Humour can be cruel. This first episode of Camping was a laughter free zone. Julia Davis has written and directed a bitter, twisted comedy with no characters to root for.
The monster of the pack is Fiona (Vicki Pepperdine.) A harridan. Her henpecked husband Robin (Steve Pemberton) is unable to stand up to her. They arrive in a campsite to celebrate his 50th birthday. Their young son wears a glass bowl on his head to avoid him becoming gay.
Fiona has made plans for the camping trip but it is all becoming unstuck with uninvited guests. Of course Fiona needs to be centre of attention as well manipulate everybody. This includes her sister, Kerry who comes along with her reformed alcoholic boyfriend, Adam and his teenage son. The teenager has raging hormones where he keeps needing to play with himself.
Late at night, a friend drops by Tom. He has been recently separated but is not single for long. Tom has found Fay (Julia Davis) a nymphomaniac.
It all ends with Fiona rushing to hospital because her son was hit by a ball and being typically overdramatic.
It is bound to be camping trip from hell. It could also be hell for the viewers judging by the first episode. I could not fathom the dark, twisted humour. One being the campsite owner who speaks slowly, pauses mid sentence and was last seen cleaning his mother's commode.
Surprisingly, Camping had a US television remake.