9-26-03 NOTE: If you watched the NBC (New British Comedy) version last night, you might think I'm a dolt. After having watched it, I have to say that the original is MUCH better. Okay, so I might be biased having seen it first, but I thought that the characters LOOKED too much like they were acting in someone else's role. Maybe you liked it. In which case, you'll LOVE the original. Read on...

One night, while laying in bed, I was channel surfing when a comedy caught my eye. After watching a few moments, my wife looked up from her book. Before we knew it we were rolling at this British comedy - but had no idea what it was. Luckily, at the end credits, we caught the name: "Coupling".

A month or so later, we were in the same situation when we caught it again on PBS - a new episode, but just as funny. I quickly went on a crusade to find out more about the series

I found that it was on the BBC channel (luckily supplied by Comcast Digital Cable) three times a week. I was hooked, watching the adventures of this wacky sextet as they stumbled through their six-way relationship.

When I saw the DVD of the first series (as they call ‘seasons’ in the UK), I decided to grab it – and I’ve been laughing since I brought it home.

THE CHARACTERS
Like any situation comedy, the characters make the show. Coupling is made up of six sexy friends as they weave their way out of their twenty-somethings and into their thirties. The cast:

Susan Walker (played by the vivacious Sarah Alexander) – Susan is the most open of the cast, and probably the least neurotic (though she has her moments – usually brought on by Sally’s insecurities. Free and uninhibited, she started out by dating PATRICK, but dumped him for STEVE. She met Steve though JEFF, a co-worker. SALLY is her best friend and confidant.

Jane Christie (Gina Bellman) – Jane is all about one person – Jane. At times alternately oblivious and scheming, she uses her looks to try to get anything she wants. Most of the times, she succeeds, but those times she doesn’t is when she is at her funniest. She was dating STEVE when they broke up so he could date SUSAN. She’s not very fond of JEFF.

Sally Harper (Kate Isitt) - Sally is the definition of neurotic. A beautician, she is obsessed with her looks, and how aging is going to affect them (“I only smile for single men – I save my elasticity for them”, she says). After finding out a little secret about Patrick, she finds herself drawn to him, even as her Tory-hating pscyhe fights it. She is SUSAN’s best friend.

Steve Taylor (Jack Davenport, also seen in Pirates of the Caribbean) – Steve is EVERYMAN, always caught in some sort of situation because of the people he spends time with. JANE is still always at his side, an annoyance for new girlfriend SUSAN. Add to it his habit of actually seeking and/or listening to advice from Jeff, and he is constantly en route to interesting situations.

Patrick Maitland (Ben Miles) – Patrick is the relatively quiet one of the bunch, although he seems to be unable to figure out that life does not revolve around sex. Self-absorbed (but not in the same oblivious way as JANE), he tends to wander through life in his own world where his friends occasionally visit. Has an on and off dalliance with SALLY.

Jeff Murdock (hilarious Richard Coyle) – Jeff is the ‘Joey’ of the cast, but without the ridiculous stupidity. Instead, incredibly insecure and socially retarded, Jeff’s witticisms and observations are one of the main reasons that the show is so funny. He’s the best friend and ”porn buddy” (you’ll have to watch to find out what that is) of STEVE, works with SUSAN and met PATRICK through the warped interaction of the two.

THE SITUATIONS
The whole show is based on the premise of the interwoven relationships between the three men and three women. The women obsess and harangue the men; the men attempt to figure out just how the hell to deal with the three beautiful women.

Along the way, the group spends much of their time in a local bar, drinking Guinness and living the life that most of us have – if a more attractive and funny version of it. Perhaps that’s what makes it so funny – these people seem REAL, even if they are British (just kidding).

THE DVD
The first six episodes of Coupling are included on the DVD – the whole of the first series of the show. Each episode runs about 40 minutes and run the gamut of subjects and humor.

