Flowers series 2

[cushioncovers]

Anyone else looking forward to this. I really enjoyed the first series.

[FluffAndFluster]

Yes me, set to record.

[cushioncovers]

Anyone watching?

[Snoopyokay]

Yes! I'm loving it it seems even stranger than the last series!

[Snoopyokay]

Apparently the first series got really low ratings for c4 but they still wanted to commission a second series as they love it so much!

[cushioncovers]

Why does Clyde remind me of Johnny Depp.

[spiderlight]

That was strange. Very, very strange. I think I liked it, but I wish I'd re-watched series 1 because I might have been slightly less confused! I think it would have worked better as two separate episodes, as there wasn't enough sense of time passing between 'I can't be with you any more' and Deborah suddenly having a new house etc.

[futuristic1]

Will Sharpe, the writer/actor/director has said he wants to show viewers what having a mental illness is like.

Well, I guess Flowers shows that having a mental illness when you own your own country estate, cars, motorbikes and caravans is a lot less traumatic than having a mental illness in a bedsit on Deptford High Road.

But is it 'funnier'?
Is this 'funny'?

Certainly, Will Sharpe shows us that it's better to be middle class (and above) and mentally ill, than working class (and below) and mentally ill.

Is there any virtue in this show or is it just more more rich boy bollocks?
Maybe if you've grown up 'boy-worshipping' Monty Python and 'teen-surrealism'?
Maybe, but I doubt it.

Is it really telling anybody anything interesting or challenging (or amusing) about mental illness?

I don't think so - and no, it's not funny either.

[cushioncovers]

Tbh I'm just enjoying the quirkiness of it all and not really looking to much into it.

[futuristic1]

Don't get me wrong, I like 'looking' at it too. Nice house, nice garden, pretty people, pretty things.

I like looking out bus windows when I travel but if I never reached my stated destination, I'd be disappointed.

The writer clearly had specific aims - does it meet those?

It's labelled as comedy - Is it funny?

[fourquenelles]

The Emperor is wandering around C4 stark bollock naked.

[MarkleSparkle]

I don't know futuristic, but I identified so much with Maurice in the first series and his inability to tell his wife about his depression that I cried for about a week after watching it.

Apart from that I mainly enjoy the slightly batshit nature of it.

Am so glad to hear that about C4 though! Really surprises me, in a good way.

[Lottapianos]

Series 1 was one of my favourite TV series of the last few years. I thought it portrayed the shame and isolation of depression beautifully, and in a really inventive way. And the unending sadness - you could feel it coming through the screen, despite the many laughs. I adore how absolutely brutal the brother and sister are with each other too

Only seen first episode of series 2 so far

[cushioncovers]

Thinking about it I'm not sure I would say it's a comedy. It has humorous moments but I'm not sure how I would 'label it'

[FantasticGymnastic]

Loved series 1 but just can’t get into series 2 at all so I’m deleting it I’m afraid.

[cushioncovers]

Thought last nights episode was brilliant

[terryleather]

Quite liked the first series but can't get with this one at all, and I do think it's over hyped and self congratulatory tbh.

Makes me want to channel Nicola Horrocks in Life Is Sweet and scream "middle class wankers!!!!" at the tv....

[Blostma]

I think that was the most moving thing I have seen on TV in ages. Beautifully shot, and I actually sobbed at the end. So very true Shun.

[spiderlight]

My God. I've never watched anything like that. Even DP was in tears at the end.

[Blostma]

DH has saved it. He wants to watch it all over again. I might too, in the hope of a less devastating ending.

[Lottapianos]

Gosh, really looking forward to seeing the final three episodes now. I watched the first 3 earlier in the week and really enjoyed them but preferred series 1 on the whole. I'm intrigued now. Thanks for not posting spoilers everyone

[chequeplease]

Oh it was brilliant. And yes maybe it does focus on MH within a middle class family. But that's a reality for some too.
Did we ever know what ever happened to Shuns family?

[Lottapianos]

'Did we ever know what ever happened to Shuns family?'

Yes, we found out in series 1

[WasteOfThyme]

I think this series had some strong moments, especially episode 5. But it was nothing compared to season 1.

[Snoopyokay]

Not posting a spoiler but not sure what happened in the last episode? I'm thinking it was unsaid ?

[spiderlight]

To me, the last episode was a reminder that mental illness isn't always 'obvious' - that it can happen quietly, at the sidelines, to people who seem on the surface to be fine. Shun had recognised something of himself in Maurice, in the darkness of his work, and had come to England to start again, but while Amy was going loudly and extravagantly mad, he was quietly losing his finger-hold too. We don't know what his outcome was - my DH insists that unless there's a third series, he is Schroedinger's Shun. He showed Donald his special place in the woods, though.