Gavin and Stacey - first time I've watched it! No spoilers please!

[BurntBroccoli]

I'm not sure why I never watched this back in 2007, but have finally started watching this evening!
Up to the one where they just got married.

Smithy is a horrible character but I love, love, love Nessa!

Yes! I watched a Christmas episode the other day and there was a little bit of dialogue with Gwen and Mick about whether to put the champagne glasses in the dishwasher. No gags, nothing to do with the plot - just to show the character and little incidental realistic details that make up a family Christmas. If it was a US sitcom it would be cut.

Mick is the best character, I'd love to be married to Mick. Stacey, Nessa and Smithy are not supposed to be perfect but relatable. We all know people like them and love them despite their flaws.

I just find it so warm and cosy and even the darker/edgier references (what happened when Bryn camped with Stacy's brother, the West/Shipman names) are just typically British gallows humour.

The most unrealistic (speaking as someone who's from the Welsh border and now lives in NE London) aspect is the 3 hour journey from Basildon* to Barry. Like that would ever happen!

*sorry it's not Basildon, can't remember exactly the Essex setting

@StarsBeneathMyFeet Doris is my favourite character 💕

Yes I love how discreet and open minded she is 😂

I absolutely love Sheridan Smith's character. Rudy I think. It's a shame she wasn't in more.

I loves it, I do.

I started off wanting Pam to be my mum and as I’ve got older I want to be her friend.

Billericay!

I've only seen the odd episode so I have started to watch from the beginning. I want to finish in time to watch the finale on Christmas Day.

I have never watched it because I can’t stand James Corden. It’s a wonder the other actors can get on the screen with his big head.

Oh and I cracked up with the older lady neighbour telling Stacy not to 'sell the farm' when she went to meet Gavin for the first time.

Absolutely this....it's totally about Nessa and Smithy and the dynamics between them. I'm so jealous OP, you are in for a treat, it is so well observed and character driven.

It's interesting because I think people who watched it when it came out love Smithy and but they loved him when it came out, then James cordon became a dick and people still held love for smithy but didn't like James cordon. If you're watching it now you're going in with James cordon views and seeing smithy as unlikable.

Oh OP you are in for a treat watching all of them!

I'm rewatching them all now for the millionth time ready for the Christmas Day special. Frankly it's the highlight of my day!

I loves it I do.

I watched it all when it was first on, and have just rewatched from the start with DH and our 17-year-old, who put on a huge show of not wanting to but then got really into it. We're all counting the days until the final episode now.

Doris is a legend. I think of her every time I make a salad!

Just because of this thread I’ve started watching from the beginning again.
I think G&S will be to the 2000/2010 what Friends is to the 1990s.

There is a poster on here who lives in Bryn’s house.

Yes I think it's this. The way he keeps grabbing Gavin's mum.

Yes only seen the first 4 episodes and Smithy is awful to Nessa. Think he also calls their little town a dump. Bit of an arse really but I guess that's the storyline!
I love Mick - he's such a sweetheart!

I don't watch that much telly really so haven't got an option about James Cordon.
I do think that he wrote this character to be slightly obnoxious which is great writing. I am watching it with 2024 eyes though and amazed at all the smoking and sexist comments that probably went over people's heads back in 2007.

Oooooh, lucky you seeing this for the first time! I only watched it all in 2019 @BurntBroccoli

Smithy grows on you!

Ooooh, and you will LOVE the Christmas episodes!

I'm rewatching ahead of Xmas having watched it a few times over the years. I have a huge soft spot for Wales (uni years) and my DH and I also had a long distance relationship way back in the day.

Most alarming is the realisation that I've gone from being Stacey in the early days of the series, to being Pam now! How's that happened??

Adore Pam. I’m from London and have loads of East London/Essex border friends and Pam and Mick remind me of at least half of my friends’ parents. In a lovely, loving way.

Pam is also hilarious.

I’ve got a stash. Ribbed.
One of the best comedy lines of all time. I recently had the flu and rewatched every episode ready for this years Christmas Special. Can’t wait.

I'm rewatching too! I started at season 2 with my husband but think I'll go back on my own and watch season 1! The first few episodes had me noticing certain things that felt a bit dated but by episode 3 I was back being really into it. Oven gloves was a great scene @StarsBeneathMyFeet ! And Doris is just brilliant 'to tell the truth I'm drunk now'

Oh and I never clocked the West surname as well as Shipman. Dark!!

My favourites are Doris, Dave Coaches and Dawn.

I love it. I’m sort of on the fence about Smithy. He didn’t seem so awful back when it aired, so I think it has a little to do with time passing. But also, I don’t really think Corden is acting when he plays Smithy and Corden is a twat, ergo so is smithy.

I really love Pam and Mick, and Nessa and Bryn are amazing characters

Dawn and Pete are called Sutcliffe too.