This show excels at showing how difficult it is to make a relationship last. It does this in a very brutal and honest way - at times it is fantastically cringe-worthy. I really appreciate how the children are pretty much non-existent in the show and the focus is on the main characters. I just finished the final episode and there is a great arc to the story. While I love the characters I am glad that they went out on a high note. Sometimes less is more.
The script is good, but somehow the actors are not on point. It's not that they are bad actors, but they lack the charisma and chemistry that you need for this genre, making it not as funny as it should. Watch http://trakt.tv/shows/you-re-the-worst for a better take on witty relationship dynamics comedy.
One of the best written comedies of the last 20 years. Feels so genuine and raw. It's hilarious, it's heartbreaking, Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan are fantastic.
About ¾ the way through Season 1, Catastrophe is getting repetitive and a bit dull: hear devastating true-to-life news—make cheery joke—rinse—giggle—repeat.
I "discovered" Rob Delaney recently on Stephen Colbert. I was blown away by Delaney's humor, charm and sympathetic heart break regarding his lost son (with accompanying book.) I looked up his work and thought this would be great and perhaps it'll p/up in later seasons. So far, though, chemistry between he and Sharon Horgan seem lacking—despite enormous amount of sex they engage in (at least in season 1). Horgan can be interesting, but her "put on" giggle after every gee-shucks joke by Delaney becomes grating.
After the initial meet and smash—wherein two middle aged, middling workers (she a school teacher, he an ad man)—the formula devolves down to she, Morris (Sharon Horgan), hoisting viciously cynical takes of-the-moment, while he, Norris (Rob Delaney), responds cloyingly with an, "I'm too SWEET for my shirt/Too SWEET for my shirt/So SWEET it hurts" jokey reply. [yawn]. This set up started the pilot on a strong note, I felt. But goes nowhere after that, really. Plus all the very horrible (in their heads) friends and family—mere fodder for the joke machine—make the pair even more isolating and distant to the viewer.
Of the "Getting-Kicked-in-the Ass by Life" genre of comedy dramas, Catastrophe falls maybe in the lower third. Far superior is Breeders (Martin Freeman/Daisy Haggard - 2020); Back to Life (Daisy Haggard - 2019); I May Destroy You (Michaela Coel - 2020). Russian Doll (Natasha Lyonne - 2019) is a notch or two better. However I'd rate Catastrophe better than the horribly worse Mr. Coreman (Joseph Gordon-Levitt - 2021).
I'll finish the series.. I'm a completest :grimacing: and update if Catastrophe gets substantially better. Otherwise, Meh.
A comedy? That is actually funny? Finally! After many wannabe funny (standard) American productions, this is a breath of fresh air. Funny witty jokes during a more or less forced relationship by a couple where murphy's law is not unknown. Highly recommended to watch!
I found it hard to enjoy the show when the Sharon character was so horrible as a human. The show is really good, real, funny, but Sharon's incessant repulsive behaviour made it hard to care about their relationship as much as I might have if I understood why ANYONE would want to be near her.
Starts out great and funny, than for two seasons all the writers could come up with is some soft porn jokes, then the final season becomes funny for all the right reasons again... have they fired the writers and hired new ones for the last season???
Fun little show that doesn't overstay its welcome. It started REALLY strong, but it meandered more as the seasons went on.
My major negative comment on this show is how Sharon and Rob experience conflict... I didn't expect the show to be all love and butterflies, but Sharon and Rob have a way to fight that's just mean and cringe-inducing. I think it's because, often, the conflict stems from them getting irrationally angry at each other and saying overly mean things. The result is that the two mean characters act shitty to each other for a while, severely diminishing the fun of the series. Also, as the show progresses, Sharon gets more and more self-centered and cringey, which I did not enjoy.
Other than that, though, it's a hilarious good time. Carrie Fisher in particular is just great whenever she's on screen.
Really like this show. No crazy teen comedy or mental teen like adults in this show. If you like mature comedy and real life thing then its your jam
This series isn't bad however it also isn't the best thing I have ever seen. I might try season 2 to see if the chemistry between the characters improves but at this rate it is a bit dull.
Sadly the vast majority of British comedies have a six or eight show season and Catastrophe is no different.
Hopefully there will be a few more seasons.
Love this show! Wish they do more than 6 episodes in a series :(
Shout by zagBlockedParent2017-05-20T17:23:27Z
Actually one of my favourite comedies ever!! It's hilariously funny humour that doesn't hold back one little bit, brutal and sensitive in equal measures but always funny. The casting is great and the storyline could be any young couple living in London. Overall this is amazing! The series get better as they go on. Well worth a watch.