Hidden gem BBC comedy hailed as 'hilariously spot on' and 'must-watch'
A 'hidden-gem' show is being hailed as the perfect watch for those who’ve grown up in a village or small town in the UK – starved of stimulus and activity, creating their own entertainment out of bare nothings.
Country dwellers rejoice! There’s finally a show that perfectly depicts life in the countryside – and it's free to stream on BBC iPlayer.
This Country is being hailed as the perfect watch for those who’ve grown up in a village or small town in the UK and have to make their own entertainment. This multi BAFTA-winning BBC mockumentary has left country folk amazed at just how spot on it is. “As someone who grew up in the countryside, this series is spot on. Love it,” is the unanimous viewer verdict.
Set in a tiny Cotswolds village, This Country follows the shenanigans of tight-knit cousins Kurtan and Kerry Mucklowe (portrayed by real-life siblings Charlie and Daisy May Cooper) and serves as an hilarious depiction of life, or lack thereof, in the countryside. A good chunk of the series revolves around their unlikely friendship with the local vicar, Rev Francis Seaton, portrayed to perfection by Paul Chahidi.
The Coopers have straight-up been termed “geniuses” for creating this dry comedy, with one Reddit user commenting: “I absolutely adore it. It's one of the few programs that makes me laugh aloud even I'd I'm alone. The Coopers are geniuses!” The creative sibling pair have cast various family members in different roles in the show, with their father, Paul Cooper, taking on the mantle of Kerry’s estranged father, and their uncle, Trevor Cooper, portraying the combative local Len Clifton. Though a mockumentary, there is heart at the centre of this show. There’s never an ounce of nastiness depicted in any of the show’s 19 episodes.
Critics have showered high praise on the show with one commenting: “All of human life is here, in this bleak, hugely funny, intimate, seemingly slight yet ridiculously potent series of six perfectly formed half-hours. ”One reviewer put it plainly and said: “Simply hilarious, a must watch!”, while another commented, “What a lovely surprise!”
Another Reddit user described the show as “terrific”, calling it “a comedic slice of provincial life,” while yet another reviewer shared: “I'm currently rewatching the whole lot on the iPlayer, such a brilliantly written show. The performances all seem so natural, and it's got so many memorable lines.”
One converted fan shared how they thought they would “hate this show”, but it turned out to be quite the opposite, stating: “I thought that I would hate this show, but was completely wrong. The characters are beautifully observed and the slow pace is entirely appropriate. "This is so well written and the cast take us to emotional places that we would not expect. It is pure gold.”