The BBC pilot sitcom season has been rather mixed. Some promising funny material, some average and a few just plain bad. I expect the bad ones to be green-lit to become a series.
Our Ex Wife showed promise from the very beginning. It really hits it stride from the first scene and goes with it. It is probably inspired by the black comedy movie, The War of the Roses starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
Jack and Hilary were once in love and a decade later had a messy nasty divorce. He calls her psychotic and she responds in kind and they fantasize about sadistically killing each other.
Five years later Jack is engaged to a sweet, kindly American vet, Sarah who wants to meet Hilary and think that both of them could get along for the sake of their children.
I was surprised how much the writer has painted Hilary out to be a monster. In the divorce court scene it is mentioned she repeatedly cheated on him as well as being a conniving liar. Our sympathies are clearly meant to go with Jack.
Melanie Lynskey as Sarah and Peter Egan as Jack's dad steal the show as their roles are more subtle.
However I did find that although I found the show refreshing I did not laugh that much and I also wondered how much mileage you can get out of two people hurling abuse at each other. There is only so many times you can call your ex a psychotic whore.
Our Ex Wife showed promise from the very beginning. It really hits it stride from the first scene and goes with it. It is probably inspired by the black comedy movie, The War of the Roses starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
Jack and Hilary were once in love and a decade later had a messy nasty divorce. He calls her psychotic and she responds in kind and they fantasize about sadistically killing each other.
Five years later Jack is engaged to a sweet, kindly American vet, Sarah who wants to meet Hilary and think that both of them could get along for the sake of their children.
I was surprised how much the writer has painted Hilary out to be a monster. In the divorce court scene it is mentioned she repeatedly cheated on him as well as being a conniving liar. Our sympathies are clearly meant to go with Jack.
Melanie Lynskey as Sarah and Peter Egan as Jack's dad steal the show as their roles are more subtle.
However I did find that although I found the show refreshing I did not laugh that much and I also wondered how much mileage you can get out of two people hurling abuse at each other. There is only so many times you can call your ex a psychotic whore.