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Outnumbered started as an experiment on BBC Four, hidden away in the 10:30 slot just prior to it's target audience about to go to bed. When a series gets promoted to BBC One, that's when it takes off.
This is the show of the regular, mundane daily lives of a family of five with the odd (very in some cases) input from other characters. The three children improvise all their lines and the adults react to it. It's this that is the key to the comedy success, as the observations and statements have clearly come from the child, as opposed to the traditional way of doing things of a 30 something adult trying to think like a 7 year old, and often failing miserably.
So after five series, three Christmas specials and the odd Comic/Sport Relief skit, how has the series progressed? Naturally speaking, the kids have grown up as each series comes and goes, not even Simon Cowell can do anything about that (yet). As the kids grow, each series changes with them. The first three series are clearly always going to be the best based on the original idea, but the later two have a charm of their own. The fifth series is actually superior to the fourth, as it had a wider story arc running through it than the fourth series did.
This show is a jewel in the BBC's crown. Recommended viewing for everybody, and thanks to the wonders of on-demand, UK Gold and DVD, everybody can enjoy it.
score 10/10
neiljones1981 5 March 2014
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2974372/ |
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16-11-2020 03:58:07