Here's a thread to discuss 'Never Better' - BBC Two's latest sitcom offering in its "Thursdays Are Funny" strand. Our Guide
Never Better
I'll give it a shot. Mangan is horrible, so I'm not expecting to like it but I might be surprised.
I saw the picture of Mangan, and thought he looked like Dave Bussell? No?
Quote: Rick Skelton @ January 10, 2008, 2:17 PMI'll give it a shot. Mangan is horrible, so I'm not expecting to like it but I might be surprised.
I think Mangans a great comic actor, for me his character was always the highlight of Green Wing. He was really good in that Free Agents pilot too.
Pretty rubbish, apart from the bit where the kid smacked him. Child abuse? Hilarious. The character was too similar to Rick from Lead Balloon but the situations weren't funny and the supporting characters were crap.
I thought it was all right, not the greatest thing i've seen. It got better in this 10-15 minutes and I laughed a few times. I'll be watching next week anyway.
In other news, Kate Ashfield is lurvvellly! 
What a load of old garbage. What was it meant to be?
Same old, same old. Just like Lead Balloon. Can we not do away with these 'reaction' shows with no audience?
Can we sue BBC Two under the trade descriptions act yet? 'Thursdays are funny'?
OK gag at the end but did it deserve a whole episode to set up? This premise could have been so much funnier. I can imagine the writers going "oo, look at us tying all these seemingly unconnected strands together, aren't we comedy geniuses". Shame they forgot about jokes, and characterisation, and um, jokes.
There were a few good moments, but overall I found Never Better to be rather disappointing.
The Alcoholics Anonymous meeting scenes reminded me of the Anger Management class scenes in Saxondale.
I don't often praise BBC comedy, but this I felt deserved a pat on the back. It reminded me a little of Lead Balloon. Mangan fits the role, and reminds me a bit of the donkey in Shrek.
Made me laugh lots of times. Therefore, good.
Quote: Cecil Van Percywinks @ January 10, 2008, 11:28 PMand reminds me a bit of the donkey in Shrek.
Let's not bring that back again!
I was geared up to hate this, but I didn't think it was too bad. There weren't nearly enough killer lines, and the targets of the comedy seemed pretty easy, but I actually stuck with it and will watch the next episode.
I had to switch off halfway through.
I thought it was desperately unfunny and depressing. The themes discussed in the show were basically abuse, bullying, abuse, nightmares, abuse, murder etc. Not exactly great comic fare.
Also the characterisation was really poor and the scenes in the self-help group were far too similar to Saxondale.
It wasn't the greatest show I have seen, but I'll probably give it another try. Does anyone know the viewing figures for it?