Henpocalypse! (2023– ) User Reviews

Watch it for the sheer quirkiness of it.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 21 August 2023]

A hen party from Birmingham sets off to a party in Wales, at the same time that a crabs epidemic wipes out most of the men in the world.

I was a little unsure after the first episode, but after that I found myself binge watching it. I'll be honest, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I liked the format, and the sheer bizarre, quirkiness of it.

There are a couple of laughs, but it's not exactly belly laugh humour, but it has its moments.

There's a bit about Inception, and that made me wonder if this is all perhaps Jen or Zara's dream sequences, maybe if there's a second series we will find out.

The flashbacks help you to put the pieces together, and work out exactly what the dynamic is all about.

They're a really crazy bunch, of the hens, it's Mama Bernadette who delivers most of the laughs, Elizabeth Berrington has always had a great sense of timing. It gets even more zany when DD appears.

7/10.

Very ballsy

[barnabykeyes · 7/10 · 19 September 2023]

At the start of episode 1 I thought I'd hate it, as the characters were grating and really not the kind of people I'd want to watch a show about (or so I thought) as they came across as rather abrasive.

But as the episode went on, that changed completely.

The characters are over the top and somewhat annoying in contrast with the seriousness of the situations they're in, and despite quite a bit of the humour being focused on some narrow topics, there's some pretty clever dry humour chucked in there too.

I saw one review mentioned the dialogue being really bad and I can't help but feel like they maybe missed the whole idea of the show in terms of tone. And again, the dry humour.

Also, somehow, in 6 episodes half hour episodes, it has more character development than most shows that get double the runtime and episode count per season.

My advice to anyone wanting to watch it, is that if you want to watch a surprisingly well written show wearing the mask of a badly written show, give it a go.

Set it up for series 2

[JBLOSS · 6/10 · 18 August 2023]

Henpocalypse contains some fairly stereotypical characters in a storyline that veers between post and pre-apocalypse. Sadly it's not that amusing and the plot is not especially unusual, witty or suspenseful in any way. The plot is quite conventional even if the scenario isn't with a number of off the peg characters. Probably the only person who comes out with any credit is Danny Dyer who plays himself with...utter conviction. Could have been a whole lot better and the icing on the cake was the last unsatisfying episode where the writer had the gall for setting it up for another series. It's becoming quite tiresome with series trying to string out thin storylines over multiple seasons.

Not exactly bad, but not really good either

[dionysusdm · 11 September 2023]

I would've given Henpocalypse! A middle of the road 5 rating, because it's just Meh. But then I got to the end of episode 6 and...it just stops! This isn't a season (or series), it's just 6 episodes of something that is obviously longer. They decided to show us 6 episodes and then just stop there, pretending that it's some kind of finale. It's not; it's just more of the same. And I don't even care about what happens next. So my 5 rating drops to a 3. Heck, two months from now I'll probably forget that I ever watched this. Since I'm being told that my review is too short, I'll add that I DID enjoy the Jen character, once she was on her own.

Crab Measles.....

[mavine-54642 · 7/10 · 19 August 2023]

What a refreshing change. A comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously and just goes for daft laughs. It's not highbrow and yes I'm sure the accents will turn some people off. But being a Black Country lad, I say give it a go. Yow've nowt to lose. It's rude, very cringey and a bit stupid but that's what makes it fun. We need something like this amid today's doom and gloom and overly elevated comedies. It's a nice short run so easy to binge. And for a change, has really likeable characters that you want to root for and randomly, Danny Dyer also shows up? Try it. You might just like it......But keep away from those crab measles guys!

3 Questions

[chrisforeman-01920 · 1/10 · 17 August 2023]

I have 3 simple questions about this program. First why did the Guardian give it such a glowing revue? This prompted me to give it a viewing. Second, how did this ever get commisioned? And finally when they saw the final result how did it ever get aired?

As you may have guessed I wansn't a fan. As a comegy it has 1 lite chuckle at a push. The fake Brummie accents mean half the dialogue is just a noise. The characters are instantly forgettable. The acting is at best amature dramatics taking on Macbeth. The whole thing is a unfunny unlikable unwatchable and any other word i can think of putting un in front of. Terrible !

