Month: March 2024

Such Brave Girls (2023)

Where to find it: BBC iPlayer
Length: Six 25-minute episodes
Synopsis: Pitch dark sitcom about personality disorders
Recommendation rating: 5/5

What I like about it: brilliantly funny, well-informed and acted
What I don’t like about it: the envy I feel over how genius it is

Review:
Josie has just got out of inpatient psychiatric care and is back living with her mum Deb and sister Billie, the driving forces behind Josie’s very low self-esteem and lack of stable identity. Narcissistic Deb is dating a widower for his money and Billie is desparate to find a man who won’t leave her like their dad did.

It feels like therapeutic shitposting and every laugh – which thanks to the tight script and comedic gestures of the actors come thick and fast – is tinged with an “ooof that’s dark”. It’s scarily relatable and fantastic work from writer-star Kat Sadler.

Content notes (may contain spoilers): some of the least erotic sex on television, bodily fluids, unhealthy relationships

Carol & The End Of The World (2023)

Where to find it: Netflix
Length: Ten 30-minute episodes
Synopsis: Autistic woman longs for routine amid the apocalypse
Recommendation rating: 3/5

What I like about it: representation, ambitious
What I don’t like about it: ugly and slow (albeit intentionally)

Review:
The main character of this adult animated comedy-drama, Carol Kohl, is 42 and unemployed when a planet mysteriously appears in the sky, due to collide with Earth and wipe out all life in 8 months. This causes the breakdown of society, with people choosing to follow their dreams and make the most of the time they have left. Carol is encouraged to do the same but she enjoys her routine and doesn’t desire adventure.

It was very nice to see such a person represented, enjoying a small life even if it’s limited. As expected for a series about routine, it’s very decompressed and ponderous but overall sweet and artistic.

Content notes (may contain spoilers): sex and nudity, corpse

Deadloch (2023)

Where to find it: Amazon Prime Video
Length: Eight 1-hour episodes
Synopsis: Australian comedy-murder mystery
Recommendation rating: 3/5

What I like about it: fuuny, good characters, sustains interest
What I don’t like about it: a little long, tone doesn’t always mesh, underwhelming payoff

Review:
In this example and parody of dark murder mysteries, a Tasmanian cop finds that the town’s misogynistic men are being murdered and has to partner with a brash out-of-town detective to find out whodunnit. The comedy and mystery elements blend surprisingly well though not perfectly, especially at first.

Content notes (may contain spoilers): violence