It's quite funny and better than most stuff on telly.
But it feels kinda slow and drawn out. The characters don't feel wildly original and the situations aren't original.
Probably being unfair and comparing it to Peep Show. But I don't get the feeling of lots of interesting stuff going on under the surface...
That said Kingsley is an absolute top notch sitcom monster.
Kingsley? Or JP?
Have I muddled the characters? I do that.
I mean the posho.
JP.
I think this would have been more endearing if it had been an actual Inbetweeners spinoff, rather than just a lot of unlikeable characters being unlikeable.
It must be one of those ones that's really funny and insightful to those who went through it.
For me, however, it's nothing more than a reminder as to why tuition fees should be allowed to skyrocket.
From episode 1 you know who all the inbetweeners are and these feel like thin pen portraits..
I must say I was really disappointed with Fresh Meat. When I first heard about it I thought why hasn't this been done since The Young Ones and was excited about watching it. However at the end I couldn't remember laughing much, certainly not out loud, I can see that the characters relationships have been established and I did like JP and the Scottish bloke but it just wasn't funny.
I remember the first time I saw The Inbetweeners I loved it and was actually gutted that I didn't write it myself (sounds weird when I read that back but that's how I felt) but with Fresh Meat I actually feel pleased it was so lame as it gives me more confidence in my own abilities. I'm thinking if this is what Channel 4 are comissioning, I can do better!
Saying that it's probably a grower and I'll feel like a twat for writing this in a few months.
It's also a dramedy length but it's clearly written as a sitcom.
That's eccentric to say the least.
Some crazy talk on this page; that was a mighty fine first episode to a new show.
Seriously.
There were some good gags, some interesting scenes and one or 2 interesting characters.
But I was watching the clock before the half way mark.
With Peep Show and The Inbetweeners, its closest stablemates I guess, I started watching both late and in each case watched an entire season in one go on watch again.
Quote: sootyj @ September 24 2011, 5:07 PM BSTSeriously.
Yes. It obviously has room to grow and improve, but it was a good opening.
Ok.
I disagree.
So there!
I enjoyed it, didn't think it was great but thought it had the potential to be a grower. I didn't laugh out loud once but it was a nice watch and I smiled throughout.
I wish modern British sitcoms would stop with the whole awkward conversation thing now though, it's been done a million times before and is getting a bit tiresome. I'm referring to the bit when he's in the kitchen talking about whether people are having tea or coffee.
And the character, Kingsley is it? I think they shouldn't have cast Simon from The Inbetweeners - in a show that's clearly going to be fairly Inbetweeners-esque, playing the sensible central character you can't help but just see him as Simon and not Kingsley. In fact before coming on this thread I'd forgotten what his name was, which isn't a good sign.
Jack Whitehall's character was decent and I like the girl who wrote her essay again. She seemed to be the most true to a university student, other than the two seemingly central and more normal characters of Kingsley and Josie.
That's another thing I'd say about it - Inbetweeners was an over exaggeration of sixth form life - but it was very funny because of the truth of it all. Anyone who's been a teenager, knows a teenager or is a teenager can pretty much relate to it. Fresh Meat didn't seem particularly true to being a uni student. Still, early days and they aren't massive gripes. I'm sure it'll grow into its own after a few episodes.
Quote: sootyj @ September 24 2011, 9:58 AM BSTBut it feels kinda slow and drawn out.
I agree with this. First episodes are often not great though - maybe it's a grower.
As almost everyone else has said, Jack Whitehall was very good.
Echo most of what sooty has said so far.
Cliched caricatures all bound by a desire to appear 'cool' behaving in predictable ways in a semi-realistic setting. University presents more interesting/f**ked up people than this even if they are slightly impressionable or want to come across as hard/'cool' etc.
Josie behaving in the way she did with JP completely went against the character they established. Characters can act in surprising ways but there has to be some emotional response or grounding for her actions which for me needed to be greater than an A to B of someone she likes seeming to go and have sex with someone else, so she'll do it too.
Vod's character was poor and I wasn't keen on the portrayal either.
I'll give it another watch but with the characters they've chosen and the general pace and tone of the show I'm not sure how much it will improve.