Not quite hen out of ten

[k-annetts · 7/10 · 18 August 2023]

I did wonder if I was done with the women against the elements trope (Yellowjackets, Class of '07 etc) but I liked previous sitcoms written by Caroline Moran and read the glowing Guardian review so decided to give it a go.

Its no Raised by Wolves (written by Caroline and her sister Caitlin) but it continues to focus on a cast of working class female characters from the Midlands with plenty of dark humour.

The plot switches between pre and post apocalypse as it usually does in this kind of programme but it's interesting enough to keep interests afloat episode to episode.

There's also a fab mid noughties pop soundtrack for anyone wishing to revisit the solo career of Rachel Stephens.

Armageddon out of here, after watching the first episode

[frukuk · 1/10 · 17 August 2023]

Once again, I'm reminded how hard it is to write a "comedy" that is actually funny and makes me smile and laugh (in the way that 2006-2009's Pulling, by Sharon Horgan and Dennis Kelly, did).

I haven't studied the statistics of this, but it seems to me that comedies that really work are those written by a pair of writers; I'm not convinced that a single writer is ever sufficiently self disciplined to throw away parts of what they've written. So here, Caroline Moran (sister of Caitlin Moran), is listed as the sole writer and clearly isn't tough enough on her own writing. Simply creating a situation in which comedy could emerge, is not enough for that comedy to emerge, automatically, and without major ruthlessness with the script.

There's a lot of rapid fire, in your face, stuff here, which has the effect of inducing numbness. Compare that with the subtlety of Pulling (2006-2009), to the episode in which Louise (played by Rebekah Staton) proudly announces that she has invented a lolly inspired by a certain part of the male anatomy. So, dear writer, less is so often very much more, when it comes to comedic writing. [EDIT: this paragraph rewritten to remove an asterisked four letter word.]

Shaky start but great fun!

[thekarmicnomad · 8/10 · 6 September 2023]

This didn't look like it was my kind of thing so I opted out until I heard it was by Caroline Moran, the creator of Raised by Wolves.

The first episode is a bit like gnawing through a raw steak.

There is a lot going on and the characters are introduced as annoying, awful people.

Then there is a time lapse that you hit like a deep step in the dark.

This is actually a bold move - perhaps a little too bold looking at some of the reviews on here.

First of this has great characters.

Are they likeable and gracious?

Hell no!

Caroline Moran is great at creating colourful, interesting characters that are deeply flawed but struggle on.

It is great to see female characters that aren't paragons of virtue or who float around the screen with a supernatural elegance.

Here there is a real spread of characters some are vapid, some devious, some pragmatic, some highly intelligent some overflowing with confidence others crippled by insecurity.

Although larger-than-life I saw elements of the characters from people in my life.

The situation is silly and the show goes out of its way to be crude and vulgar but I never found it crossed into distasteful.

The characters call each other slag and throw sex toys around - but this is all for colour.

This pokes fun at apocalyptic films, hen parties and, most of all, explores the dynamics of friendships and how some friends can be more trouble that they are worth - but we love them anyway.

A silly, fun romp, well acted, very different, with some great ideas tossed around.

For the one star reviewers that only watched the first episode (this won't be to a lot of people's taste) I would recommend forcing yourself to watch the second episode - some of these seemingly insufferable women might grow on you.

Daft comedy that needed a lot more work and laughs

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 4/10 · 17 August 2023]

Its a fun concept but unfortunately the title 'Henpocalypse!' was the funniest thing in it. Yes there were a few decent one-liners here and there and some visual gags with sex toys which worked, but overall it was too short of laughs for a pure comedy and consequently a miss.

Production values really were cheap and cheerful - I wouldn't be surprised if the cast and crew stayed in the Welsh cottage and shot it over a weekend. I think viewers would have happily overlooked this if the story and characters had been better developed and it was funnier.

The acting wasn't brill, Callie Cooke was the only one that shone, she has natural comic sense and timing. Generally there was just a bit too much pointless running around and shrieking to no effect.

