'Coupling' tries very hard to be funny, but the subject is one-note and the lines themselves are both clumsily coined and delivered. The performances fall into that brand of American sitcom self-conscious that can only appeal to people with limited wattage upstairs, as it's an entirely ham-fisted way of doing things. 'Comedy' and 'ham-fisted' are by their very natures incompatible, as all comedy, even apparently gawkish slapstick, requires fine skill.
Don't expect to find that here.
It's also terribly dated. There is a brand of feminism included here, but it's of the early 2000s variety; openly and casually denigrating men on a constant basis. Another thing to thank the 80s for.
In short, 'Coupling' is aggressively mediocre like Friends. The only difference is the subject matter. It would be an insult to say this was even close to the best of British comedy - it would have to claw its way into the top 500.
Don't expect to find that here.
It's also terribly dated. There is a brand of feminism included here, but it's of the early 2000s variety; openly and casually denigrating men on a constant basis. Another thing to thank the 80s for.
In short, 'Coupling' is aggressively mediocre like Friends. The only difference is the subject matter. It would be an insult to say this was even close to the best of British comedy - it would have to claw its way into the top 500.