Amidst the sea of rehashed sitcom formulas, BBC’s “Things You Should Have Done” emerges as a shining beacon of originality. This delightfully off-kilter series introduces us to Chi, a sheltered 21-year-old forced to navigate adulthood after unexpectedly losing her parents. What ensues is a chaotically hilarious journey as Chi stumbles through a checklist of basic life skills, leaving a trail of awkward encounters and misadventures in her wake.
From the opening moments when Chi greets the news of her parents’ demise with bemusement over a recovered TV dinner, it’s clear we’re in for a comedy operating on an entertainingly skewed wavelength. The writing brilliantly captures Chi’s disconnected view of the world with deadpan humor and surreal flourishes. One moment she’s having an existential chat with her sentient sticky toy doppelganger, the next she’s doling out culinary tips dressed as Nigella Lawson.
Beneath the zany antics, however, lies an astute commentary on grief coping through wild imagination. “Things You Should Have Done” deftly toes the line between utterly absurd and surprisingly poignant. With a stellar ensemble delivering rounds of comedic excellence, this gem of a series is simply not to be missed.
An Ingenious Catalyst for Chaos
The brilliant premise driving “Things You Should Have Done” is as simple as it is ripe for non-stop hilarity. When aimless homebody Chi’s parents perish in a sudden accident, she inherits their home under one condition – complete a checklist of basic adulting tasks they’ve left behind. From learning to drive and opening a bank account to making a friend and feeling compassion, it’s a tall order for someone utterly ill-prepared for independent life.
Cue a relentless parade of misadventures as the hopelessly naive Chi charges into each mundane milestone like a bull in a china shop. Her attempts to earn her driver’s license, for instance, escalate from awkwardly riding along with an instructor to inadvertently derailing his marriage. It’s a masterclass in squeezing maximum comedic mileage from even the most ordinary premises.
But the real genius lies in the show’s willingness to embrace the surreal. Reality seems to bend at Chi’s whim, resulting in fever dream vignettes like her donning a Nigella Lawson persona to tutor herself through cooking. With itsream Logic sensibilities, “Things You Should Have Done” constantly subverts expectations for a refreshingly original brand of humor.
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A Spectacular Comedic Ensemble
At the center of the madcap mayhem is Chi herself, brought to life through Lucia Keskin’s impeccable comedic instincts. Hopelessly lacking in self-awareness yet brimming with childlike optimism, Chi is a delightfully walking contradiction. One moment she’s shattering social conventions by mistaking a driving instructor for a new BFF, the next she’s dispensing pearls of hard-earned wisdom filtered through her unique perspective. Keskin’s deadpan commitment to the role keeps Chi effortlessly likable despite her capacity for chaos.
Counterbalancing Chi’s wide-eyed naivete is her Aunt Karen, embodied by the brilliant Selin Hizli. A tightly-wound ball of passive-aggressive resentment, Karen is constantly exasperated by her niece’s ineptitude and galled at her inherited family home. Yet Hizli’s layered performance hints at vulnerability beneath the scathing sarcasm as Karen wrestles with infertility struggles. Her terse judgments on Chi’s antics are darkly hilarious coming from a place of deeply-buried jealousy.
On the more easygoing side of the family dynamic are Karen’s husband Dan and stepson Lucas, a pair of lovable lugs sharing an unshakable optimism rivaling Chi’s own. Daniel Fearn invests Dan with an endearing eagerness shining through his conspiracy theory ramblings. And Jamie Bisping’s sweetly dim Lucas proves a hilariously capable partner for Chi’s misadventures, lacking the guile to ever judge her stunted maturity.
The interplay between this comedically mismatched family is “Things You Should Have Done’s” strongest asset. Just when the bizarre antics risk going too far into mean-spirited territory, there’s an emotional tether keeping things balanced, like the poignant bonding over Dan’s unvoiced cancer fears or Lucas’s abandonment issues with his birth mother. It’s an ensemble that slays you with laughter one moment, then catches you off guard with weight and heart the next.
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Walking a Razor’s Edge Flawlessly
What makes “Things You Should Have Done” such an exceptional comedy is its deft handling of wildly divergent tones. One moment you’re awash in side-splitting absurdity as Chi attempts to retire at a local nursing home, trading barbs with a “mean girl” geriatric. The next, you’re caught off guard by an unexpectedly poignant beat as she grapples with unprocessed grief over her parents’ deaths.
It’s a dizzying tightrope walk that the series negotiates with remarkable grace. Just when the relentlessly silly antics risk growing stale or one-note, the writers deftly undercut the nonsense with sobering doses of reality. Karen’s desperate desire for a child or Dan’s health worries introduce shades of pathos. Even flashes of Chi’s repressed mourning momentarily recontextualize her immaturity as something sadder than just light comedy.
