TV Review: Episodes 2.5
As we pass the mid way point in the series, a comfortable and predictable pace has been adopted.
rating: 2.5
As we pass the mid way point in the series, a comfortable and predictable pace has been adopted. As almost everybody apart from Beverly is having an affair, this week sees Claire and Merc planning to celebrate the 5th anniversary since they started theirs. This gives Jamie the chance to have a weekend away with Matt, but fate deals these cheating spouses an unlucky set of circumstances. Claire wants a weekend away, and surprisingly Merc books a romantic getaway for them. When Jamie sets about making travel arrangements for her trip with Matt she goes through the same agency and Merc believes the jig is up and quickly changes his plans with Claire. Once again the storyline is being driven by the characters extra marital activities rather than making Pucks. Its difficult to see this direction as anything other than lazy; surely there is more fish out of water comedy to be mined from the situation. This could just be the standard weak episode most sitcoms have once a year, although recent comedies Community and Modern Family have yet to encounter this. Episodes is still considered a short run series, in the US the standard run is 22 with only HBO sitcoms adopting a 6-12 episode run. The strength of the previous series was in the misunderstandings and comedic set ups that were presented. This second run seems more about Sean and Beverly being sucked into the Hollywood machine, but I havent given up on this show yet as the three leads make for an usually watchable trio. Although quite why Sean and Beverley were benched for most of the episode is a mystery. Whilst this may not be a popular statement, it simply must be said. Friends may have ended on a high but from season 7 onwards it followed a very predictable pattern. You can forgive this of the show as it has been a part of our collective lives for so long. Theres nothing worse than seeing a series fade from what it used to be, but Friends managed 7 full seasons before it got to its comfortable old slippers stage and Episodes is already showing signs of running out of steam. Lets hope this was just a bleep. Episodes continues Friday at 10pm on BBC Two