The basic premise behind this series should seem familiar to American viewers. Six twenty-somethings (3 men, 3 women), each with their own entertaining eccentricities, experience the highs and lows of life and love, sharing all their adventures in the milieu of their mutual friendship. Sounds a lot like Friends doesn’t it? Well, it is…but it’s not. For one thing, Coupling spends a lot time on the subject of sex, and since BBC television is far less censored than American television, things can get pretty explicit (not vulgar, mind you, but definitely explicit.) Take, for instance, a comment from Jeff, a character who spends a great deal of time obsessing about boobs, bottoms, and everything else to do with women’s bodies, “Oh, wouldn’t that be great… being a lesbian. All the advantages of being a man, but with less embarrassing genitals.” Or for another Jeffism…“Sex…. It’s just like cuddling – only damper.” (The series abounds with great quotes like these, and the actors deliver them with all the necessary panache.)
The central arc of the story is the relationship between two characters known as Susan and Steve, but the supporting characters–Jeff, Jane, Sally, and Patrick…and later Oliver, who replaces Jeff in the fourth season (not entirely successfully)–start to gain more depth and prominence as the main storyline advances. The writers spend a lot of time exploring different viewpoints, and it’s common for a misunderstanding, or even several misunderstandings, to lie at the root of the group’s dilemmas. Surprisingly, while the characters often display farcical extremities in their attitudes and behavior, their interactions ultimately seem both believable and realistic. (Actually, I guess it’s not that surprising—my life is chock-full of farce.)
Release your inhibitions and try some Coupling today; I’m sure you’ll find it an enjoyable experience. :)
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Steve’s rants on relationships, women and men are hilarious and entirely (uncomfortably) accurate. As the sort of ‘normal’ guy in the cast, he anchors the loonies but periodically out-loonies them. This is a great example of the BBC’s penchant for letting one person write a show and take it wherever that person wants to go – much like Seinfeld was. Watch a couple of seasons of Coupling, and you’ll find the US committee-driven, sponsor-over-the-shoulder TV writing pretty insipid. Too bad Richard Coyle and Sarah Alexander decided to pursue other projects…
There actually was one attempt to create an American version of Coupling. Apparently, the American producers recreated the British show almost verbatim. It lasted all of four episodes before it was cancelled.
I virtually stumbled over free episodes of Coupling over winter break this year. I watched the entire series in two weeks (and spent most of my time laughing until my abs hurt). Jeff’s absence was painfully obvious, I agree.
I heard about the American version of Coupling. Censorship and time constraints (more commercials in the US) but mostly censorship (really, the rowdy material was what made the series a smash hilarity) tanked the US version.
I wish American television had more smart shows like this. Friends, in my opinion, is zero competition for the acting and writing in Coupling.
THe episodes with Jeff are the funniest, definitely. Brilliantly constructed so that the lead ups to the farcical moments seem in no way far fetched. Very clever. Who can forget the wooden leg episode?
I would have to describe this show as vulgar, but it is still way better than a lot of American shows.