I have no problems with female led comedies - really enjoyed Bridget Christie's recent comedy drama 'The Change' on C4 which was LOL funny as is 'We are lady parts also on C4 catch-up. Check them out if you haven't seen them, they're both much better than this one.

Surprising laughs

[andybrennan29 · 8/10 · 19 August 2023]

Talked into watching this by my wife, I thought it would be dull, have poor jokes and be a general waste of time. I was very wrong. Found myself laughing throughout the whole series.

Really quite funny, with frequent laugh-out-loud moments. The girls in it are all good in their own way. Can't fault it. Surprised it has such a low rating. Definitely doesn't deserve the rating it has at this point in time.

Don't know what else to say. It was a good series. Well worth a watch. I don't need to go on about it. Glad it was a group of girls from Birmingham. Reminded me of Bridesmaids meets Shaun of the Dead.

Watch it.

Rubbish!

[mmillington554 · 1/10 · 18 August 2023]

Quality standards at the BBC are obviously in severe decline when series like this are broadcast. I watched three episodes back to back and not a single one raised even a smile let alone a laugh. It is bad at just about every level imaginable. The script is dire, the story preposterous and the characters one-dimensional and seriously annoying. Who at the BBC even thought that this was worth producing, let alone screening, and then strongly promoting it? Have comedy standards slipped so far that this sort of unfunny rubbish actually appeals to anyone? It's a sad reflection on the state of modern culture, television in general and should be a wake up call to the BBC to reconsider its remit.

Garbage

[chris_rowe-881-168820 · 1/10 · 22 August 2023]

I love stupid chaotic comedies, I also like female led comedies, I was a big fan of one of the women in this as she's bed. In other stuff that was hilarious.

This was tragic though, in first 3 episodes I chuckled maybe once, the writing is so bad, the story and Idea isn't unique but it would work if this had been executed with even a modicum of skill.

The acting was bad, casting even worse, I hope those we're their natural accents or they chose to speak ridiculously.

It's just unfunny, forced stupidity is lazy writing, there was so much they could have done but they went with the cheap and lazy option.

Dreadful

[stuartvonteese · 1/10 · 8 September 2023]

This is nothing more than a school panto gone wrong.

Women running around screaming and shouting holding penis shaped weapons and more.

It is so childish and badly scripted that is hurts! 6 episodes about nothing and just a waste of airtime.

I tried to see the funny side in any of this but failed badly. It is gutter humour but not gutter in a funny way. It is just a lot of noise and nonsense about nothing. It drags on and on and on.... O watched to the end hoping that something funny or interesting would happen......unfortunately not. It fails to entertain or amuse on every level and just left me wondering "why".......

British Hun Humour

[leigh-hill81 · 9/10 · 17 August 2023]

This is British hun humour at it's best - Dark, hilarious and a brilliant soundtrack too!

Completely unhinged with jokes firing off a mile a minute, but with an intriguing backstory, the show belies more depth than first imagined.

It's giving Smack the Pony crossed with all the campiness and nostalgia of Y2K, overlayed with vintage Girls Aloud, whilst stanning the true heroes of the world, women!

Well done BBC 3 for green lighting this!

If you love hun culture and British comedy then this is for you - anyone who says otherwise is anti-British & a misogynist and deserves a big 'Are u ok hun?'

Disappointing!

[Petro-G · 1/10 · 31 August 2023]

There have been a couple of new sitcoms recently and I did enjoy The Power of Parker. However Henpocalypse is a disappointing series which had promised so much more. Apart from a rare chuckle, the material was flimsy and tired with too much reliance throughout on hen-do props for the "laughs". The actors made the most of a poor script, but so often it came over as screechy slapstick and simply trying-too-hard. In my opinion the series was just not clever enough to entertain a wider audience. Yet another annoying open and unresolved ending where the writer sets things up for a possible second series. If so, there may be a chance of redemption but this series could and should have been so much better. Disappointing!

Oh Caroline...

