I frequently enjoy all things UK and have long watched anything I could. PBS was and still is one of my best options and has been since I was a youngster. I had to adjust to Gavin & Stacey. It had to grow on me. What I liked: Margaret John was, without a doubt, the best actress in this series. She was a scene stealer with deadly accuracy and razor sharp wit. They don't produce actresses of her calibre any more. I was saddened at her passing. Brilliant actress. Rob Bryden. His Bryn character was so multi-layered that half the time I wanted to box his ears and scream shut it already, and half the time I wanted to hug him and escort him to the nearest psychiatrists on hand. I still don't know if that was his aim. Twisted brilliance. Larry Lamb was the glue that held that family together. I found his run in this series to be remarkable, heart warming, touching , and genuine. I need to watch more with this man in it. Alison Steadman. I'd first caught her in one of my favorite movies "Shirley Valentine". Her character was a bit too self absorbed in that for me. When I saw her playing the mum? I was pleasantly surprised at her range. I found her to be equally heart warming, and slappable at the same time. Always a sign of a brilliant performance. Joanna Page. I liked her portrayal but not always her character. I must strongly agree with other reviewers that she turned into a sniveling ,whiny, controlling brat many times in this series. Ruth's character says it best. She lost some points in other people's eyes. That was the way she was written, but I don't have to like it. Redeemed somewhat but still slap worthy and dim witted per the way her role was written. Stacey got the shaft in more ways than one in this series. Stefan Rhodri and Sheridan Smith were standouts in their supporting roles. I enjoyed both of them and look forward to watching more of their ability in other projects. Neil the baby was a scene stealing wunderkind! Keep a look out for this one to make it as a child then adult actor with great success! Russell Tovey. Refreshing to see that he has range. His werewolf was the gayest monster I've ever seen in film. The high pitched screams! Cringeworthy. Yet his character there was sweet and sad. He's one mixed bag. Like Forrest Gumps chocolates. Never know what you're going to get. Mathew Horne. I enjoy him an everything he does. A brilliant actor with a range not often seen. Again, his character is a victim of the writing at times. Gavin can be as self absorbed and childish as Stacey. Nowhere near as irritating at least. Men can't hit that between the shoulder blades pitch when whining. He never goes as far as Stacy. The scene where she wasn't bright enough to figure out his boss was over his shoulder? Who lives to be 20 something and engaged several times and can't figure that one out? Writerland.
Neutral:
Ruth Jones and James Corden. I'm lumping their characters together in this review because they seemed like two sides of the same coin. These two, and their characters Nessa and Smithy, were made for each other.
I'm not a fan of these characters. As an American, I find the double standard that fat guys can get any sized gal they want and demean fat girls to be a concept I cannot fathom. This made Smithy the tw@t he was. I so hope this is not depiction of real standards in the UK. Very self absorbed. Who goes to help a friend out by providing emotional support and expects Stacy's friend to be a hot babe he's gonna get lucky with? Tragic. Then has the nerve to talk about her like he himself is gold. Delusional? Table for one? I never heard Gavin even imply that Smithy was going to get any. Did you? Who dressed him? Wearing clothes you're bursting out of the seams in is not attractive. Ever. I know plenty of full figured guys/gals that agree. James did the best he could with this character, but only has himself (as a writer) and his dresser ( clueless) to blame for negative reactions. He's much better in Dr. Who. Ruth/Nessa. I liked her character and her portrayal . Very original and funny. At times blunt and grating. Always spot on. Except.
My gigantic beef with both of these characters in the Way they were written and portrayed? That " stomp it into the ground and yet it refuses to die, worn out drop it already, get a new clue and move on blue" FAT PEOPLE EAT ALL THE TIME. GOD, I'm SO OVER THAT CLICHÉ!! They DON'T. I was amazed that two people who are no where near svelte would write such tripe-laden codswallop in attempts to get cheap laughs from the skinny masses. Shame on you two for going there. Period.
In conclusion? Brilliant 3 series run with excellent cast that could have been greatly improved by better writing. I became so attached to the characters that I feel for them. If they were real people? They deserved the high ground and should have been steered away from the negative perceptions and Pidgeon holes. I hope they write another series for these characters. The whole experience was like someone else ordering your idea of the best meal ever. It was delicious and "posh" picking out the parts that I had trouble swallowing, didn't taste right, or were "off" was a challenge to my dining experience. I'd do it again? But I'd bring a big strainer.
Neutral:
Ruth Jones and James Corden. I'm lumping their characters together in this review because they seemed like two sides of the same coin. These two, and their characters Nessa and Smithy, were made for each other.
I'm not a fan of these characters. As an American, I find the double standard that fat guys can get any sized gal they want and demean fat girls to be a concept I cannot fathom. This made Smithy the tw@t he was. I so hope this is not depiction of real standards in the UK. Very self absorbed. Who goes to help a friend out by providing emotional support and expects Stacy's friend to be a hot babe he's gonna get lucky with? Tragic. Then has the nerve to talk about her like he himself is gold. Delusional? Table for one? I never heard Gavin even imply that Smithy was going to get any. Did you? Who dressed him? Wearing clothes you're bursting out of the seams in is not attractive. Ever. I know plenty of full figured guys/gals that agree. James did the best he could with this character, but only has himself (as a writer) and his dresser ( clueless) to blame for negative reactions. He's much better in Dr. Who. Ruth/Nessa. I liked her character and her portrayal . Very original and funny. At times blunt and grating. Always spot on. Except.
My gigantic beef with both of these characters in the Way they were written and portrayed? That " stomp it into the ground and yet it refuses to die, worn out drop it already, get a new clue and move on blue" FAT PEOPLE EAT ALL THE TIME. GOD, I'm SO OVER THAT CLICHÉ!! They DON'T. I was amazed that two people who are no where near svelte would write such tripe-laden codswallop in attempts to get cheap laughs from the skinny masses. Shame on you two for going there. Period.
In conclusion? Brilliant 3 series run with excellent cast that could have been greatly improved by better writing. I became so attached to the characters that I feel for them. If they were real people? They deserved the high ground and should have been steered away from the negative perceptions and Pidgeon holes. I hope they write another series for these characters. The whole experience was like someone else ordering your idea of the best meal ever. It was delicious and "posh" picking out the parts that I had trouble swallowing, didn't taste right, or were "off" was a challenge to my dining experience. I'd do it again? But I'd bring a big strainer.