by Jack Edwards
Coupling was written by former Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat, and tells the tale of Jack Davenport (Commodore or ‘the posh one’ in Pirates of the Caribbean) as Steve and Sarah Alexander (who’s in too much to name) as Susan, and recounts their relationship, from meeting until the birth of their first child, based loosely on the experiences of Steven Moffat’s relationship with the show’s producer Sue Vertue. As the couple begin their relationship they realise they are going to have to take each other’s baggage for the ride too and it is here where the comedy lies.
Coupling was written by former Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat, and tells the tale of Jack Davenport (Commodore or ‘the posh one’ in Pirates of the Caribbean) as Steve and Sarah Alexander (who’s in too much to name) as Susan, and recounts their relationship, from meeting until the birth of their first child, based loosely on the experiences of Steven Moffat’s relationship with the show’s producer Sue Vertue. As the couple begin their relationship they realise they are going to have to take each other’s baggage for the ride too and it is here where the comedy lies.
The baggage comes in the form of Susan’s ex, the womaniser Patrick (Ben Miles), Steve’s ex, the dim witted Jane (Gina Bellman) and the couple’s best friends, the neurotic Sally (Kate Isitt) and wacky beyond belief Jeff (Richard Coyle) who all attempt to guide Steve and Susan through the various humps in their relationship. The real issues that threaten the peaceful coexistence of man and woman, such as, the Giggle Loop, the ‘Zone’, Captain Subtext, the Melty Man, ‘Accidental Words’, and the pitfalls of pornography and self–abuse.
It will be unclear to many what these exactly mean, but that sex is a common theme. It is here where many critics of the show pick their holes. Moffat himself says there have been claims the show is all knob gags, and sex jokes, this however is simply untrue. The shows main topic is relationships, and so sex plays a large part, but the humour really comes from the way the minds of the sexes function. As Jeff claims in the show, "if women knew what went through men’s minds the world’s population would die out."
It will be unclear to many what these exactly mean, but that sex is a common theme. It is here where many critics of the show pick their holes. Moffat himself says there have been claims the show is all knob gags, and sex jokes, this however is simply untrue. The shows main topic is relationships, and so sex plays a large part, but the humour really comes from the way the minds of the sexes function. As Jeff claims in the show, "if women knew what went through men’s minds the world’s population would die out."
It also plays on the largely contradictory views men and women hold, such as the purpose of cushions, and how men cannot fathom an opinion on fabrics, whereas women have an opinion on all fabrics. It also plays on the various interpretations of situations and sentences by both sexes. This is often cleverly constructed into complicated interweaving or subject non-chronological narratives by Moffat to create much bigger laughs. A favourite of mine is watching Jeff desperately try to chat up an Israeli woman even though she cannot speak a word of English, and then, after they say goodbye, watching it all again but this time she is speaking English and Jeff Israeli (although in fact it’s just gibberish Coyle made up on the spot). Another highlight is an entire episode filmed in split screen after Steve and Susan break up so the audience simultaneously witnesses Steve’s and Susan’s point of view on the events leading up to their break up, and how they cope, either through strip clubs or visiting the beauty salon.
Coupling had a lot of success at the BBC, and was even bought by NBC for American television seen as a potential replacement for Friends. But the show did not carry across the Atlantic for many reasons, and was cancelled after only a few epsiodes (of which some are available on YouTube).
The main reason the show did not succeed in America was the same reason that the show was eventually cancelled after four series in the UK: Jeff. Jeff and Richard Coyle are by far and away the highlight of the show. Somehow through a combination of a fake Welsh accent and some excellent facial expressions he manages to make a character who says some seriously odd and awful things seem fundamentally likeable, a bit like Jay in The Inbetweeners, but more endearing.
Coupling had a lot of success at the BBC, and was even bought by NBC for American television seen as a potential replacement for Friends. But the show did not carry across the Atlantic for many reasons, and was cancelled after only a few epsiodes (of which some are available on YouTube).
The main reason the show did not succeed in America was the same reason that the show was eventually cancelled after four series in the UK: Jeff. Jeff and Richard Coyle are by far and away the highlight of the show. Somehow through a combination of a fake Welsh accent and some excellent facial expressions he manages to make a character who says some seriously odd and awful things seem fundamentally likeable, a bit like Jay in The Inbetweeners, but more endearing.
Coyle left after series three for fear of being typecast. He has since tried more serious film roles like in the film Pusher, and less serious such as the wonderful Grabbers both available on Netflix. Coyle was replaced by Richard Mylan as Oliver, who sought to be a direct replacement, who shares Jeff’s sexual obsessions and general neuroses, as well as his curly hair. Mylan however failed to carry the role so well, and for me is the reason the show needed to end.
It has been 10 years since Coupling ended, and for me it is a forgotten gem that many will never hear of because it’s not relentlessly thrown at people on UKTV Gold or Dave. While this is a shame as the show may never get the credit it deserves, perhaps for those in the know it helps preserve its charm.
It has been 10 years since Coupling ended, and for me it is a forgotten gem that many will never hear of because it’s not relentlessly thrown at people on UKTV Gold or Dave. While this is a shame as the show may never get the credit it deserves, perhaps for those in the know it helps preserve its charm.
Did you watch Coupling?
What did you think?
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