raised by Wolves

[Shinyshoes2]

The new comedy written by Caz And Caitlin Moran
www.channel4.com/programmes/raised-by-wolves
Are we watching it ?
I'm not a fan of Caitlin Moran I find her quite annoying
I'm not sure if I like this comedy or not. I've not laughed yet

The first two episodes are much better than the pilot, but still only ok for me, it does smack of trying too hard

Rebekah is brilliant, and tips the balance into making it watchable, I think

I was also confused by the contemporary references, I'm sure the pilot was set in the 70s and it still has that feel, so that's something that jars

I watched the first two episodes, then watched again with my 13 and 16 year old daughters. We all loved it.

We didn't know anything about the home schooling until we watched the pilot episode afterwards.

I think CM mentioned in an interview somewhere that if she could get some jokes out of it she'd use the home ed angle. I think it's a lost opportunity if she hasn't/doesn't. The material to be had from their autonomous style ed. (sometimes troublesome when dealing with some LAs) and their home ed life, I'd find interesting.

I did read something along lines that the LA left them alone (back in the 80s) as they were the only hippy family in Wolverhampton. Though that's no longer likely, it being set in the present day.

Thought it was dull and I don't think myself or Dh laughed once and we live about 3 miles from where this was supposedly set. Not a patch on other TV offerings.

I thought it was brilliant. Really funny. Hilarious dialogue, not particularly naturalistic but who cares? I loved the red haired sister.

I don't know anything about CM and I chanced on Raised by Wolves by accident, but thought it was really funny.

(Have to admit I only watched it because I thiught it might be somthing else in the Werewolf/ Vampire genre. Duh ! )

I thought it was really funny. Not natural dialogue but good lines and I quite like the wordiness

I love the mum

Germaine is supposed to be the fat unattractive one, but I thinks she's the most beautiful woman I've seen on TV for a long time. And I love her giant flowers, lace and dressing gown style.

I love it.

I especially love seeing huge book collections in council houses, a woman who knows how to use power tools and a boy with a Dora the Explorer backpack. Plus it's always sunny.

Aretha is v good.

It made me laugh.

I saw the pilot last year which came out, coincidentally, as I was reading How to be a Woman. It seemed to be the same material, re-hashed. Considering that the book was a re-hash of her newspaper articles she does seem to major on retelling the same-old same-old (which wasn't even original fiction in the first place, it was autobiography!).

"Grandma called Yoko a bitch. On Christmas Day."

The way that was delivered was hilarious. I haven't laughed that much in months.

Does no-one get that it's a sort of re-telling of CM's childhood in modern times set so we can relate to it more? She's a massive socialist and she's making a point about living on benefits. Of course there's going to be the clashing juxtaposition of her experiences set in the 80s against a few modern references. It's like that Leo DiCaprio version of Romeo and Juliet, innit. How dare she attempt something a bit different

That was a good one. Poor Yoko looks like butter wouldn't melt too!

We get it. If you read many of the posts, we just don't think the modern day period setting works or rings true.

It's like that Leo DiCaprio version of Romeo and Juliet, innit. How dare she attempt something a bit different hmm

Not really...

I think it would have been a lot more successful if she'd kept it set in the 70s

CM does bang on about the same thing over and over, like a drunk in a pub, she's nearly 40, you'd think she'd have got used to her childhood by now

"D'ya know how expensive suncream is? I might as well rub liquid gold on ya!"

"Going into town won't make you feel like a lady. It will make you feel hot, sweaty and poor"

I love it. And I'm pleased that so many of you think Rebekah Staton is fabulous - when I said as much to DP, he turned up his nose.

I have a love/hate relationship with Caitlin Moran (admittedly it's a bit one-sided) - I like her writing but I find listening to her speak a bit irritating. Slow down, Caitlin. And we KNOW you were the worlds youngest music journalist, yes yes.

But I enjoyed Raised By Wolves (I don't think it's going for gritty realism) - there were some cracking one-liners.

Still enjoying it. It does have a 70s80s vibe and some of that is down to the soundtrack too but I adore the fact that Germaine is a larger girl who is very self-confident and happy in herself. It was set in present day to offset Shameless and Benefits Street. I cannot think of any sitcom that portrays families on a council estate positively. Even when I was growing up things like Carla Lane's Bread played up to the scallies on the fiddle stereotype. Loved Fiona in Shameless but the rest didn't do 'working class' whatever that means any favours.
So though I agree there's a bit of a disconnect there, nonetheless it is set in current day so Della can say 'Fucking David Cameron' and the characters are bright/spunky/precocious/fearless/independent rather than being on the scrounge/asbo/drug dealing/pramface delinquents (all stereotypes c/o the daily fail). I think so far it is a refreshing change except where Grampy gets Della's patio tiles from
and the points about the kids needing to know how to entertain themselves, have a childhood, play outside, that's particulay relevant now (maybe that's the disconnect, a lot of teens are on bloody whatsapp rather than reading)
Rebecca apparently wanted to play the mum like Clint Eastwood, for me she does a sterling job.
I haven't read anything ever by Caitlin Moran, do you think I should?

particularly declaration: was brought up on a council estate. newsflash: can spell and read

because of typo not upbringing

The mum is great, I'm in agreement there.

There must be some other sitcom presenting council estates in a positive light? Though I can't think of any either. Though I'm not too influenced by the negative stereotypes, and puzzled a bit at comments like "I especially love seeing huge book collections in council houses" as I'm sure there must be plenty with huge book collections (sorry if I misinterpreted that comment).
CM's mother was from a middle class background if I recall correctly, also

Still no mention of the home schooling. I think it was only obvious in the last episode if you read between the lines of the conversation.

gincamelback: "Sorry if already said, but while I like the programme, I think it very much smacks of the two sisters writing Really Good Lines and high giving each other on their insight or wit, rather than them writing realistic dialogue."

That is exactly the problem with it. It's a series of amusing one-liners: the comedy doesn't arise out of people's character - in fact, the characters are largely interchangeable as they are all capable of coming out with witty statements at any moment.

I had to switch off 10 minutes into episode 2. So many things wrong with it, but take one example: the mum has arranged a series of disagreeable things for herself such as having a smear test. One of the girls suddenly says: it must be mum's birthday, because she always arranges to do things she doesn't like for her birthday.

But how does this make sense? No-one always books horrible things for themselves on their birthday - why would they? And why have none of the girls - who seem to be mostly early-to-mid teens - remembered that it's her birthday? One of them would, surely?

That is exactly the problem with it. It's a series of amusing one-liners: the comedy doesn't arise out of people's character - in fact, the characters are largely interchangeable as they are all capable of coming out with witty statements at any moment.

It's a bit like collective comedy stand up with the constant one-liners. The 'shock' comedy value of some of the crudity is going to wear off pretty quickly, too. I was quite desensitized to it part way through the second episode.