Black Books

[springbabydays]

Watched the first episode (having just finished and thoroughly enjoyed the IT Crowd).

Does it get better? Maybe need some more familiarity with the characters before fully appreciating it?

I mean I thought it was great from the start, but it’s OK if you don’t enjoy it. No need to come straight on with the “does it get better?” as though we should all agree the first episode was rubbish. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh chill down @MaryBeardsShoes where did I use the word rubbish? Maybe read my posts. I'm allowed to have an opinion and want to discuss it.

There are some excellent episodes. The one where Manny has watched too many cop shows. The one where Manny can suddenly play the piano. The one where a man comes to clean up their flat. The one with the door lock. The one where Manny runs away and is picked up at King’s Cross and kept in luxury. The one where Fran finds her relatives. Keep watching I say.

Keep watching. It is one of my absolute favourites, well overdue a rewatch.

Keep watching. It’s very funny and endlessly quotable. I couldn’t begin to guess at how many Black Books phrases make it into everyday life here.

Where's my chips and tart? I want chips and tart!

Here I am worrying myself away.... into a stick in the dark....

Anyway @springbabydays I actually haven't watched IT Crowd because I didn't know if that would be my kind of humour. I like random silly stuff, which is why I like Black Books so much.

I probably watched Black Books about 20 years after it came out! Actually, my favourite episode is probably the poker episode.

I cannot call my business partner during the time of year when we do accounts without saying;

Hi.I'm not doing the accounts.
Why?
Because you can stick it up your arse.

I loved Father Ted when it came out but somehow missed Spaced/IT crowd/Black Books at the time. I've watched and loved IT Crowd and Spaced in a past couple of years couldn't get into Black Books never got past the first few episodes. might try again. Where can you watch it?

I believe it's on C4 @Treeleaf11 it was suggested to us right after the IT Crowd finished.

@EmeraldRoulette oh I'd be so interested to hear what you thought of the IT Crowd (even after just one episode!) If you were up for trying it out?

I love Black Books but agree the first episode isnt the best. Keep at it OP.

so many Black Book-isms are in my family lexicon too, though by now I’m sure they aren’t quite as written in the script.

Other, and, er, misc! Ah, so the new filing system seems very like the old filing system…

Sorry, I ate all your bees!

you know it’s good when it has a picture of a polar bear bleeding on the label

Dirty!

But what about the doo te de doo?

he had a subbuteo man in his hair!

old dusty wine, fine for drinking; new shiny wine, Nonono!

ooft! Caught meself!

I love Black Books and it reminds me of being a hungover student.
But it might be a time/place thing and not aged amazingly now.

I love The IT Crowd, Mighty Boosh etc.
Father Ted is ok, but not a fave.

My Finance Manager and I regularly refer to things as being ‘an accounting jacket’ situation 😁

DIIIIIRTY!!!!

I used to have silly things pinned to the noticeboard in my office, the one that people would see immediately they came through the door. I tried putting a sign up saying "NO PREHENSILIZING" but only one person recognised it.

@springbabydays I'll put it on my list! If you keep watching BB please let us know what you think.

I don't know if it has aged badly, but I only started watching it in 2017 or something.

I can't see popcorn without wanting to ask if it produces some sort of dizzying high.

Second episode last night and we DID find it better, slightly. Am hoping the upward trajectory continues 😁

Expect Away is my standard response to anyone who expects better

The one where Fran finds her relatives
Can't remember that one!

Policknish!

'Oh the dust'

I love it. Father Ted was IMO infantile and silly, whereas BB is a fantastic study of character and situation as well as having silly flights sometimes.

DP and I have many BB moments.

• Once found myself in a bookshop at about 10.45 am 'just in the mood to buy a book'.
• Discovered I had two email folders entitled 'Misc' and 'Other'.
• Many things are referred to in our house as 'some kind of delicious biscuit'.
• Any difficult or obscure question gets the response, 'I don't know, I always just called her Ma!'
• Any time one of us makes or brings anything that's not quite what was requested: 'I got you... creme de menthe.'
• Frequent references to Big and Beardy...

I could go on and on and on

@LittleBitofBread the Fran’s relatives episode ends with a car fire.

which reminds me
Fran?
Fraaan, FRAAAAANN, I’m coming Fran…

and the one with the summer girlfriend and the mobile walls.

Still doesn't ring a bell. I clearly need to rewatch.

I loved Black Books, but I was a huge Bill Bailey fan when I watched it (still like him a lot now). I think any new-to-you comedy takes a couple of episodes to settle in with the characters though. I remember finding Fran a bit one dimensional in the early days but I warmed
to her as it went on.
Manny is a new person to the other two in the first episode, so yes, giving it a few more to see the relationships between the characters develop might help a bit.

TOTAL blank Did I just miss one?
I remember 'Fraaan, FRAAAAANN' and the summer girl. Dimly recall the mobile walls.