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Original poster

This sitcom is just not funny

389 replies

TheRebel · 14/03/2018 14:55

So I’ve been off work sick for nearly 2 weeks and I’ve watched everything good on TV. Now I’m trawling through looking for anything to watch and I decided to give the BBC sitcom “Mum” a go, it’s supposed to be BAFTA award winning but it’s just awful. Every episode seems to be the various members of this woman’s family come to her house, look down on her and say horrible things to her and she gives them the side eye and says “ok” and looks a bit sad.

OP posts:
HowsAnnie25 · 15/03/2018 18:23

Mum is wonderful, the most recent episode was just amazing. So beautifully written and moving.
We're also fans of This Country. Hilarious.

Helmetbymidnight · 15/03/2018 18:26

Fleabag, rev and motherland were all great in different ways.

aRespectableBureaudeChange · 15/03/2018 18:26

blurry: oh good spot by me then, your name kept popping out to me on threads.

Re: special needs assistant - think it was when Kelly's mum (in first series) was questioning Cathy and emphasising - so you're not a teacher then, just special needs helper type of thing.

Then Cathy shows she's not the docile creature they take her for - hits Kelly's mum with some straight talking.

Really poignant Kelly pretending to laugh along and thought her mum was being facetious when praising her.

I agree - doesn't mean - you don't get it if you don't like it. I think we all like different things at different times - sometimes something will really chime with you and move you, but might not have done another time.

Original poster
TheRebel · 15/03/2018 18:31

Peartree17 I’ve got to agree with you, especially the earlier series of Frasier, which were fantastic, the word play and wit is better than any other sitcom, and it doesn’t look too dated even though it’s over 20 years old.

MillieMoon84 we’ll definitely have to agree to disagree! I did watch from the beginning but I just don’t see the subtlety and depth, I can see that’s what the writers were going for, I just think they missed the mark. I just see the same joke over and over again, someone says something horrible or insulting to the mum, she pretends they haven’t just been extremely rude, rinse and repeat. I don’t see the depth in the characters at all, I do recognise people I know in the characters but they seem to completely lack any self-awareness except when they show a rare moment of humanity from time to time.

But obviously a lot of people do like it, so it’s just down to personal taste!

OP posts:
drumandthebass · 15/03/2018 18:34

Absolutely love Mum. Didn’t think I would, but watched it on the recommendation of a friend and love it

Theconifers25 · 15/03/2018 18:36

Feel silly saying this but the character Michaels eyes in Mum, they make me feel emotional! So kind and sad at same time.
When he confessed his feelings for her this week I balled my eyes outBlush

soimpressed · 15/03/2018 18:38

I love Mum! Started watching Series 2 and thought it was awful but read good reviews on here so watched from the beginning and absolutely loved it.

cms1972 · 15/03/2018 18:41

I saw 'Mum' for the first time the other night, and I thought it was amazing... not laugh out loud hilarious, but then what IS on telly these days? 'Mum' was more a case of wry humour, but it was also quite poignant. At one point I found I had stopped ironing and was leaning forward over the ironing board to listen to what Peter Mullan was saying... I don't do that very often, especially when there's a sitcom on! It's a comedy drama, with some brilliant acting from the older characters. If you want to be hit over the head with the (not very) funny stick, then try Mrs Brown's Boys - ?

graysquirrel · 15/03/2018 18:43

I adore Mum. It's perfect in an unassuming simplistic way. Not meant to be hilarious grab a laugh every 5 minutes, just heart warming and a gentle giggle of recognition. Is bliss against the shouty love me love me laugh at me way most programs seem to be atm.

dontcallmelen · 15/03/2018 18:46

@TheFrenchLieutentantsMonkey I thought I was the only person who watched Roger & Val 😃, was a beautifully observed piece comedy/drama.

Thisisnotreallymyname · 15/03/2018 18:49

Absolutely LOVE mum.
It's quite poignant humour, think it's great !

Jenasaurus · 15/03/2018 19:01

three doors down is brilliant, anyone else watching it?

SporkInTheToaster · 15/03/2018 19:02

Gosh, Roger & Val Have Just Got In was heartbreakingly bittersweet. Excellent tv.

Mum is good in parts, irritating in others and sometimes a bit dull. Overall, I think it’s worth giving it a go. I agree it’s better than Not Going Out, the latest series of that is dire. Hated Mrs Brown, no idea who watches it, no one on here seems to like it and I’ve never met an RL person who enjoys it either Confused.

Catsize · 15/03/2018 19:02

Love Mum. It’s the only thing we watch in this house now that the Mash Report has stopped for a bit.

fullofhope04 · 15/03/2018 19:02

I love it. I actually find it quite moving and think it’s very cleverly written and beautifully acted Couldn't agree more @MelvinThePenguin -
Think it's one of the best things on tv at the moment. Beautifully observed too.

Oliversmumsarmy · 15/03/2018 19:03

think the Royle Family was similar. It had funny bits but it was really about families and people and feelings

In other words not a comedy

Watched Mum for 10 minutes again couldn't see the humour.

Lordamighty · 15/03/2018 19:10

We love Mum, wry & poignant, beautifully written & great acting. We also liked Rev which was similar, no raucous laugh out loud moments just gentle humour.

Bibibou · 15/03/2018 19:16

If you liked Fleabag then try watching "Crashing" also by Phoebe Waller - Bridge. Game Face also brilliant!

nursy1 · 15/03/2018 19:19

I loved Detectorists. I’ve foun another off the wall one lately. Norsemen on Netflix.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 15/03/2018 19:29

I love Mum, and it does remind me of the Royle Family, too. Terribly nice, doormat-type mother of nice-but-dim child and its equally nice-but-even dimmer partner.
As for the PITA social climbing sister in law, I just love her! Always good for a laugh.
Having said that, if Cathy and Michael don't get together by the end of it, I shall feel most cruelly cheated.
Personally I think it's very cleverly done, and the acting is brilliant. Would love to order series one for sister in US, but there's no US compatible DVD yet.

Gottagetmoving · 15/03/2018 19:29

Mum isn't hilarious but it's not meant to be. I think it's really good.
I don't know why anyone wouldn't 'get' Derek. It's brilliant.

Bonnie7 · 15/03/2018 19:32

Haha lostincumbria I like your style - and totally agree!!
My DH wasn’t keen on Mum when he first watched but has now become hooked! It’s the subtlety of the brilliant writing and the sometimes dark humour.
You can tell the writer has studied people in depth, the snobby woman who is a nightmare but is actually really hurting inside after her husband left her, the awful inlaws who are quietly devastated at the loss of their son.
It’s acted fantastically and goes much deeper than a normal sitcom, it’s like a study into human behaviour. It actually makes me look at people and think maybe they are only acting a certain way due to their circumstances.

Carriecakes80 · 15/03/2018 19:39

Bring back comedy series like Men behaving badly, Bottom, Darling Buds of May, these days I watch re-runs or go out! lol. Mum was awful.

Helmetbymidnight · 15/03/2018 19:52

I liked'game-face'.

Yeah there's some great comedy out there- there's maybe no 'water cooler' 'unite the nation' stuff, but you can find lots of laughter.

Rev was magic, wasn't it!

RCN1 · 15/03/2018 19:54

Mirrors life. I can forgive them a bit ;)

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