[Miffypoots · 3/10 · 19 August 2023]

When I found out that this series was written by Caroline Moran, who, along with her sister gave us the sublimely hilarious Raised by Wolves, I was expecting something special. Whilst it definitely has the same tones as RbW, it fails quite badly, or maybe it just had big shoes to fill. The adult humour is laid on with a trowel and made me wince more than it made me smile, although it did get more bearable after a few vodkas. The actors do a good job with the material they have but it could have been so much better.

Maybe if it gets a second series it will improve and I'll definitely tune in to find out.

Season two promises much more

[notfemaildom · 3/10 · 26 August 2023]

Season one seems slow and uninvolving (episode 5 should have been titled "not long now, guys") but at least it gives the back story for season two, where during a hilarious mix-up at Gary's stag do in Lanzarote (where else?), a Naughty Nurse stripper-gram is kidnapped, handcuffed to a radiator and pimped out for sex work.

Now that's what I call a bostin' storyline :)

===

I actually enjoyed Raised By Wolves. Despite its in-your-face girl power feminism there were relatable characters in the mix, along with a lively soundtrack, possibly influenced by Cait's husband? This is a repeat of the formula, but, instead of bringing new characters to our screen, it forgets them altogether. These aren't people; they're caricatures.

SAD !!!

Distasteful in the extreme

[Arizona11 · 1/10 · 21 August 2023]

Only watched the first episode, which was more than enough. Apart from not being funny at all, who thought it would be a good idea to commission a comedy about millions of people dying from a deadly virus when it had actually just happened in real life. Tasteless in the extreme. There are so many subjects which could have been chosen, but they decided this would appeal to a public still in recovery from a terrible and tragic period in our lives. I am sure those who lost friends and loved ones would not find this series in the least bit humorous and it beyond belief that the BBC could transmit such tasteless rubbish. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Fun, great performances.

[ben-427-950985 · 8/10 · 27 August 2023]

The highlight for this is the acting talent. There's some brilliant subtle writing in this as well as the in your face comedy. Inevitably with this kind of comedy it won't suit everyone but if it's to your tastes you should love it. The main cast work so well together and really bring out not just the outrageous laughs, but the more nuanced elements too.

The plot inevitably means it's an almost all female led series which of course will immediately trigger some anti-progressives, but not only is this needed to redress the the long standing balance and make it refreshing - politics and diversity aside, it highlights some of the incredible comedy talent we have here in the UK. These should be household names and it certainly makes me want to see more from this cast.

It feels like we're missing fun 30minute quality comedies, and Henpocalypse happily fills the need.

Incredibly silly and very, very funny

[Ron_Bacardi · 9/10 · 26 August 2023]

Caroline Moran, co-writer of the fantastic Channel 4 comedy 'Raised By Wolves', brings another gang of boisterous, badass Brummies to the small screen. 'Henpocalypse' has a similar energy, with larger-than-life characters, razor-sharp dialogue and a lot of laughs. There's even a fun cameo that connects Moran's two shows that'll delight '...Wolves' fans!

You'll probably know after the first episode if this is your cup of tea. Sure, the humour can be crude, and it might be a bit weird or too silly for some, but it's balanced by moments of genuine warmth, with enjoyable plot twists and stellar perormances from the entire cast. 'Henpocalypse' is a glorious ensemble piece, although I've got to single out Kate O'Flynn as Jen, who spends half the series hallucinating her "inner geezer"!

Loads of fun, hope there's a second series!

Refreshingly brilliant

[elmmickleburgh · 10/10 · 20 August 2023]

I am compelled to leave this review as I am baffled at the amount of bad reviews this has gotten. Every set piece in this comedy is played out just right. A teetering tip further and it would of warranted the poor reviews but it never fell into that territory. Elizabeth Berrington is in her element here, Cat Stark with balls or should we change that saying to ovaries?! I've yet to watch the final episode therefore cannot comment on the outcome however I have faith in the writing and acting that I won't be let down. The inclusion of Danny Dyer is inspired. Also the introduction to all these female actors has been a joy and I hope for season 2. If you don't get it well crab measles to you 😂