Flushed
Steve is determined to break up with Jane – but Jane has a habit of always baiting him back in with suggestions of sex. As Jeff puts it, she’s an ‘Unflushable’ – she keeps popping back up. In a final attempt, he almost makes it when Jane mentions her bisexuality – leading to a tryst in the loo, AND meeting Susan, who has just dumped Patrick. An attempt at a date later sets the tables as the whole group gets together for the first time.
Memorable Quote: "Sorry... erm... still using it... haven’t finished... I was on a break." – Steve, after running into Susan during a condom run in the bathroom – and trying to prevent her from entering the occupied stall.
HUMOR FACTOR (on a scale of 1-10): 8

Size Matters
Size matters opens up with Susan offering to cook for Steve. Both parties are told by their friends that ‘cooking’ means open season for sex, regardless of what she might have meant by the date. Meanwhile, Patrick’s best feature is let slip by Susan, sending Sally on a quest to find out if it’s true.
Memorable Quote: "I mean, where exactly do you take your socks off? My advice is to take them off right after your shoes, and before your trousers. That’s the sock gap. Miss it, and suddenly you’re a naked man in socks. No self-respecting woman will ever let a naked man in socks do the squelchy with her." - Jeff
HUMOR FACTOR (on a scale of 1-10): 8.5

Sex, Death and Nudity
Jane’s aunt has died and she wants Steve to join her at the funeral – despite the fact that he is now dating Susan. Susan, seeing this as a ploy to get Steve back, says she’s going, to. Soon, the whole gang is en route. Meanwhile, Jeff is trying to get over his fear of an upcoming interview – with interesting results.
Memorable Quote: "Only an interview? What if I panic? You know, what if I say an accidental word... there’s pressure, you know, the wrong word could just pop out of my mouth by accident... Nipples!" – Jeff (again)
HUMOR FACTOR (on a scale of 1-10): 9.5

Inferno
Steve’s porn collection becomes a point of contention between the new couple, and the “L” word comes out as an automatic defense – creating quite a scene at the dinner party where Jane has brought Jill – but whether as a friend or a date, no one is quite sure.
Memorable Quote: “I like films with lesbians in them because it’s nice to think there are attractive women out there who can’t find a boyfriend.” - Patrick
HUMOR FACTOR (on a scale of 1-10): 8

The Girl with Two Breasts
Jeff is at it again, and his mouth just keeps outpacing his brain (a common occurrence). He becomes infatuated with a girl across the bar, who also seems interested in him. Unfortunately, the woman is Israeli and doesn’t speak a word of English. Thinking this ideal, since he can’t say anything wrong, Jeff continues to flirt with ‘Shadayim’ (actually the Hebrew word for ‘breast’).
Memorable Quote: "I need breasts with brains. I don’t mean individual brains, obviously... I mean, not a brain each. You know, I like intelligent women, but you’ve got to draw the line somewhere... I think breast brains would be over-egging the woman pudding." - Jeff
HUMOR FACTOR (on a scale of 1-10): 10

The Cupboard of Patrick’s Love
Jane’s impromptu visit to Patrick’s home creates quite a stir when she locates a shelf of videos of him and former loves. Soon, Susan is anxious that she might be included in the former ‘actresses’ on the shelf. When she goes to confront him, she finds that everyone is already enjoying the film – but without realizing the women in the tape isn’t even her!
Memorable Quote: “I really thought I’d gone to his house, you know, to heal our spiritual divide. But it turns out I was just gagging for a shag. Those two are so similar.” - Jane
HUMOR FACTOR (on a scale of 1-10): 9

DVD EXTRAS
The DVD extras on the disc are somewhat limited. In addition to TV ads, you get Behind-the-Scenes interviews, a Photo Shoot segment and Cast Bios. Nothing too impressive, but I wasn’t looking for much more than the shows themselves anyway.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I found this entire disc to be absolutely hilarious. My wife and I (and our 15-year-old son) watched three episodes the first night and finished the rest the second night. We’ve watched it several times since, and I’ve let friends borrow it as well – with similar results. The humor is adult and real-life – I’ve had similar conversations in bars time and time again, and everyone knows a Jeff somewhere in their young life.

Unlike Friends, which uses euphemisms for various topics to avoid censors, Coupling only uses them as a humor device – and the effect is superb. I’m interested in seeing how the American version is pulled off, although initial reports are less than stellar.

One note – this definitely is not for children. Think Friends if it was being shown after The Sopranos. There is a LOT of adult humor and innuendo that most children shouldn’t be exposed to – it’s raunchier than standard U.S. fare (my son is pretty mature for his age – he actually even got all of the jokes, but he’s an exception).

If you like this DVD, be sure to check out the Series 2 DVD, as well.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/coupling/

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age