5/27/2011

Coupling - The Complete Seasons 1-4 (2001) Review

Coupling - The Complete Seasons 1-4 (2001)
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Serious Coupling fans will NOT be disappointed with this attractively packaged box set, which includes all four seasons of the show, as well as hilarious outtakes, interviews with writer Steven Moffat, his wife, producer Sue Vertue (on whose relationship the characters of Steve and Susan are loosely based); an in-depth behind the scenes look at the making of the show; and commentaries on selected episodes with Moffat joined by various members of the cast (you have the option on several episodes to either view the show as it aired or watch it with commentaries taped over it).
I was only expecting four DVDs containing all the shows, and was utterly delighted with the seven discs holding all these extras. The sturdy & attractively designed pastel cases in which each DVD is contained are a cut above lots of cheap DVD packaging out there, which is a nice touch too.
When I first happened upon an episode of Coupling a few years ago courtesy of my local PBS station, I was surprised that such a poorly written and produced show could make it to the airwaves. I failed to realize at the time that Mr. Moffat was a brilliantly funny writer and the plots were supposed to be absurd. At this point I consider myself a hard core fan.
In the fourth series, the writing and overall production of the show feels so polished it bears very little resemble to the slapped-together quality of the first season, for lack of a better term. The character of Jane (aka the 'stupid one') has made the most noticeable transformation in the fourth series. Her 'dumb brunette' act has been toned down to the point of being almost unrecognizable, which works better anyway and is far less grating. I have to wonder if this was Gina Bellman's idea?
The fourth series does suffer a little from the loss of Jeff (Richard Coyle) especially in light of the fact that the character of Oliver (Richard Mylan) was clearly modeled after Jeff Murdoch. Like Jeff, Oliver is an easily-flustered, tongue-tied dork around women. He's likeable enough though, but as a new character I felt he should have had a completely different role to add another dimension to the show. Watching him you only wind up making comparisons to the inimitable Jeff. However the chemistry between goofy Oliver and dim-witted Jane has the effect of balancing their respective exaggerated personality traits out and makes scenes between these two characters especially engrossing.
All of the characters have really grown on me over the seasons, particularly Ben Miles (The Forsyte Saga) an amazing actor who effortlessly manages to make the womanizing character he portrays (Patrick Maitland) loveable and utterly realistic.
I am anxiously awaiting a fifth season!

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