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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Movingonuppppp · 15/03/2018 08:00

You should watch Motherhood! Now that is funny

MrsHathaway · 15/03/2018 08:04

I love W1A but DH finds it unbearably cringey. Reminds him of too many real life meetings (he doesn't work for the BBC but another large organisation). We both loved Twenty Twelve though.

Thick of It is a work of art. We've been binging on Netflix.

MotherOfWurzel · 15/03/2018 08:11

Mum is excellent as is Detectorists. I like W1A but sometimes the manner of speech grates ( I know that's the point!) and I find it a bit of a tough watch.

Tralalee · 15/03/2018 08:26

I like Mum, Detectorists, inside no 9 and Fleabag. I like a bit of shade.

MonsteraDeliciosa · 15/03/2018 08:30

Well, given that the title of this thread states that Mum just isn't funny, its quite funny how quite a few people (including me)have now been inspired to watch it!

I haven't watched a comedy series/sitcom for ages. I gave up on ever finding anything funny. Sometimes I'll investigate something I hear about that sounds good, but I'm usually disappointed. I was left decidedly straight-faced by The Detectorists and Catastrophe, and thought Motherland was a cringeworthy cliche-fest. I did smile a bit at Upstart Crow though (the PP who wrote about Ben Elton was talking bollocks. And he didn't go to Cambridge.)

I'll try Mum and some of the others mentioned on here.

Slartybartfast · 15/03/2018 08:31

I love Mum
it is bitter sweet.

aRespectableBureaudeChange · 15/03/2018 08:43

Really like it, not comedy as such although it is funny and sometimes really funny. It has a slightly out of rhythm pace and really well observed characters. I'd say it's subtle humour, so don't expect comedy. Well acted too.

The80sweregreat · 15/03/2018 09:08

I tried the young offenders - only lasted 10 minutes!! obviously not my sort of thing.

ToffeeUp · 15/03/2018 09:13

It happens the80s, I had the same with This Country

Bowednotbroken · 15/03/2018 09:59

I love Mum too, as PP said it reminds me of Roger and Val, found them incredibly moving - and Getting On and Damned too. Not sitcoms though - and shouldn't be sold as such. However, I did wonder if the last episode of Mum was taking the family stuff slightly too far? In that it might become cruel rather than subtle in future - I felt The Royce Family did this in later series.

thanksjaneshusbandatcaresouth · 15/03/2018 10:18

I went back and watched an episode of mum from series one last night as a result of this thread.

I found it very comforting (going through a bereavement at the moment) because it is very bittersweet.

There is also the drama of everyone desperately wanting Michael to win her heart and not knowing whether she actually loves him after all.... (it was a bit like that in The Office wasn't it? Most people were grotesque but there was a quiet love story going on under the radar all the time).

She doesn't know herself whether she loves him and that is so true to life.

CaptainCardamom · 15/03/2018 10:18

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

The bit where Jim was talking to Denise when she was in labour about how felt when she was born... not funny at all, just amazing writing and acting and unbelievably moving.

In Mum, Peter Mullan is brilliant. Especially if you've watched Top of the Lake in which he plays the polar opposite type of character. I had to check they really were both Peter Mullan as he transforms into people who are unrecognisable from each other.

thanksjaneshusbandatcaresouth · 15/03/2018 10:20

yes, I didn't know Royle family that well. But it's similar in that you sign up for laughing at the stupid grotesque people and then, once your guard is down, they rip your bloody heart out.

MrPan · 15/03/2018 10:24

I tought this would be about Two Doors Down. Dire.
There has been two funny lines in the Christmas special, and none in the new series so far. Just a shock how such poor writing can attract two series.

TatianaLarina · 15/03/2018 10:50

It’s a bit sub Mike Leigh sub Royle family - the latter was much better written.

Too many irritating stereotypes.

aRespectableBureaudeChange · 15/03/2018 10:57

Yes thanksjane: I did that saw a bit last year and wasn't sure, but then recently watched from the beginning and love the pace you get introduces to characters' backgrounds etc, I'd say very accomplished piece of writing with great casting - need to dig bit deeper when watching it.

Really nice to hear you found comfort watching it - it is a positive story and I like the way they don't rush her stages of moving on with life.

S0upertrooper · 15/03/2018 11:01

After reading this thread I watched Mum last night and loved it! I also love 2 Doors Down. Try Bliss on Sky but watch from 1st episode.

On Peter Mullen- watch 'On A Clear Day' a wee film he did years ago. In the 80s I worked with a women's project and Peter Mullen and some of his acting pals did some workshops, lovely guy.

The80sweregreat · 15/03/2018 11:06

Peter mullen was in a net flix film about a homeless guy whose family are trying to trace him, he was so good in that.

strawberrysparkle · 15/03/2018 11:08

Mum is brilliant and genius!!!

Trinity66 · 15/03/2018 11:11

Watch The Young Offenders set in Cork it's on BBC3

www.imdb.com/title/tt7988304/

Tralalee · 15/03/2018 11:17

I can't really cope with Peter Mullan after Tyrannosaur

He's the only thing I don't like that much about MUM, I'd prefer someone more attractive different in that role

The80sweregreat · 15/03/2018 11:26

I think Peter Mullen is perfect in that role as he isn't some ' in your face, buff' type of man and obviously has a big heart - he is divorced and his kids live abroad and he was having to run around after his mum , i suppose now he feels its his time to tell Cathy how he feels as he will have the time to devote to her.

Not buying the chairs with him is symbolic in a way - if she did pick out and buy new chairs with him its admitting , to herself, that she really likes him and ready to move forwards. By putting it off she is holding back on him and herself.

Tralalee · 15/03/2018 11:28

If she bought the chairs she'd have no excuse to keep going to the garden centre

The80sweregreat · 15/03/2018 11:30

i did enjoy Motherhood as a lot of them had elements of people i know in real life! it wasnt as subtle as Mum ,but had some really funny laugh out loud moments - when she tried to slam that school door on her way out after another telling off from the school secretary was classic! her parents were also amusing and true to life.

The80sweregreat · 15/03/2018 11:33

ahh, i didnt think of that tralalee, hmm - i saw it differently to that. i suppose she could just say ' lets get the table and parasol another time'
! my dh would just get them on line, he hates garden centres!

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