Conversely, whenever the emotional undercurrents risk becoming too heavy, a blast of fresh lunacy resets the irreverent tone. Just as you’re settling into a heartfelt moment, suddenly Chi is stumbling into another bout of cringe-inducing cluelessness that has you doubled over again. It’s a perfectly calibrated balance that’s awfully difficult to execute but feels utterly seamless here.
High praise is due to the writing staff who crafted this adroit juggling act. “Things You Should Have Done” wields its shifting tones and manic mood swings masterfully, resulting in a bracingly unique comedy where riotous laughter and disarming tenderness flow together in natural cohesion. For all its madcap amusement, there’s a sincere emotional core grounding the proceedings.
Polished Craft Enhancing the Hilarity
While the writing and performances are undoubtedly the stars powering “Things You Should Have Done’s” comic engine, the series’ technical merits deserve equal kudos. The production values are consistently polished, with tight editing that expertly paces the frenetic energy and pinpoint direction that amplifies every punchline.
Specific comedic set pieces are elevated by these skilled filmmaking choices, such as Chi’s deeply awkward stint as an ersatz driving instructor guest starring in an unwitting couple’s marital tensions. The cameras linger just long enough on the cringe-inducing moments to let the discomfort deliciously marinate. Clever visual gags, like Chi’s DIY Nigella Lawson costume, are also given their due focus to maximize the laughs.
But perhaps the biggest technical achievement is in the visual buffet of reaction shots sprinkled throughout. The cast’s knack for priceless looks and impeccably timed line deliveries is brought into brilliant clarity by the framing and editing. Whether it’s Lucas’ adorably oblivious double-takes or Aunt Karen’s seething stink-eyes, these tiny nuanced moments achieve maximum impact.
Ultimately, while certainly not showy from a visual perspective, “Things You Should Have Done” exemplifies how strong fundamentals of camerawork, editing, and directing can elevate comedic quality. This crisp technical proficiency gels seamlessly with the stellar performances to create a blissfully funny viewing experience from start to finish.
A Utterly Refreshing Riot
At its core, “Things You Should Have Done” is that rare comedic gem that innovates as ferociously as it delights. From its eccentric yet instantly winning lead character to its frank explorations of grief and human dysfunction, this series charted boldly original territory while keeping the laughs coming at a blistering pace.
The genius is in its marrying of utterly absurdist humor with surprisingly poignant emotional truths. One minute, you’re guffawing at Chi’s latest obliviously chaotic stunt; the next, you’re moved by the vulnerability revealed in a secondary character’s aside. It’s a tricky tonal blend that the writers here somehow make look easy.
For anyone who delights in comedy that zigs where others zag, “Things You Should Have Done” must be considered utterly essential viewing. Its bizarre-yet-insightful brand of humor charts a refreshing new path beyond rehashed sitcom tropes. This deliriously original and craftsmanmendably silly series is worth going out of your way to experience.
Those with a taste for risk-taking, envelope-pushing comedy that simultaneously entertains and provokes thoughtful introspection, need look no further. “Things You Should Have Done” delivers an absurdist comic masterclass grounded by relatable emotional resonance. An utter delight from beginning to end.
The Review
Things You Should Have Done
"Things You Should Have Done" is an audaciously fresh and unapologetically silly comedy that breaks from sitcom conventions in all the best ways. With her delightfully naive lead character Chi at the center of increasingly surreal hijinks, creator Lucia Keskin crafts a truly unique blend of absurdist humor and surprising tenderness. Balanced by stellar supporting performances and impeccable production values, the series takes big creative swings that consistently pay off with raucous laughter and disarming emotional resonance in equal measure. For viewers craving intelligent yet unabashedly ridiculous comedy, this genre-defying gem is simply not to be missed.
PROS
- Refreshingly original and surreal brand of humor
- Perfectly balanced tone that blends gut-busting comedy with genuine pathos
- Stellar ensemble performances, especially Lucia Keskin as the hilariously naive Chi
- Insightful commentary on grief, dysfunctional families, and finding one's independence
- Polished production values that enhance the comedic timing and visuals
- Avoids rehashing stale sitcom tropes in favor of boldly innovative storytelling
CONS
- The deeply silly and offbeat humor may not appeal to all tastes
- Some of the more surreal, dream-like vignettes could be polarizing
- A few pop culture references may diminish longevity as they become dated
- The emotional backstories for side characters aren't as fully fleshed out
