (see above), at present I don't see how this show would have the legs to go more than one series in its current form.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 29 2009, 1:08 PM BSTI'm enjoying this more than having to sit through yet another BBC 3 cock and tits gags-fest.
That's like saying you prefer drinking urine to vomit.
Love the idea of this:
'Just before her 18th birthday, Gaynor Jacks ran off to find her place in the big wide world, but now aged 29 she's back with her tail between her legs. She returns to Coventry, home to her mum and dad's house, and home to her three best friends'
But that's all I love. Done three episodes now and it's got to the point I'm pushing myself to sit and watch it - but not no more.
Sadly it doesn't amuse a fraction of what it could and for that reason - I'm out.
Quote: chipolata @ September 29 2009, 1:09 PM BSTThat's like saying you prefer drinking urine to vomit.
Yes. Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying, Chip. 
I'm enjoying it, I can see why it won't appeal to some, but it's grown on me episode by episode. I thought the main character was a stronger presence this week too.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ September 29 2009, 1:37 PM BSTI'm enjoying it, I can see why it won't appeal to some, but it's grown on me episode by episode. I thought the main character was a stronger presence this week too.
She was a stronger presence, yes, but there doesn't seem to be much to her. Someone who's been away for 12 years and comes back with absolutely nothing to say about it, no experience or insight to bring to anything? She just seems a bit empty, that's all. You can only use her wide-eyed looks as a replacement for words for so long...
They would have absolutely fallen on their arse with the lack of dialogue they have given to the main character if it wasn't for the actress, who adds depth and sexyness.